DC High School Hosts Women Transit Professionals to Inspire Younger Generation

VICTORIA ULRICH
Intern, Workforce Development
APTA

Celebrating women in the transportation industry, Cardozo High School hosted a group of industry professional to meet with students over lunch to discuss career aspirations. Women working in the industry from APTA, COMTO, and WTS volunteered to meet with the students to discuss the variety of roles and career opportunities available across the industry, as well as to share advice as women in the workforce.

After the discussion, students created and shared poster boards to reflect on their dreams, life, and career aspirations. Two students were selected by their peers as class leaders and given a pen and notebook to recognize their leadership, encouraging them to continue showing leadership qualities throughout life.

“Our engagement with the students at Cardozo wasn’t just about sharing what we do, it was about opening doors. Programs like this help young women see that public transportation is not just a service, but a career path where they can lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact in their communities,” said one of the volunteers, Jewel Bell, assistant chief transportation officer at Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Showing her appreciation, APTA Senior Director of Workforce Development Cherise Myers said, “Cheryl Rodgers and her team at Cardozo along with the students and staff are visionaries, we look forward to working with them again.”

The event was a great way to celebrate women by uplifting the next generation of workers and discussing career opportunities to come through hard work and dedication. It was also a good way to discuss the many different career paths public transit has to offer for the young women going into the next chapter of their life.