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Impact

Mentoring Makes Its Mark

Tips from an expert can really build your confidence. Local reporter Nicole Brodeur teams up with 13 year-old Deshawna Sanders to conduct the perfect interview.....

Thirteen-year-old Deshawna Sanders is the editor for the Renway Spectacle, her Boys & Girls Club newspaper. Deshawna loves to read, draw cartoons about tofu robots, and wants to be a “Doctor of Literature” when she grows up. When Boys & Girls Clubs of King County decided to put together a special girls edition of the countywide newsletter to celebrate InfluenceHer, we knew exactly which Club kid would be right for the job!

Deshawna was asked to interview Kathryn Garrison with Moss Adams, one of the women behind the InfluenceHer initiative. Nicole Brodeur of the Seattle Times attended the Summit in April and volunteered to mentor Deshawna through the interview.

“What are the things that you really want to know about Kathryn Garrison?” Nicole asked Deshawna.

Nicole gave Deshawna tips about interesting things to talk to subjects about. “I always like to ask people what they do to relax, or what they like to read,” said Nicole. “These are great questions to ask people so that the reader can get to know them as a person.”

The interview was a huge success, and Nicole and Deshawna made a great team. “I feel like Nicole really helped me learn to ask good questions,” Deshawna said after the interview. “I am really excited I had the chance to learn from Nicole and Kathryn.”

InfluenceHer Spotlight

Women get involved with InfluenceHer for many different reasons. For former BGCKC Board Chair Mary Marino, it’s personal. Like most women growing up in the ‘50s and ‘60s, Mary experienced a clear line separating boys’ and girls’ roles. As a straight-A student, Mary remembers being distraught when she brought home her first B, in math. Her mom’s response was telling, “That’s alright dear, girls aren’t supposed to be good at math.” Today, as a CPA and partner in her firm, Mary has excelled in a field that has been traditionally male. She knows firsthand that it isn’t easy for girls to pursue passions that stray outside of convention. By being a part of InfluenceHer, Mary is supporting girls in reaching for their dreams, whatever those dreams may be.