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Mentoring Girls & Inspiring Sisterhood

Posted on March 3, 2015 by empoweredflowergirl

Event celebrates women, addresses issues impacting girls

March is Women’s History Month and Empowered Flower Girl LLC is inviting a diverse group of women to network and celebrate sisterhood while addressing the issues that impact girls and young women.

“Mentoring Girls & Inspiring Sisterhood,” is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, at the Skyline Club, 2000 Town Center in Southfield. The event is the third in the Inspired Professionals Series, which gives civic- and community-minded individuals a chance to connect with others who care about kids and learn about opportunities to make a difference.

“Mentoring Girls & Inspiring Sisterhood” features a preview of the documentary Redefining Beauty, chronicling the lives of Detroit-area girls who candidly share their fears, dreams, challenges and hopes.

“Our goal is to promote the power of sisterhood and encourage women to celebrate themselves and each other,” said EFG Chief Empowering Officer Rasheda Kamaria, a Royal Oak resident. “We want to make sure that our girls have positive role models to help them as they transition into womanhood.”

Attendees will be pampered and treated to appetizers, a drink ticket, and fabulous giveaways. Tickets are $25.

The first 25 guests to RSVP will receive a special gift. Register with the Skyline Club at 248-350-9898.

Mentoring Girls Flyer Invite

Inspired Professionals Series presents For the Love of (_____): Proclaim Your Passion

Posted on January 31, 2015 by empoweredflowergirl

Networking event unites community and civic minded professionals for a cause

After a successful launch in January with the Mentoring Month Mix & Mingle, the Inspired Professionals Series continues with “For the Love of (_______): Proclaim Your Passion” from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26.

The series is hosted by Empowered Flower Girl (EFG) in partnership with the Skyline Club, 2000 Town Center, in Southfield.

“The Inspired Professionals Series brings together community and civic minded individual for purposeful networking,” said Rasheda Kamaria, EFG chief empowering officer and founder. “For the Love of attendees will have an opportunity to share what they’re up to in the world, build their dream teams and learn from others making a powerful difference.”

Admission is $15 per person and includes appetizers, drink ticket for the lounge after the presentation and giveaways. Reservations are required. Call the Skyline Club at 248-350-9898 to RSVP or email rkamaria@empoweredflowergirl.com for more information.

“For the Love of (_______): Proclaim Your Passion”supports Alternatives for Girls and its mentoring program. Monetary and/or in-kind donations will be accepted.

Thinking about volunteering but don’t know where to start? Empowered Flower Girl’s Rasheda Kamaria offers the following tips to help you find and cultivate your passion:

— Research organizations that focus on the issues you care about the most or create opportunities for yourself to make a difference. Do you want to make the world a better place children and teens? Consider mentoring or tutoring. Passionate about saving the planet? Start a sustainability program at your workplace.

— There are numerous causes and charities in which to get involved. Websites like Idealist.org and Volunteermatch.org are great resources to help you find opportunities that touch, move and inspire you to take action.

For the Love Flyer

Thank Your Mentor Day

Posted on January 15, 2015 by empoweredflowergirl

Mentors make a difference

Imagine being a high school student preparing for your future when suddenly all that you have goes up in flames. That’s what happened to Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew (pictured). At a time when she should have been hanging out with friends, preparing for the SAT or shopping for a homecoming gown, Froswa’ and her family were trying to return to normalcy after being displaced as a result of a house fire.

“I remember our family moving in with different relatives since we could not stay in our house,” Froswa’ said. “During that time, I started to lose my hair from the stress.”

The stress took a toll on Froswa’, but she continued to stay motivated in school. Luckily for Froswa, there was an amazing teacher, Ms. Settlemire, who ttook an interest in her and saw enormous potential.

“I was involved in a number of extracurricular activities, but she thought I should become a part of student government. She encouraged me to run for secretary of the student body and I did,” Froswa’ said.

“Ms. Settlemire went above and beyond her job description as a teacher and became a mentor to Froswa’. “She encouraged me and thought I could do anything. She recommended me to participate in a wonderful camp and when I went to college, I came back as a counselor. This camp was a wonderful experience but it also helped me to meet some amazing people that were instrumental in my early adult life.”

