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<p class="m-2569473279581485554msotitle"><b><u>PRESS RELEASE</u><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 3.05.18</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size:12.0pt">FROM: YWCA MISSOULA<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">CONTACT: Margaret Hoyt, 543-6691, mhoyt@ywcaofmissoula.org<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<h2 style="margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-1.5in"><span style="text-transform:uppercase">SUBJECT:</span> “YWCA Holds Trades Exploration Spring Break Program for Girls”<o:p></o:p></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span lang="EN" style="color:black">MISSOULA – YWCA’s new program GRIT, or
<i>Girls Representing in Trades</i>, will hold a middle school trades exploration camp during the week of spring break. The program is open to girls* in grades 6-8, and will give participants a fun introduction to the trade fields, including hands-on experience
with carpentry, welding, mechanics and more. Girls who enjoy problem solving, using their hands, and working as a team are encouraged to sign up!
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The GRIT middle school program will run March 26th-30<sup>th</sup> at Missoula College West. Throughout the week, girls will learn basic skills in carpentry, welding, heavy equipment, mechanics and electrical, and
they’ll visit local businesses and job sites to see those skills being turned into exciting and rewarding careers. The program will emphasize the importance of working together, identifying personal strengths, setting and reaching goals, and forming positive
friendships.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">YWCA Missoula launched the GRIT Program in 2016 with a goal of empowering young women to explore trades and skill-based work as attainable careers. Women currently make up less than three percent of the construction
and extraction workforce, and only five percent of all students enrolled in high school technical programs. However, trades careers offer excellent wages and personally fulfilling, meaningful work. GRIT gives girls the opportunity to learn in a
<span lang="EN" style="color:black">safe, supportive, and fun environment that lessens the intimidation that often exists
</span><span style="color:black">in male-dominated fields and prevents girls from pursuing their interests.</span>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">The registration and program fee for GRIT’s middle school spring break program is offered on a sliding-fee scale. Scholarships are also available to ensure that cost is not a barrier for anyone who would like to
participate.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in">Registration for the middle school spring break program can be done
<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhYT7FJNnLDzsvHRUnHfJyMkADzc-ZQV7Cj61qrsA0QUzR9Q/viewform">
<span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">online</span></a> or by completing an application at YWCA Missoula. The deadline is March 19.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="color:black">For more information on GRIT programs, contact Margaret Hoyt at YWCA Missoula at 543-6691 or
</span><a href="mailto:mhoyt@ywcaofmissoula.org"><span lang="EN">mhoyt@ywcaofmissoula.org</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color:black">.
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black">*</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt">Interested participants who identify with girlhood or womanhood are welcome to join, including participants who
are transgender or are outside the gender binary and feel that GRIT could be beneficial or enjoyable to them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN" style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN" style="color:black">Founded in 1911, YWCA Missoula is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Learn more at
</span></i><a href="http://www.ywcaofmissoula.org"><i><span lang="EN">www.ywcaofmissoula.org</span></i></a><i><span lang="EN" style="color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN" style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span lang="EN" style="color:black"> ###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Becky Margolis<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Communications Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">YWCA Missoula<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">1130 W. Broadway<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Missoula, MT 59802<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">P: (406) 543-6691 F: (406) 543-6777<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><a href="ywcaofmissoula.org">ywcaofmissoula.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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