We weren’t kidding when we said we were turning it up a notch at this year’s 2nd Annual STARS Citywide Girls Leadership Summit on June 9th (RSVP here!!). Our line-up of inspiring, enterprising women include none other than Wendy Hilliard.
Wendy is a member of the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (insert standing ovation). She was the first African-American to represent the US in rhythmic gymnastics, paving the way for athletes to come. She later coached in the 1996 Olympics and became an Olympic Sportscaster. Wendy was the Director of Sports for the NYC 2012 Olympic Bid.
Wendy forged ahead to achieve yet another first, this time with the Women’s Sports Foundation as the premiere African-American President.
In 1996, she founded the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, “WHGF”, which has provided free and low cost gymnastics for over 15,000 urban youth in NYC. Wendy’s gymnastics training was through the Detroit Recreation Department.
In 2016, she plans to expand her gymnastics foundations program to include Detroit.
Wendy lives in Harlem with her husband, Bobby Mensah and 2 sons, Kennedy “KC “(13) and Bailey “BJ” (10). Fun fact: she also includes Broadway performer on her resume!
Wendy writes about children and youth sports which can be found on her website, www.wendyhilliard.org.
