High school student smiles while sitting in a conference room with other students.

On May 29, Spokane Public Schools hosted the third annual Empowering Young Women Summit—a day dedicated to helping students build confidence, develop leadership skills, and start thinking about their futures.

Each year, we bring together inspiring local women and students from across the district, hoping to spark meaningful conversations and open doors to new possibilities..

This year, 96 students from Ferris, Lewis and Clark, North Central, Rogers, Shadle Park, On Track Academy, The Community School, and other schools within the NEWESD 101 region joined us for the event. From panel discussions to open Q&A sessions, students had plenty of opportunities to engage with speakers, ask real questions, and get an inside look at a wide range of careers.

2025 Empowering Young Women Summit by Spokane Schools

This year’s speakers came from all kinds of backgrounds—education, public service, healthcare, business, nonprofit leadership—and they brought heart and honesty to the conversations. They shared personal stories, talked about what they’ve learned along the way, and gave students practical advice.

Speaker Dana Haynes, owner of Dandles Candles and media professional, described the challenges she’s faced when women are pitted against one another in professional settings.

“In women-driven businesses, we often want to compete. Instead, we should embrace one another and support each other. The more small businesses there are, the better for everyone,” she said.

Haynes combines her media background with the hustle of running her own candle business, and she was refreshingly honest about the ups and downs of being a woman in business. Her message?

“Lift each other up. Celebrate with one another. There's room for everyone.”

We’re incredibly thankful to the 20 amazing women who volunteered their time to be part of the summit. They didn’t just show up—they shared their journeys, answered tough questions, and reminded students that success looks different for everyone. Events like this matter. They give students real-world insight, help build confidence and show them that there’s no single or “right” path in life.

More than anything, this summit reminded all in attendance that when women come together to share knowledge and support each other, powerful things happen.

Here’s a big thank-you to this year’s speakers:

  • Nikki Butler, STCU

  • Alisha Benson, Greater Spokane Incorporated

  • Lori Hunt, Spokane Colleges

  • Lisa Gardner, NAACP

  • Nikki Otero Lockwood, Spokane Public Schools

  • Ty Miller, Integrus Architecture

  • Sheena Enslow, Indaba Coffee

  • Dana Haynes, Dandles Candles

  • Charlotte Nemec, Canopy Credit Union

  • Rose Noble, Visit Spokane

  • Kelly Fukai, Washington Tech Association

  • Amy Mensick, Williams Kastner & Gibbs PLLC

  • Erica Norris, Talk Fast Social

  • Theresa Fuller, Spokane Police Department

  • Julie Oberg, Spokane Fire Department

  • Cheryl Stewart, Associated General Contractors

  • Lizzy Bennet, Student at Gonzaga University

  • Sarah Chalich, Spokane Community College

  • Maddy Jarrard, Spokane Regional Health District

  • Jessica Laughery, Hutton Settlement

We also want thanks the partners who helped bring this event to life: STCU for sponsoring the summit, Spokane Colleges for the awesome swag, and NEWTech Prep for keeping everyone fed.

We’re proud of our students, thankful for our speakers, and excited to keep building a community where young women can see themselves as the leaders they’re meant to be.