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Schools

Girl Power: Leadership Program Held at MRHS Assembles Top Women in County to Inspire Future Leaders

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno kicked off the fifth annual 'Running and Winning' workshop designed to inspire young women to become leaders.

Setting aside party politics, 15 of the county's most influential women--from Monmouth County Freeholder Amy Mallet to Red Bank Councilwoman Sharon Lee to Sen. Jennifer Beck of District 12--joined Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno to encourage young women to become leaders in their community.

Sixty young women from 12 Monmouth County high schools participated in the fifth annual "Running and Winning" workshop at Monmouth Regional High School on April 29.  The basis of the workshop is to encourage young women to aspire to leadership positions and to consider public service and political participation as goals in their adult lives, according to event co-chairs Bobbie Goldstein of the Greater Red Bank Area League of Women Voters and Marian Wattenbarger of AAUW.

High school juniors had the opportunity to interview the women in government during the day-long event and to learn directly from their experiences.

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Participating high schools included:

  • Henry Hudson High School
  • Keyport High School
  • Long Branch High School
  • Middletown High School North and South
  • Monmouth Regional High School
  • Red Bank Regional High School
  • Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School
  • Academy of Allied Health and Science
  • Biotechnology High School
  • Communications High School
  • Marine Academy of Science and Technology.

Leaders came from many paths and included Deputy Mayor of Middletown Township Pamela Brightbill and Michelle Roth, Township Committeewoman and former Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Manalapan Township.

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Guadagno addressed the participants and encouraged them to take advantage of opportunities.  Her message told of minimizing the risk in opportunity by having a solid education and a supportive partner in life.

The girls were divided into small groups that worked through an assignment on citizens’ role in environmental decision making designed to encourage student participants to consider how public policy affects the lives of individuals and communities.  They were able to discuss the issues with assembled leaders who had much to impart. These women included Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande of District 12 and Long Branch Councilwoman Joy Bastelli. 

The event was sponsored by The League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women, Junior League of Monmouth County and HADASSAH, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. 

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