FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNTIL August 10, 2013
Contact: Kamala Benjamin
Coordinator, Girls Are Talking Conference/Program Committee, Camp Diva
Phone: 804-644-2357
Girls from throughout Central Virginia – ages 11-18 – will be ‘talking’ as they gather together for the 11th Annual Girls Are Talking Conference, sponsored by FRIENDS Association for Children, Camp Diva, and Girls For A Change. The conference will take place Friday, August 9, 2013, 6-10 p.m., and Saturday, August 10, 2013, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., in the Workforce Development Building of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, 1651 East Parham Road, in Richmond, Virginia. This year’s theme is “DARE TO DREAM”, will feature 21 year old entrepreneur, Jasmine Lawrence as the keynote speaker.
At the age of 13, Lawrence founded and created EDEN BodyWorks, which manufactures and distributes natural hair care products. “She’s a great role model for girls and is a good fit for our theme this year,” explains Angela Patton, Founder and Director of co-sponsoring organization Camp Diva. “Jasmine was a young girl, just like them, who saw a need and dared to create her own products. Then, even though she found success before she became an adult, she still valued education.” Lawrence went on after high school to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she is currently a senior. Lawrence will speak during lunch on Saturday.
The conference will kick off Friday with dinner, a social change workshop led by Girls For A Change, followed by a Hoop Jam, where girls will be invited to join hula hoopers for a little ‘play’ time before getting a good night’s rest for Saturday’s activities.
Saturday will feature workshops and guided discussions focused on girl empowerment, life skills, financial literacy, relationships, health and wellness, sexual health, and more. After lunch, there will be a “Beauty Break,” during which vendors will present their products, and the girls will be treated to free samples, chair massages, and much more. The afternoon will feature hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities in J. Sargeant Reynolds’ state of the art science labs, followed by a closing speaker.
Patton says that “everything is designed to get girls excited about their futures, and this year, specifically about opportunities in STEM-related careers. It’s a chance for girls to find their ‘it,’ all while they learn about the importance of loving and taking care of themselves.”
Registration is $25 per girl, and pre-registration is available online at www.campdiva.org/girlsaretalking.
To volunteer or sponsor a girl, please visit the online site, or call Kamala Benjamin at 804-644-2357.
The 11th Annual Girls Are Talking Conference: DARE TO DREAM
Friday, August 9, 2013 (6-10 p.m.) & Saturday, August 10, 2013 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Workforce Development Building, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College,
1651 East Parham Road, Richmond, VA
