The Texas Women’s Foundation empowers young women
The Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) and the Dallas Mavericks WOMEN ERG held a joint event with the Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC) on February 16. They shared career advice while networking with young female leaders. The Foundation’s community partner, Healthy Futures of Texas, hosted the event in the Wilson Historic District. The conversations were documented in a short video that was shown at the Dallas Mavericks game on March 2 in anticipation of Women’s History Month.
Young Women’s Advisory Council
Initiated by the Texas Women’s Foundation, the Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC) is a program of the Young Women’s Initiative (YWI) to empower and affirm young women of color between the ages of 12 and 24. Through collaborative grant research and advocacy, YWI-Dallas and YWI-Houston are amplifying the collective power of young women to identify and address fundamental issues and create solutions for meaningful systemic change.
One perk of being at YWAC is having access to Foundation supporters: the Dallas Mavericks, whose CEO Cynt Marshall also sits on the board of directors of TXWF.
Miki Woodard, president and chief executive officer of the Texas Women’s Foundation, added, “Thank you, Women of the Mavs, for investing your time and talents in our YWAC members, who will be the leaders of the next generation. Your words of wisdom, presence, and encouragement will pay dividends as our young YWAC women prepare to enter the workforce.”
Those on the panel included: Erica Wilson and Alayjah Lee – Healthy Futures of Texas; Anu Shekar, Ph.D.–SMU Center on Research and Evaluation –Evaluator; Misaki Collins, Jessica Sabedra, Angela Nguyen, Bri Mathis and Desiree Scott – Dallas Mavericks WOMEN ERG.
Misaki Collins, a YWAC alumna and Dallas Mavericks external affairs manager, said, “This is a full-circle moment for me as an alumnus of the Young Women’s Advisory Council and now being a Mavs woman who takes the time to teach current YWAC members how to network and prepare for their career path.”
To learn more about YWAC and YWI, visit txwf.org/young-womens-initiative/.
Texas Women’s Foundation
TXWF is transforming Texas for women and girls, empowering them to build stronger and more equal communities. One of the largest women’s foundations in the world, the Foundation raises funds from a broad donor base, including individuals, foundations and corporations. In FY2022, these resources supported more than $7.1 million in investments that advance economic security and leadership for Texas women and girls through research, advocacy, grants and innovative programs. Since inception in 1985, the Foundation has invested $74 million in women and girls, including $60 million since 2011.
The Foundation’s statewide research on issues affecting women and girls provides decision makers and legislators with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs in the state. Its advocacy, grantmaking and innovative programs support solutions that help Texas women and girls thrive. In addition, the Texas Women’s Foundation is a recognized leader and advocate of the gender lens investing movement and has distributed 100% of its assets – endowments, operational investments, and donor-advised funds – in a gender impact portfolio that produces strong financial returns and social benefits to women and girls. For more information, visit txwf.org.
The Dallas Mavericks
A first-class global sports and entertainment organization providing memorable experiences to fans around the world, the Mavs compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Western Conference. They play at the American Airlines Center under the direction of head coach Jason Kidd, general manager Nico Harrison, CEO Cynt Marshall and Governor Mark Cuban. Since the inaugural season in 1980-81, the Mavs have won four division titles, two conference championships and an NBA championship in 2011. In addition to success on the court, the Mavs are committed to making a difference in North Texas through community programs and the Mavs Foundation. For more information on Dallas Mavericks players, staff, stats and tickets, visit mavs.com.
