Sen. Hirono Encourages Continued Commitment to Supporting Programs

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono inspirited program leaders and organizers of the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership (MCBL) Girls’ Summit to continue their work empowering young women to pursue leadership roles. Each year, the Girls’ Summit connects over 300 high school students with mentors, and holds workshops exploring a number of career fields, encouraging advocacy, and teaching the importance of personal financial management.

Left to right: Noela Napoleon, Lead Business Counselor and Instructor, Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership; Ging Ging Fernandez; Elizabeth Lim, Founder and CEO, SRTell; Senator Hirono; Terri Funakoshi, Director, Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership; Susan Utsugi, Senior Vice President & Director of Business Banking, Central Pacific Bank; and Kathleen Algire, Director of Advocacy, YWCA O‘ahu. Courtesy photo.

“We all have to do more to continue the progress we’ve made to ensure that every young woman has the opportunity to pursue the career of her choice,” Sen. Hirono said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership to empower young women and address factors that limit the progression of women and other underrepresented groups.”

“The Girls’ Summit contributes to the betterment of the community by empowering the next generation of women leaders with confidence and leadership skills to serve Hawai‘i and beyond,” Terri Funakoshi, Director of the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership said.

In June, Sen. Hirono reintroduced the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act, legislation to provide additional resources for schools, school districts, states and institutions of higher education to fully implement the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, commonly referred to as Title IX.