Olympic Gold Medalist, Financial Expert to Speak at ODU Conference for Girls and Young Women

May 07, 2013

Clenise Platt

Olympic gold medalist Francena McCorory will speak at the fifth annual Hampton Roads Conference for Girls and Young Women at Old Dominion University on Saturday, May 18.

The theme of this year's conference is "Girls Rule the World: Enjoying Your Journey." Life skills coaching expert Clenise Platt will serve as the keynote speaker. Founder and president of The Plattinum Group, a life and leadership development company, Platt will speak at 9 a.m. McCorory will give her talk during the afternoon portion of the conference.

Barbara Hamm Lee, host and executive producer of WHRO's "Another View," will introduce the speakers and serve as moderator.

Sponsored by ODU's Community Development Corporation (ODU CDC), the conference is designed to educate and empower young women to become productive citizens. During the 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. conference, participants will gather in ODU's Webb Center to attend workshops and take part in hands-on activities that build leadership skills, facilitate career development, and promote active and healthy lifestyles and self-esteem.

The conference workshops will address a variety of issues, such as body image, healthy lifestyles and leadership.

Ann Grandy, executive director of ODU CDC, said the conference was developed to provide a forum to explore some of the complex and challenging issues facing young women today. "It's empowering for our conference attendees to hear speakers like Clenise Platt and Francena McCorory speak about their own challenges, and how they overcame them," Grandy said.

McCorory, from Hampton, won two NCAA championships in the 400 meters, establishing the
American indoor record in the distance at age 22. Winning gold at the 2011 World Track and Field Championships, McCorory also captured an Olympic gold medal in London last summer as a member of the women's 4x400-meter relay team.

McCorory, who lives and trains in her hometown, is a graduate of Bethel High School and Hampton University.

Platt is an award-winning author, talk show host, columnist, writer/producer, community leader and motivational speaker. A former worker in the financial field, she received a master's degree in psychology from ODU, with an emphasis on industrial and organizational psychology.

As a financial expert, Platt actively helps individuals, families, businesses, churches and organizations plan for a sound and meaningful financial future. She shares her expertise in financial columns in The Virginian-Pilot and during local television appearances.

For more information about the Hampton Roads Conference for Girls and Young Women or to register, see the conference page at the ODU CDC website: http://www.odu.edu/ao/cdc/activities/leadershipconf.shtml.

The conference is sponsored by State Farm Insurance and SunTrust.

Granted a charter by the State Corporation Commission of Virginia in 2006, the ODU CDC was created to engage in a variety of activities primarily intended to revitalize the communities, develop the human and physical capital of the neighborhoods, improve the lives of the residents of neighborhoods, and support the community development interests of Old Dominion University.