A panel of female role models met Tuesday, May 27, 2003 as part of the Detroit Shock Steps to Success Forum, presented by National City Cank, held at Wayne County Community College. Panel members included Shock players Swin Cash, Barb Farris, Cheryl Ford, and Assistant Coach Pamela McGee, as well as Shock Vice President of Operations Kristen Bernert, WJLB Announcer Kris Kelley, Richetta Akins of National City Bank, Detroit Free Press Columnist Rochelle Riley, and Lisa Jackson of WCCC.

Approximately 100 metro Detroit Girl Scouts between the ages of 12 - 14 arrived to take part in the forum, which was established to allow young women to freely discuss important issues with female role models in a positive atmosphere. Young women were encouraged to maintain a core value system and make smart decisions.

Bernert began by emphasizing the purpose of the program followed by an introduction of the panelists. WCCC Northwest Campus President Dr. Hattie Johnson-Norris welcomed the participants while Kris Kelley acted as the moderator during the forum.

“This event was wonderful,” said WJLB Announcer Kris Kelly. “We discussed important women’s issues, and the girls got really involved and asked wonderful questions.”

Topics discussed were setting and reaching goals, women in the workforce, self-image, and finding time to do it all. Each topic discussed included a question and answer period during which participants were encouraged to ask the panelists questions and present issues to discuss. The panelists focused on solutions to allow young women to achieve success and reach goals while illustrating examples from their own lives.

“This event was for the young girls,” said Farris. “As professional athletes, we take being role-models very seriously. The time we spent with these young girls today was very important towards building their self-esteem and their personal value systems. It wasn’t long ago we were all in their shoes beginning to carve our paths in the game of life.”