More than 25 years later, Froswa’ and Ms. Settlemire are still in touch via social media. “She did not care about my race or background; she saw my potential and invested in me. I am thankful to her and many others who sowed into my life.”

Ms. Settlemire’s intuition was spot on. Froswa’ is now a successful professional, author and social entrepreneur. She works as a national community engagement director for World Vision’s U.S. Programs and is a recent graduate of Antioch University with a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change. Additionally she is the CEO and founder of Soulstice Consultancy and author of “Rules of Engagement: Making Connections Last.”

Follow Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew on Twitter at @Froswa.

Mentoring works, even for professionals on the go

Posted on January 7, 2015 by empoweredflowergirl

Rasheda Headshot If you’re like most working professionals and entrepreneurs, you’re probably pressed for time. From conferences and luncheons to networking events and fundraisers, your work and social calendars are maxed out on any given day. Not to mention family responsibilities. Carving out time to mentor a young person seems impossible, right? Not necessarily.

Modern technology makes it possible to make a difference without leaving the comfort of your home or office. If you have at least an hour a week and a smartphone, laptop or desktop, you can be a mentor.

Several organizations offer virtual or e-mentoring programs. Your mentee doesn’t have to live in the same city, or country for that matter.

“If you have a big heart and a little time, consider mentoring,” said Rasheda Kamaria, chief empowering officer and founder of Empowered Flower Girl, a Detroit-area social enterprise that works with schools, communities and families seeking solutions to cyberbullying, relational aggression and other social/communication challenges facing teens. “Whether formal or informal, your mentoring relationship can have a tremendous impact even if you just spend an hour a week connecting with your mentee.”

January is National Mentoring Month and Empowered Flower Girl is partnering with the Skyline Club in Southfield, Michigan to launch the new Inspired Professionals series. The three-event series kicks off on Wednesday, Jan. 28 with the Mentoring Month Mix & Mingle. Additional events are scheduled February 26 and March 26. Visit empoweredflowergirl.com/mentor-month for details.

Why Mentor?
Research has shown that when matched through a quality mentoring program, mentors can play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make responsible decisions, stay focused and engaged in school, and reduce or avoid risky behavior like skipping school, drug use and other negative activities.

The Mentoring Effect, a national report commissioned by MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, revealed that young people who were at-risk for not completing high school but who had a mentor were 55 percent more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor.

Inspired Professionals Series Kick Off

Posted on December 20, 2014 by empoweredflowergirl

Teens: Keep it classy online

Posted on October 31, 2014 by empoweredflowergirl

Empowered Flower Girl helps parents navigate social media with Social Secrets workshop

I often wonder do teens truly understand the impact of their social interactions. In particular, how their online activities and interactions affect their chances of getting into college, hired for internships and scholarships.

With today’s competitive job market, teens should be conscious of their digital footprint. We’re not trying to thwart freedom of expression and opinion, but we encourage young people to think before they tweet.

Some corporations and even college admissions staff are turning to social networking to evaluate and recruit employees and students.

From posting expletive-filled rants and inappropriate photos to retweeting explicit lyrics from popular songs, we’ve seen it all.

As parents, aunts, uncles, mentors and educators we must have conversations with our school-aged relatives and students about how they’re using social media.

We encourage youth to use social media for good and as a learning tool. But we also have an obligation to help them become responsible, conscious social citizens.

Beyond Bullying Prevention: The end of bullying begins with empathy and compassion

Posted on October 2, 2014 by empoweredflowergirl

By Rasheda Kamaria

Empowered Flower Girl aims to inspire, entertain and empower youth, communities and families with our programs and online content. This month, National Bullying Prevention Month, I want to go a little further. I want to challenge everyone who reads this post to reach out to a young person and have an authentic conversation about . . . whatever. But what I challenge you to do more than anything, is listen.

Perhaps you’ve read recent headlines about the 14-year-old Florida boy, who after being “bullied his whole life,” committed suicide. Media outlets across the nation reported that the Greenwood Lakes Middle School student’s lifeless body was found in the school’s bathroom. He and his family had reportedly moved from New York to Florida because of bullying.

My heart aches and breaks. Not only for this young man but also for the countless others that we may know or have read about this year who have taken their lives to escape the agony of being harassed and taunted daily. Perhaps us as community leaders, educators, parents and everyday citizens can listen more to our children (and by our children I mean all children).

