GIRLS WITH GOALS

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

October 17, 2015

More than 60 girls attended the Garland Kiwanis “Girls With Goals” 9th Annual Leadership Conference, on Saturday, October 17th at Bussey Middle School. The theme of the Day’s Leadership Event was “Dream, Believe, Pursue”.

The GISD Light Brigade group welcomed the girls with a team building activity called “Boom! Snap! Clap!”

Life Coach and INSPIRE U Coaching and Educational Services Director, Sonya Parker Goode, spoke to the girls on setting life goals. She emphasized “12 things you can do to put your “best self” forward, and be the best person you can be. She advised the girls to have Dreams, work towards them and never let anyone or anything come between them and their dreams!. Parker followed up her presentation with an activity…”putting your Best Face Forward!”

“Girl Talk: Keep it Fresh! was the message from Dr. Sherri Morgan, MD Family Practitioner, at Baylor Medical

Center of Garland. The focus of her discussion with the girls was on the impact of puberty and the importance of feminine hygiene and personal care.

Officer Jessica Chittamai, NPO from the Garland Police Department, spoke on “Social Media and Bullying”. She began with a video that discusses how the use of Social Media is rampant among teens and preteens and the dangers of meeting people online.  A discussion of “what is inappropriate” for posting and/or on-line conversation

followed.  She stressed that if it is not someone you know in person (from school, church, or neighborhood) you don’t have any business talking to them online or otherwise.

A panel of women, “Ladies of Distinction” included Officer Jessica Chittamai, Engineer Christine Hauk, Dr. Sherri Morgan, Captain Elizabeth Rascon, U.S. Army Commander of the Cavalry, and Financial Advisor, Genai Walker-Macklin addressed the leadership role of women in our communities and the commitment necessary to ourselves and to each other.

* Officer Chittamai, spoke on “having a plan and succeeding in spite of the odds”.

* Christine Hauk spoke on keeping things in perspective, setting and getting your goals accomplished

and the importance of being able to support yourself.

* Dr. Morgan spoke on the importance of working, volunteering in the community and the importance of “giving back” to your community.”

* Commander Rascon spoke about finding your passion, serving your country and going to college. Her

passion was horses and how school and community leaders and sponsors in programs like 4-H, JROTC influenced her journey, her appointment to West Point, her deployment to Afghanistan and

her eventual dream job as Commander of the Cavalry at Fort Hood in Killeen.

Her message: “Find your passion, follow your dreams”.

* Genai Walker-Macklin spoke on her journey to become a financial advisor from her career as a professional basketball player.  She began with her college scholarship in basketball at the University of Arkansas, and she found she loved math.  She got a degree in math and began a professional basketball career in Europe with the WNBA.  She worked as a bank officer at the same time she worked as a basketball player. She currently works for Morgan-Stanley and focuses on financial planning for minorities and athletes.

Elvia Flores, Founder of “Girls With Goals” says, “We bring girls together to learn about all of the positive possibilities that exist in our community and country. This is a day consisting of positive influences for the girls, with a focus on their futures and becoming leaders in their peer groups, schools, churches and communities.”

For more information on this Program contact Elvia Flores 214-215-6796 or [email protected] or Priscilla Wilson 972-754-7105 or [email protected].