Ayanna O'Kimosh Will Keynote Third Annual State of Wisconsin Girls Summit

Alverno College will host the third annual State of Wisconsin Girls Summit on October 9, which will feature keynote speaker Ayanna O’Kimosh, a 13-year-old three-time national boxing champion from Keshena, Wis.

The State of Wisconsin Girls Summit is an opportunity for girls, community leaders, agencies that serve girls and the general public to have thoughtful, productive conversations and celebrate the contributions of girls to our community

O’Kimosh is a member of the Oneida Nation and a descendant of the Menominee and Arikara nations who seeks to raise awareness of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls and teach self-defense to girls on the reservation. Her motivation is personal. In June 2020, a relative of O’Kimosh was reported missing from the Menominee reservation.

“Ayanna not only embodies physical strength,” said Lindsey Harness, Ph.D., director of the Alverno College Research Center for Women and Girls. “She represents mental, emotional and spiritual strength as well. We are thrilled to have her keynote as she truly demonstrates multi-dimensional wellness, self-empowerment and peer-to-peer empowerment.”

This year’s event will be virtual, with wellness as the theme. There will be several breakout sessions encouraging girls to take care of themselves physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. O’Kimosh’s keynote address begins at 10 a.m.

For more information and to register for the Girls Summit, visit alverno.edu/Research-Girls-Summit.

Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast are partners of the event, and sponsors include Catalyst Construction.