I believe it’s time we shift from bullying prevention to encouraging and instilling empathy, compassion and acceptance in schools, communities and families.

Rasheda Kamaria is the chief empowering officer and founder of Empowered Flower Girl LLC, a social enterprise that works with schools, communities and families seeking solutions to cyberbullying, drama, relational aggression and other social/communication challenges facing youth. A survivor of bullying, Kamaria was featured in the article “Being Bullied Changed My Life” in the May 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine and has spoken and written numerous articles on the subject.

Be the change. Inspire sisterhood

Posted on July 31, 2014 by empoweredflowergirl

After facilitating Chica Chat workshops for the past three and half years, I noticed a common desire among participants: Girls actually want positive, cordial relationships with other girls.

However some don’t feel confident enough to break the ice. They have a desire to create lasting bonds, but fear vulnerability. Results of our surveys show that the higher girls’ ability in expressing their feelings to others the more likely they are to have satisfaction in friendships.

Who can blame them for their hesitation when popular reality TV shows depict women as drama queens engaged in cat fights, backstabbing and other devious behaviors.

But there’s hope. We can transform the way girls and young women relate to one another. We can be mentors and positive role models. We can turn off the TV and have real conversations with the girls and young women in our lives. We can surround ourselves with uplifting, encouraging and authentic people.

It starts with us.

Chica Chat: Inspiring Sisterhood promotes empowering friendships

Posted on July 21, 2014 by empoweredflowergirl

Participants in the Youth on the Edge of Greatness (YOE) summer program on Detroit’s eastside experienced Empowered Flower Girl’s upgraded Chica Chat workshop “Inspiring Sisterhood.” Approximately 24 girls participated in the Chica Chat, which was offer in conjuntion with YOE’s Girl Talk session. The group of 8-14 year olds explored friendships, frenemies, cyberbullying and stereotyping while learning problem-solving techniques and new ways to relate and communicate with others.

The Chica Chat: Inspiring Sisterhood workshop will be offered again on Aug. 16, 2014 as part of the I Feel Good: Mind, Body and Soul women’s conference at Wayne State University. For more information, visit the event website.

Proactive Parenting: Help Your Children Avoid Social Media Pitfalls

Posted on May 30, 2014 by empoweredflowergirl

OMG! – It’s the reaction many parents have after discovering their child’s social media profiles for the first time. No matter if they’re honors students or academically challenged, many teens are tempted to engage in risky or inappropriate online communication that may be harmful to their virtual and real-life reputation.

Parents should be aware of their children’s social interactions and take action when necessary.

“We advise parents to be proactive about their children’s activities on and offline,” said Rasheda Kamaria, chief empowering officer and founder of Empowered Flower Girl LLC. “Be a role model and set the example instead of being your child’s BFF when it comes to navigating the social world.”

Why?

Because many children and adults alike are unknowingly putting themselves at risk as targets of online predators. Others may be hindering their chances for jobs, internships and even college admissions.

According to a 2013 nationwide survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder, more than 43 percent of hiring managers who research candidates via social media said they found information that caused them not to hire a candidate. The same is true for several U.S. colleges and universities.

A Kaplan-commissioned survey last year found that 31 percent of college admissions officers had visited an applicant’s personal social media page to learn more about them. Significantly, for those trying to get into college, 30 percent of admissions officers revealed they discovered information online that negatively affected an applicant’s prospects.

Here are a few tips for parents to help their children (and even themselves) avoid social sharing pitfalls:

• Have a conversation with your child about his/her social media interactions. You’d be surprised what they may share.
• Model appropriate online etiquette. Be careful what you post and share online as many children mimic their parent’s behavior.
• Set boundaries and inform your child of potential dangers online. The FBI offers valuable tips relating to cyber safety on its website.
• Unplug. Schedule dedicated family time minus media of any kind.

This summer, Empowered Flower Girl will launch a series of proactive parenting workshops. “Social Secrets: What Parents Should Know. What Teens Don’t Want Them To” is the first of the interactive workshops that will be offered. For more information, call 248-629-0334 or email info@empoweredflowergirl.com.