VAN NUYS : Career Forum for Girls Scheduled

The Los Angeles Unified School District is sponsoring a weekend conference in Van Nuys to help high school girls, especially Latinas, learn about career opportunities.

The conference to be held at Valley College on Saturday is called “Adelante, Mujer Hispana,” or “Forward, Hispanic Woman.” Students 14 to 18 years old are eligible to attend and can sign up through their school’s career adviser.

The free conference will emphasize careers in vocational and “non-traditional fields” such as agriculture, said Carol Mares, an adviser with the district’s office of career equity services. Workshops will feature women speakers from a variety of fields. Actress Evelina Fernandez, who recently appeared in the film “American Me,” will deliver the keynote address. Translation will be provided for Spanish-speaking conferees.

Transportation to the college will be available from several school sites throughout the district, Mares said. Free child care will be available for the conference, which is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The conference is being paid for by a grant from the California Department of Education. It is sponsored by the office of career equity services and the Comision Femenil de San Fernando Valley, Mares said.