MARTINSBURG — As young women are encouraged nationally to seek more leadership roles in politics, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, state leadership is making efforts to encourage young girls in the Mountain State to boldly chase leadership roles in their futures.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., shared her desire to encourage young women throughout the state with her West Virginia Girls Rise Up program, where she meets with fifth-grade girls all across the state and talks about the importance of self-confidence, physical fitness, education and pursuing leadership roles in a variety of fields.
Capito said the genesis for her wanting to create a program like this was watching her father, who was also in public service, inspire young men when he gave talks to different groups and schools. She said she felt there weren’t enough women in leadership roles doing the same for girls.
“It’s about empowering fifth-grade girls to public service, and I basically talk about what I felt like when I was in fifth grade, acknowledging that I had certain concerns and worries and peer pressures that they feel and try to get them thinking about what their futures might be,” Capito said. “I take guests with me. I’ve brought people like Shannon Bream from FOX News. Last week, I had the only female fire chief in West Virginia, Jan Rader from Huntington, and Congresswoman Carol Miller.”
Capito said she tries to bring a variety of female leaders to her events, from business, to politics and athletics, to address the wide variety of goals the girls might have in mind for their futures.
“I try to demystify what it’s like to be a women in the public light. I’m the first women senator from West Virginia, and I’d like to pass it on. It’s important that these girls know they have just as much power in everything,” Capito said. “That no door is closed, that their abilities and their dreams shouldn’t be limited by anything. I started thinking this would be a really good way for one of them to maybe someday run for governor or run for president.”
Capito said she has held 22 of these West Virginia Girls Rise Up programs since she began in 2015.
In addition to her efforts in inspiring young women in the state to become proud leaders, Capito addressed a few other priorities of hers including:
• Addressing the broadband needs of those unserved and underserved communities through her Capito Connect initiative, which works to raise awareness about the lack of broadband and provide resources and funding to make broadband connections possible for more rural areas of the state. Capito said securing funding is crucial to help those in the state without reliable broadband connection, because a lack of internet connectivity doesn’t only affect people’s ability to work or do schoolwork, but impacts health initiatives like TeleHealth, economic development and tourism.
• Continuing to work on the state’s infrastructure. Capito, who is chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee, said she was one of the main authors of recently passed highway legislation, a five-year bill that provides $238 billion in infrastructure funding to the state. Capito said this would help address bridge constructions and needs and federal highway improvements throughout the state.
• Capito added she is working with Homeland Security to address coronavirus concerns, with screenings of people who come into the country, as well as continuing to support the wall and border security efforts.