SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Nicole Parra (D-Hanford) served as the keynote speaker at the graduation proceedings for the Female Leadership Academy 2005/2006. The Female Leadership Academy Project is presented by ACT for Women and Girls, the Kaweah Delta Health Care District, and is sponsored by the Women’s Foundation of California.

“Congratulations to all of tonight’s graduates,” said Assemblywoman Parra. “You really do represent the future of not only the Central Valley, but the State of California. Your hard work and commitment to public service is setting a fantastic example for your communities.”

The Female Leadership Academy is the primary project of the Advocacy Coalition of Tulare County for Women and Girls (ACT), a volunteer based group of people who are committed to eradicating the oppression that lies deep in the roots of Tulare County and its surrounding Central Valley region. They empower women to be leaders and raise their voices to be heard in ways that impact our society.

This year is the inaugural class of 12 graduates. The Women’s Foundation of California funded this pilot project and ACT partnered with Kaweah Delta’s Youth Connect Program. This Academy targets young women living in Tulare County between the ages of 15-22. It is an eight month program with bimonthly skills building and leadership development meetings, four all day retreats, attending statewide conferences (ie., International Women’s Day), lobbying in Sacramento and completing community projects.

This year’s class, the first-ever graduating class of the Female Leadership Project, is comprised of the following individuals:

The primary objectives of the Leadership Academy are: to increase knowledge of women’s issues internationally, nationally, statewide and locally; to develop leadership skills among local women and girls; and to provide opportunities that connect local women and girls to statewide and national initiatives and movements.