"Women Can Do"

Hundreds of young women from throughout Vermont attend the “Women Can Do” conference in Randolph, Vermont earlier this month. In a medical workshop, students learned to use syringes.

Randolph, Vt. -- Roughly 500 young Vermont women visited the Vermont Technical College in Randolph earlier this month to learn about a broad range of careers. The event, “Women Can Do,” introduced the students to a wide range of work possibilities in typically male-dominated careers. The event featured more than 80 workshops and hands-on experiences taught mostly by Vermont women who are practicing professionals in their fields.

“I went to the ‘Be Your Own Boss’ workshop because eventually I want to own my own construction company,” said Valery Weston, a sophomore at Barre Technical Center. 

Vermonters who attended the conference, which has been running for 16 years, were encouraged not to be bound by stereotypical assignments of jobs by gender. Instead, job training and career preparation options were made available to help these young Vermonters realize they could choose from a broad range of careers.

From getting first-hand medical experience in learning how to deliver shots, to getting a primer on architecture and diesel mechanics, attendees left with information – and estimated salaries – for fields in science, engineering, and mathematics.

Vermont Works for Women released a report this spring revealing “many young women across the state consider themselves ill-equipped and under-prepared for the challenges of school, work, career, economic independence, and adulthood.”  The “Women Can Do” conference is one way to help address that problem.

Kelly Walsh, director of Girls' Programs at Vermont Works for Women, said the conference is designed to get more young women to consider careers that have historically been male-dominated. Vermont Works for Women is a Winooski based non-profit organization that helps women recognize their potential, and explore, pursue, and excel in work that leads to economic independence.  “I think they are trying lots of new things, all hands on,” Walsh said.

“It is my second year at the conference and I think it is great. I am learning a lot just from being here,” said Shayene Chase, a sophomore at Barre Technical Center.

The event was hosted by Vermont Works for Women and sponsored by Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont Tech.