Goleta Magazine 2022-2023 - 24

COMMUNITY STORY
HER FESTIVAL
Student Role Models
Top, left: Festival
attendees enjoying
the HER Festival sign
photo opportunity.
Top, right: (Center)
Mia and Cami Chou
recognized at the
2021 Goleta's Finest
Awards with (left)
Chamber President &
CEO Kristen Miller and
(right) Brooks Wise of
Pacific Premier Bank.
Below, (l-r): Festival
Founders Mia Chou,
Geneva Walman
Randall, and Cami
Chou.
FROM AN EARLY age, twins
Mia and Cami Chou were interested
in engineering and science
but found few female peers in their
classes, leaving them feeling isolated.
As the gender
imbalance
became more apparent, they
decided to do something. They
helped found the Voices of the
Community at Dos Pueblos High
School in Goleta, with the goal of
ensuring that the voices of underrepresented
groups are heard.
Jackson inspired attendees with
their
booths offered opportunities
inspirational words. Over 60
for
young women to talk with female
engineers, Marines, and business
owners about their journeys.
''
Out of that group came an idea
for a small event focused on young
women interested in STEM programs.
As word spread, they were
encouraged to think bigger and
reach higher. So they did.
On
On
March
8,
2020,
International Women's
Day, over 60 organizations,
non-profits, and
businesses celebrated
and empowered
the next generation
of female leaders at
the HER Festival in
Goleta. Role models
Limón
like Senator Monique
former
and
Senator
Hannah
Beth
We were able to
meet incredible
organizations and
businesses, becoming
deeply connected
with the community. "
Mia and Cami said the Her Festival
taught them many practical skills,
but they found the less tangible
aspects most valuable. They learned
the importance of strong community
support, the need for a passion for
sustaining them through the endless
hours of planning and preparation,
and the value of teamwork. Now
they are applying these lessons in
their collegiate lives as well.
Cami currently studies engineering
at UCLA, and Mia studies engineerBY
VALER I E CANT EL L A
24 GOLETA MAGAZINE SBSCChamber.com
ing and business at UC Berkeley. Both
remain passionate about bringing
female representation to these
underrepresented disciplines and
becoming role models for younger
students.
They appreciate returning to the
tight-knit community where they
grew up. The things they enjoy
most-Goleta's small-town feeling
where you run into people you
know around town and the natural
beauty.
They are also extremely grateful
for their parents, Ri-Pen and
Silvan Chou, who supported them
throughout their journey and the
massive challenges of planning
the Her Festival.
Mia said, " They helped ground us
and give us important emotional
support and perspective that we
sometimes lost while we tackled
obstacle after obstacle. We definitely
would not have been able to
get through everything without their
support. "
The HER festival received a special
recognition at the Chamber's 2021
Goleta's Finest event.
http://www.SBSCChamber.com
Goleta Magazine 2022-2023

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