- April 24, 2024
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PACE Center for Girls Volusia- Flagler Executive Director Lori Richards and alumnae Aigner Jackson recently traveled to Washington D.C. to attend The White House Summit on The United State of Women. The event was attended by more than 5,000 leaders from across the county who are involved in advocacy and policy advancement related to women and girls.
Speakers included President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Bidden, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Warren Buffet and Oprah Winfrey. Plenary Session included speakers and panels discussing topics such as violence against women, health and wellness, and economic empowerment for women on a national and global scale.
Jackson, who completed her junior year of high school at the PACE Center for Girls Volusia – Flagler in June is emblematic of many PACE students who have overcome personal challenges that many would be daunted by.
"Every girl at PACE has her own story and her own struggles” Jackson said in a press release. “PACE has been important to me and helped me set my own goals and gain the confidence I needed to know I can accomplish them.”
Richards invited Jackson to attend the event with her due to the teen’s personal leaderships skills and her ability to represent the PACE mission and philosophy.
“PACE believes that every girl deserves a life defined by responsibility, dignity, serenity and grace," Richards said. "I am inspired by the manner in which Aigner lives her life. She’s had so much thrown at her but always remains on the high road, never succumbing to self-doubt and remains focused on how bright her future can be.”
“How can I say what was the best part?" Jackson said. "I was in the same room with President Obama, with the First Lady and with Vice President Joe Bidden. I learned so much about what girls and women around the world face, and it was exciting to hear from so many amazing women who want to be part of a solution.”
PACE Center for Girls was invited to bring several girls and staff to the conference as a result of receiving national recognition for success in effecting change in the lives of girls and young women at risk of entering the juvenile justice system. PACE CEO, Mary Marx, accepted the Inaugural “Accelerating Change Award” from the Center Social Policy for the Study during the event.
"It’s such an honor for PACE to receive this award and be recognized as a leader in serving girls at risk,” stated Richards. “We roll up our sleeves and do the hard work with our girls every day. I appreciated the opportunity to pause and reflect and celebrate the amazing opportunity that PACE can be for girls who want to be the change they want to see. It was great to share the experience with Aniger who is a PACE success story”.
PACE Center for Girls, Volusia – Flagler is located in Ormond Beach and serves middle and high school girls year round. Limited space is available for the summer session. For information contact Cherise Webb at [email protected] or call her at 386944-1111 Ext. 1120.
