St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce and Chalmette High Host Annual Women’s Professional Network Mentoring Event

Professional women from an array of backgrounds and careers spoke with over 60 passionate students about their dreams for the future when the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce and Chalmette High hosted its annual Women’s Professional Network Mentoring Event. The mentors sat with small breakout groups, listening to each girl’s goals for success and imparting practical and encouraging advice on how to achieve them. 

Ashley Deaton of Soul Werk Coaching delivered a presentation on the creative process and the inevitability of self-doubt.  Both groups shared their own personal voices of judgment and wisdom in a writing activity, ultimately revealing how much they had in common, regardless of the stage of life.

The student participants said they felt heard and appreciated the candor of the mentors. CHS student Alivyah Peters said her favorite aspect of the event was the interaction and “being able to ask questions, be given feedback, and now understand everyone has different paths in life that may be different than what we previously thought.”

Senior Peyton Scheeler shared similar sentiments, stating that she’d come back to the event again. “I would attend again because I enjoyed having the opportunity to talk to people in the same career field I want to be in.”

School Board President Diana Dysart and Superintendent Doris Voiiter were also on hand in support of the event and of their colleagues, Carley Jackson, Rosalind White and Keisa Rodney - three of the mentors for the morning.  Jackson said she was honored to speak with so many intelligent, inquisitive, aspiring young ladies as well as her fellow mentors. “I can only hope we inspired the students as much as they inspired us.”