Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley shared her journey to elected office with a group of high schools girls participating in PowerPlay NYC’s summer leadership academy. Photo courtesy of Crowley’s office.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) spoke to about 30 girls earlier this month as part of a summer leadership academy put on by PowerPlay NYC, a nonprofit dedicated to building self-esteem and confidence of young women to help them develop into future leaders.
On July 17, Crowley stopped by the free, eight-week program where high school girls participate in recreational activities, career training and mentoring opportunities.
The young women asked Crowley about her life experiences and her path to elected office. She told them that her story demonstrates the importance of working hard and never giving up on the things you believe in.
Even though she lost her first two elections, Crowley told them she kept working and eventually became the first women elected to represent her Council District.
“I was happy to share my story with these dedicated young women,” Crowley said. “The Sum- mer Leadership Academy is an outstanding program that gives young teenage girls the necessary tools to become the next generation of future leaders. College graduates
today are more likely to be female then male. Unfortunately, we still make up less than 5 percent of top executive positions in corporations, only 35 percent in the City Council, and just 22 percent in the state legislature,” Councilwoman Crowley said.
PowerPlay NYC was founded in 1998 with the intent of getting girls to participate more in sports and physical activities as a way to boost their self-esteem, teamwork, competition, risk-taking, time management and more.
The nonprofit operates in all five boroughs.
