NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission today announced that it will host National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Joe W. Brown Recreation Center (5601 Read Blvd.). Girls and women ages 5 and up are invited to attend. The event is free, and registration is encouraged but not required to attend.
The special NORD event will feature a panel of women in sports, including Ashley Preston, University of New Orleans (UNO) Head Coach; Jasmine Gilbert, Performance Dietitian, Vanderbilt; Shaneika Dabney-Henderson, Vice President of Production for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans; and Dr. Linda Bell, Athletics Director for Dillard University. Panelists will discuss their careers in sports, how girls and women can break into the professional sports industry and how important it is for girls and women to support, celebrate and inspire one another. Members from Xavier University’s women’s basketball program and cheerleading program, as well as UNO’s volleyball team, will also participate in and assist with programming for this special event.
As NORD continues to prioritize increasing programs and events for girls and women, this year’s event will continue annually to commemorate all women athletes, their achievements, the positive impacts of inclusion of women in sports and to address the challenges regarding equal participation of women in sports activities.
NGWSD is celebrated in all 50 states and was first observed in 1987 to remember Olympic volleyball player, Flo Hyman, and acknowledge her as the best female volleyball player of her time and her work in promoting equal representation of women in sports. The day is usually celebrated by organizing community events, award ceremonies and other sports activities that inspire girls and women to play sports and be active. This year is all about breaking the gender stereotypes built around the sports industry.
Please visit www.nordc.org for more information, or call (504) 658-3024.
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