Share Your Voice to help young girls become leaders

Women make up 22.7 percent of the 2015 Iowa House and Senate. It's an improvement, but if we want gender equity we have more work to do to encourage, inspire and give girls confidence to become our future leaders.

Research proves that corporate America understands diversity in the workforce impacts the bottom line. Organizations that are inclusive of women in management positions achieve a higher return in productivity and the bottom line. Government also works better when women are represented.

Yet young girls experience physiological and cognitive challenges as they transition to adulthood. Rapid physical changes can result in an increased personal and societal focus on the body, which can result in a desire to divert attention and avoid speaking up or taking leadership roles. Changes an immature brain experiences may also result in poor decision-making and negative risk-taking behavior. Social media can amplify these problems, offering a false sense of anonymity that puts girls at higher risk of bullying and being bullied.

Positive peer groups, role models and positive outlets for healthy risk-taking can help girls navigate these changes.

Female leadership raises aspirations and increases educational attainment for girls. Yet, youngsters, especially girls, often feel left out. Share Your Voice was created for this purpose. The conference provides resources and opportunities to learn how to face issues head-on.

Through this conference, we hope that by connecting local girls with women leaders, we can encourage and inspire the next generation of women in public service, elected office and other leadership roles.

Girls participating in Saturday's conference will learn how to overcome setbacks, to set goals and, we hope, will learn the tools they need to lead in their schools and communities.

IF YOU GO

' What: Share Your Voice Conference

' When: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday

' Where: DoubleTree by Hilton, 350 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids

' Who: The conference is open to girls in grades four through eight and their parents

' Cost: $15 dollars for girls and $10 for adults

' More information: Contact the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, (800) 798-0833.

' Linda Schreiber is member of the League of Women Voters of Johnson County Board of Directors and Share Your Voice steering committee. Comments: lnschreiber@gmail.com