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Athletics, mentorship, and careers were the focus of a recent youth leadership collaboration between Emmanuel College and Girls Inc. of Boston & Lynn.
The “Her Game, Her Future” summit brought more than 40 local youth to the Lynn office of Girls Inc. on Feb. 28th. The daylong event included a future-careers academy and interactive workshops with industry professionals and student volunteers from Emmanuel College.
“When I think about girls in sports, I think about discipline, focus, and leadership,” said Girls Inc. of Boston & Lynn CEO Natalie Martinez. “Those values are important, as they shape our lives and give us the opportunity to be able to create the future we want for ourselves… these are the values we’re exemplifying.”
The keynote speaker for the summit was Emmanuel Track & Field and Cross-Country Coach Dion Gardner-Crichlow. She recently led the women’s indoor track & field team to its third-consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship, and offered some advice about how sports can help build a foundation for success.
“How do you become a champion? How do you become an MVP? It’s by being confident,” said Gardner-Crichlow. “It’s not about the accolades; it’s about the energy, the time, the heart and soul that I put into being who I am. When you put that energy into yourself, you become an extremely confident person.”
The summit was organized by Emmanuel’s Office of Community Engagement and the Girls Inc. College & Career Readiness Program. Emmanuel’s Director of Student Success and Community Engagement Fillette Lovaincy said the collaboration builds on a shared commitment to student growth, equitable access to opportunity, and educating the whole person.
“It’s really about connecting with both resources and individuals,” said Lovaincy. “These connections can help illustrate what college entails and where the youth can go from here, and that experience is also very meaningful for our students as well.”
“This partnership is a true testament to the amazing work and visionary leadership of Fillette Lovaincy, whose commitment to community, service, and impact continues to set the standard,” added Emmanuel Vice President of Community Engagement Dr. Keith Lezama, Jr. “We are deeply honored to partner with Girls Inc. and to be part of such an extraordinary day.”
The summit featured a Future Careers Academy - with a curriculum developed by the Coca-Cola company - to highlight sports-adjacent professions such as broadcasting, event management, and leadership. With its longstanding connection to FIFA, Coca-Cola launched the academy in February to highlight that it takes far more than players in jerseys to bring an event like the 2026 FIFA World Cup to life.
More than 20 Emmanuel Saints volunteered to help run the hybrid academy. They helped students navigate the online portions of the academy, which featured perspectives from leading industry voices, and encouraged the youth to discuss their interests afterward.
Education major Sydney Gonzales ’26 was among the students who helped run the academy. She said it was time well spent.
“It was great to learn about what they’re interested in, and get them thinking about career paths for the future,” said Gonzales.
Accounting major Yelianis Veloz ’27 grew up in Lynn and was once enrolled in the Girls Inc. after-school program. She was an only child at the time, and remembered it as a friendly place, where she could socialize in a supportive environment. She said it was great to help provide that experience for others.
“I just wanted to be able to give back, and be a good mentor for students who were in the same shoes as me,” said Veloz.
“Emmanuel Track & Field and Cross-Country Coach Dion Gardner-Crichlow“What we get out of sports is empowerment. You start believing in yourself, you start realizing you can do things you never thought you could."
