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Bullying Prevention #Tips4Teens: Stand up for yourself (and others)

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From teasing and bullying to hazing and stalking, many teens across the country have experienced some form of harassment.

While nearly 30% of U.S. 6th-12th graders report being bullied at school, others are suffering in silence.

Empowered Flower Girl LLC, a social enterprise with a mission to transform the way young people relate to one another, encourages students to stand up for themselves and others as the school year kicks into high gear.

Chief Empowering Officer Rasheda Kamaria offers the following tips to help students handle conflict:

Speak up: Even if you lack confidence or feel afraid, speak up and out against harassment and bullying. Let the person know that you do not approve of his or her actions. No, means no.

Get help: If the teasing, bullying or harassment persist, tell a trusted adult at the school (in addition to a parent or caregiver). School counselors are a great resource and can help you get through the conflict peacefully.

Keep records: Be sure to keep track of any and all incidences and attempts to get help. This will come in handy during any mediation meetings.

Be the change: Hurt people hurt people. Often, bullies have been victims of bullying themselves at some point in their lives. If you’re feeling down and out, find a way to express your feelings (minus the mean). Giving compliments, volunteering or doing something nice for others can brighten your day.

Have more tips to help young people overcome teasing, bullying and other conflict? Share your thoughts with us using #tips4teens. Twitter: @efgempowered

 

Go Back to School Empowered

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Across the country, students are experiencing their first day of school – some in new schools, others returning to a familiar place. No matter where they go, Empowered Flower Girl wants students to have a stellar school year, free of drama and full of enriching experiences.
Since June, we reached dozens of youth – and parents – who’ve committed to a shade-free summer. Others pledged to be drama free. We hope that this spirit of unity and positivity continue throughout the summer and well into the fall semester and beyond.
We encourage parents, mentors and educators to model good behavior on and offline. Youth are watching. They look up to the adults in their lives to provide guidance, support and advice.
Speaking of advice, here’s some for an empowered school year:
 Being successful in school already takes a ton of focus and energy. There’s no need to add social media drama to the mix. Avoid the temptation of engaging in online conflict and drama. Ignore the haters and break the internet with positivity. 

 

Empowered Flower Girl encourages a shade-free summer

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New campaign aimed at eliminating cyberbullying and relational aggression

No Shade Just SmilesWhether you call it “drama,” “beef,” or “throwing shade,” online conflict via social media is impacting the way young people communicate and relate to one another. Tension in and out of the classroom is being fueled by Facebook fallouts and Yik Yak attacks.

Empowered Flower Girl (EFG) advises youth and parents alike to monitor online interactions and behavior.

Results from a recent Wayne State University study found that 54 percent of youth were involved in online abuse.

This summer, Empowered Flower Girl is encouraging kindness and working to thwart meanness with its “No Shade. Just Smiles.” campaign.

“Parents and teens play a vital role in eliminating cyberbullying,” said Rasheda Kamaria, EFG chief empowering officer and founder. “If you’re experiencing conflict with someone, avoid sending mean text messages and posting shade-filled status updates. Have a conversation with that person if possible or if the situation is serious, seek help from a mediator.”

When there is a threat of violence or if a crime has been committed, call 9-1-1.

Seeking solutions to cyberbullying, drama, relational aggression or other social/communication challenges among teens in your school or community? Empowered Flower Girl offers engaging workshops, programs and content that tackle these issues.

For more information, visit http://www.empoweredflowergirl.com. Join the conversation with #NoShadeJustSmiles. “We want teens to break the internet with positivity,” Kamaria said.

Mentoring Girls & Inspiring Sisterhood

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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

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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

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Dr. Froswa-Booker-DrewMentors 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

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Rasheda HeadshotIf 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.

Teens: Keep it classy online

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

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End of BullyingBy 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.