Bay Path University Students Help Launch "International Day of the Girl Child" with Girls Inc. of Holyoke

Event speakers included Girls Inc. Executive Director Suzanne Parker, Women's Fund of Western Mass CEO Donna Haghighat, Member of Springfield School Committee LaTonia Monroe Naylor, Open Pixel Studios Co-Founder and Animator Kathryn Taccone and author and Bay Path Professor Maria Luisa Arroyo

Longmeadow, MA— Bay Path students joined local girls’ organization Girls Inc. of Holyoke at the University’s Empsall Hall Thursday to launch public service announcements (PSAs) in honor of International Day of the Girl Child, a celebration designated by the United Nations on October 11, 2018. The PSAs, created by students in the communications program, reflected different perspectives on how to encourage and empower girls of all ages and backgrounds.

"By creating PSAs for International Day of the Girl Child that they really believe in, our students are not only building their skills in communication, they’re using curiosity to solve problems and inspire others, and it speaks volumes to their commitment to being strong, smart, and bold," Janine Fondon, chair of undergraduate communications, said. "In the communications program, we are celebrating our ability to join together as a community to raise our positive voices for change, challenge, and opportunity. We’re glad that we had this opportunity with leaders and guests from the community to have the conversation needed for girls and women to be inspired, engaged, and curious."

The event featured a “COMMversation,” where University students and local panelists, including Girls Inc. Executive Director Suzanne Parker, Women's Fund of Western Mass CEO Donna Haghighat, Member of Springfield School Committee LaTonia Monroe Naylor, Open Pixel Studios Co-Founder and Animator Kathryn Taccone and author and Bay Path Professor Maria Luisa Arroyo, engaged in conversations about how to create a world where girls can feel safe as they explore their individual paths to success. Bay Path students of all disciplines used their storytelling skills to focus on what they feel are currently the biggest challenges as well as opportunities for girls and women. A walk-through gallery of their PSAs was displayed, prompting discussion among guests, faculty, staff, and other students.

“To be among Bay Path University students, staff and faculty, and other panelists from the community was a wonderful way to start International Day of the Girl Child,” said Suzanne Parker, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Holyoke. “Talking about women’s leadership is something we are passionate about at Girls Inc., where we work to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold, so it was an honor to be here.”

Naomi Naylor, daughter of LaTonia Monroe Naylor, attended the event as a local student ambassador. She showcased and described a beautiful, and impactful, work of art she painted called, “Colors of Acceptance.” Following the event, she graciously donated this piece to Bay Path University through Janine Fondon in the Communications Department.

Arroyo, who was Springfield’s inaugural poet laureate, signed her book at the event.

The ongoing partnership between Girls Inc. and Bay Path University for International Day of the Girl Child was further highlighted in the afternoon as Fondon offered a presentation of her research for The Intersection: Women of Color On the Move at an event for the organization.

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About Bay Path University

Bay Path University was founded in 1897. With locations in Longmeadow (main), East Longmeadow (Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center), Sturbridge (MA), and Concord (MA), Bay Path’s innovative program offerings include traditional undergraduate degrees for women, The American Women's College on-ground and online, the first all-women, all-online accredited bachelor’s degree programs in the country; over 25 graduate programs for women and men; and Strategic Alliances, offering professional development courses for individuals and organizations. Bay Path’s goal is to give students confidence in the fundamentals of their chosen field, the curiosity to question the ordinary, the leadership to show initiative, and the desire to make a difference.