The Ann Bancroft Foundation (ABF) is hosting its first-ever Girlhood Summit 2024 on Nov. 2. This day-long
event will bring together youth, educators, parents, and community members to explore and celebrate the evolving
narrative of girlhood. The summit will offer inspiring programs and activities designed to empower girl-identifying middle and high school students from across Minnesota. One of the Girlhood Summit youth advisors who is also an ABF Trailblazer Grant recipient is Cottage Grove resident Oluwatomini (“Tomi”) Ola. Tomi is an ABF DreamMaker and Trailblazer Grant recipient, and mental healthadvocate who strives to increase education and literacy in African immigrant communities. She also lends her voice to the Minnesota Young Women’s Cabinet and is a youth advisor at the Girlhood Summit, working to ensure
equity across the board during the summit. Tomi attended the World Childhood Foundation Summer Institute as a
Carlson Scholar to raise awareness about child sexual abuse, exploitation, and violence by educating and
engaging African immigrant and refugee youth as part of the solution to address this growing epidemic.
Tomi is a Nigerian immigrant and recent St. Kate's graduate (she's now in grad school there). Would you be
interested in interviewing Tomi about the work she's doing through her ABF Trailblazer Grant and with MYWC? We
can also arrange for you to talk with arctic explorer and ABF Founder Ann Bancroft or ABF Executive Director
Ethelind B. Kaba.