CASCILLA — Another year, another opportunity to empower girls to continue the path of being their best selves.
Charleston High School Class of 1983 alumnus Norma Jean Bradford and her nonprofit, WIAS-Best Intentions Community and Family Services, sponsored the fourth annual Girls’ Empowerment Retreat in Cascilla, June 26-27.
Over the two-day period, 26 girls attended. We spent two days educating, sharing, instilling, inspiring, exposing and, hopefully, making a positive impact in these young girls’ lives! The goals of the retreat continue to be:
• Equip girls with leadership techniques and communication skills.
• Educate, expose and empower.
• Improve and instill levels of confidence/self-esteem in girls.
• Mental health awareness
During our retreats, we always start off with a continental breakfast, then an icebreaker to loosen everyone up.
The topics that we touched on included: the importance of education, different types of communication skills, social media and its consequences (good and bad), etiquette and early stages of finance. We also let them paint portraits that they could take home. They were given the opportunity to speak freely, exchange experiences and ask the presenters questions on any of the topics. We reiterated that it was their retreat, and we were there for them.
When the girls arrived on day two, they were excited and ready to receive what we had to offer. We started with an icebreaker, then Dr. Arletha Coffey provided an amazing, hands-on presentation on a variety of health topics and good hygiene. Dr. Coffey also broke the girls out into groups, gave a topic and they had to get up and present to the group — reinforcing confidence, speaking in front of others and thinking.
After lunch, Mrs. Sarah Monger presented about vaping and the consequences of vaping. Some of the girls shared that they would let their family members know about what they learned.
Later, Dr. Eddie Ruth Bradford spent time with the girls discussing mental health issues and coping skills. Dr. Bradford’s session is becoming a favorite among the girls. All other adults are removed from the room, and they speak openly about some of the issues that they are experiencing. We believe we reached our goals by sharing experiences and techniques, interaction, providing leadership opportunities and allowing girls to share in a safe, no-judgment environment.
As in years past, my mindset continues to be that if we can help at least one girl navigate through some of life’s experiences, then we are making an impact.
I love to see some of the girls come back year after year. My hope is that each one of the girls knows that she is unique and valued, and feels more empowered, confident and inspired to accomplish her goals in life.
We see our young selves in them and feel that it is important for us to give back to our local communities! As always, everything is free to the girls!
Presenters at the recent Girls’ Empowerment Retreat at Cascilla were, from left, Col. (Ret.) Norma Bradford, Dr. Eddie Ruth Bradford, Dr. Arletha Coffey and Mrs. Sarah Monger. (Photo special to The Sun-Sentinel)
Thank you to our volunteers and presenters, Dr. Eddie Ruth Bradford, Dr. Arletha Coffey, Mrs. Sarah Monger, Sandra Brooks, Louise Andrews, Bernice Bradford and Mary Andrews!
Thank you to our sponsors, Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Cascilla, Bessie Watson, Latoya Young, Bonita Seals, Alesha Garvey, Lennie Wilks, Dorothy Britton, Bernice Bradford and Marilyn Shepard!
