Five seniors and two alumni attended the 25th Annual YWCA Silicon Valley Inspire Luncheon today.

Seniors Naomi Molin, Helen Woodruff, Melina Nakos, Adele Li and Ayushi Gautam were nominated by their teachers to attend the event, which was centered around the theme of eliminating racism and empowering women. Two Harker alumni, Aisha Khan (‘99) and Emma Hawley (’04), were invited by Harker faculty to join the school’s representatives at the Inspire luncheon.

Before the luncheon began, the students and Khan met the event’s speakers, Helen Hunt and Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda. Gumbonzvanda talked to the students as she entered the event and expressed her appreciation that young girls had the opportunity to get involved in the organization’s work.

Working in Netflix for talent acquisition and recruiting, Khan shared her interest regarding the topic of the luncheon.

“Women and diversity have been really hot topics for all companies and industries this year, even in recruiting,” Khan said. “That’s something that’s really top of mind, diversity, inclusivity and obviously making sure that women have a voice and are empowered.”

After lunch was served, Tanis Crosby, the CEO of YWCA Silicon Valley, outlined the purpose and goals of the organization. Crosby also introduced the YWCA’s project to build healing centers, which provide therapy and counseling for women in the Silicon Valley.

“Our nation calls upon us to tackle our community’s most urgent and pressing issues, and
we are ready to do just that,” Crosby said. “We’re like social engineers who make life better, challenge the status quo, and, yes, ultimately we change the world.”

Next, Gumbonzvanda spoke about her journey in pursuing social justice. In describing her experiences as a child, she highlighted the need for more education and technology to empower women. At the end of her speech, she received the YWCA Silicon Valley’s inaugural Empowerment Award.

“This experience of knowing the meaning of exclusion of poverty of conflict made me believe in social justice to the core,” Gumbonzvanda said about the effect of her childhood experiences. “What I do is not a job, but it’s life because many of the girls and women out there do not have choices.”

Following Gumbonzvanda, Hunt shared her point of view as a women in the entertainment industry and her thoughts about restorative justice.

“Often what the victim needs is to make less pain, not more pain, to promote healing for both themselves and the perpetrator so that there is no more offending,” Hunt said. “I have come to believe that ‘I am because we are’ and we will not be healed until all of us are healed.”

The seniors left the event after Hunt’s speech and returned to the Upper School by the start of 2nd period. Naomi thought that Gumbonzvanda’s speech was one of the highlights of the event.

“I liked the sheer size of the event, there were so many people here to celebrate female empowerment,” Naomi said.

The YWCA’s next events include Walk a Mile In Her Shoes, a marathon at Santana Row in June, and Get Pumped, a series of group fitness classes.