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Empowered Flower Girl invites you to visit our booth during the 2001 Metro Parent Education Expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Babies, kids, teens and grownups are invited to attend the free event. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to receive a special fans only gift at the expo.

Parents: Be sure to stop by our area to sign up for our e-list for exclusive promos, news and events.

Kids: Tell your parents to sign up for our e-list for your chance to spin-to-win cool prizes!

Spin-to-Win Sponsored Prize Providers

This is Why I ROCK Journal

This Is Why I ROCK is a journal by Bold Moves CEO Tanisha Bolden. The book gives young people an opportunity to express themselves, develop their character, and appreciate their accomplishments on a day-to-day basis. It promotes self-awareness by allowing youth to explore relationship influences, identifying and improving personality imperfections as well as putting the proper focus on setting and accomplishing goals. Visit www.boldmovesllc.com.

FREE Enrollment Certificate at Kumon of Royal Oak

Kumon is the world’s largest after-school math and reading enrichment program. Kumon unlocks the potential of children so they can achieve more on their own. It allows students of all ages and abilities to build the skills necessary to have a richer, more successful educational experience. Visit www.kumon.com/royal-oak.

Empowered Flower Girl Clothing

Show your power in a fashionable t-shirt or sporty cami from Empowered Flower Girl. Our clothing inspires girls and young women to live powerfully. Visit www.shop.empoweredflowergirl.com.

Tara Michener Industries Book

TMI LLC offers books and accessories for children and teens that promote self-esteem, diversity and literacy. Founder Tara Michener is a youth advocate and author of the Who I am series and No Longer Besties: And Other Assorted Teenage Drama. Visit www.taramichener.com.

By Rasheda Kamaria

Girls can do anything. From sports and law enforcement to science and construction, women are making advances in fields once dominated by the fellas. But there is still work to be done. According to the U.S. government, women hold less than 25% of the nation’s jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Wayne State University in Detroit is reaching out to girls to increase their awareness and competence in related areas of study.

The College of Education’s GO-GIRL (Gaining Options-Girls Investigate Real Life) program, designed to promote interest in STEM related careers and to boost mathematics skills and confidence in seventh-grade girls, is accepting applications through Dec. 1, 2011, for the winter 2012 semester.

The 10-week Saturday program, hosted by the College of Education, will launch January 28 and culminate with graduation ceremonies April 28. GO-GIRL, which is held on Wayne State’s main campus, is free and open to a limited number of seventh-grade female students.

Elise Lowell, 18, is a GO-GIRL alumna and current honors program student at Wayne State. Lowell is studying biology and hopes to pursue a career in research and academia.

“GO-GIRL was an excellent introduction into the science fields,” said Lowell, a Grosse Pointe South High School graduate. “It was a great way to meet peers interested in the same subjects and get acquainted with Wayne State’s campus. The experience was definitely beneficial; even waking up early on Saturday mornings was helpful to set a precedent of being a hard working student.”

Parents and students interested in the program should visit http://www.gogirls.wayne.edu/ and download the application forms.

STEM related sites and resources for girls and women across the country:

National Girls Collaborative Project: http://www.ngcproject.org/

Girls In Tech: http://www.girlsintech.net/

Girls Go Tech (Girls Scouts): http://www.girlsgotech.org/default.asp

Zoey’s Room: http://www.zoeysroom.com/

Empowered Flower Girl is all about sharing positive, empowering and inspiring news with our fans, followers and friends. That’s why when we heard about the 2011 Girlapalooza, we just had to tell you about it. If you’re in southeast Michigan and looking for something cool and chic to do this weekend, head over to downtown Birmingham for fab and fun festivities that celebrate GIRLS!

Visit the Girlapalooza website for more information and to purchase tickets!

Local non-profit kicks off B8M with community events for teens and adults

DETROIT/ROYAL OAK – The Association for Youth Empowerment (AYE), a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to bringing transformational programs to schools and communities in southeast Michigan, announces the launch of the Bridging 8 Mile initiative to transform the way people relate to one another in the region.

On July 23 and 24, 2011, groups of everyday people, youth, community leaders, politicians and clergy will participate in two Community Challenge Day events designed to bridge Detroit and its surrounding suburbs, cities and towns. Challenge Day is an award-winning experiential program that has been featured on Oprah, MTV’s “If You Really Knew Me” and Tom Brokaw’s “Bridging the Divide” program.

“We are excited to kick off the Bridging 8 Mile initiative with two potentially life–changing events,” said Jean Ritok, AYE executive director. “The Challenge Day program through its creative, ground-breaking techniques has a spectacular track record of breaking down barriers between people and causing them to see each other with new eyes. Seeing others with new eyes is the doorway to new possibilities between people and between communities. It’s exactly what this region needs.”

Registration for the Bridging 8 Mile Community Challenge Day events is open to youth and adults 16 and older. Southeast Michigan community leaders are encouraged to attend.  

Bridging 8 Mile Community Challenge Day Events:

Saturday, July 23, 2011, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Boys and Girls Club of South Oakland County
1545 East Lincoln Ave
Royal Oak, MI 48067-3400

Sunday, July 24 2011, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

YouthVille Detroit
7375 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202-3158

About Bridging 8 Mile

Bridging 8 Mile is an initiative developed by the Association for Youth Empowerment that is dedicated to transforming Detroit, its suburbs, its people and the way we relate to one another. Bridging 8 Mile was founded on the belief that when people unite for the greater good, positive change is inevitable. Our ultimate goal is to connect COMMUNITIES, inspire COMPASSION and take ACTION. For more information call the Bridging 8 Mile hotline at 313-226-1626 or visit www.bridging8mile.org.

About Association for Youth Empowerment

Founded in 2006, AYE is dedicated to challenging and empowering young people to create positive change. The organization partners with community members and organizations who share a common goal of eliminating social oppression and of fostering respect, acceptance and compassion in our schools and communities. Visit www.associationforyouth.org.

img class=”aligncenter size-medium wp-image-268″ title=”Bridging8mile-flyer” src=”https://empoweredflowergirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Bridging8mile-flyer-264×300.jpg” alt=”” width=”264″ height=”300″ />

Social media monitoring advised

As summer vacation kicks into high gear and the new school year approaches, parents are advised to be mindful of their children’s social groups, especially those they interact with online. While tweens and teens may consider it snooping, Empowered Flower Girl CEO Rasheda Kamaria considers it conscious parenting.

“We’ve witnessed first-hand the affects of unmonitored children online,” said Kamaria, who leads the workshop Chica Chat ™ in an effort to combat drama, cyberbullying, teasing and cliques among middle and high school–aged girls. “With the increase in bullycide incidences, parents should be aware of and somewhat engaged in their children’s online activities.”

Bullycide, a term coined by authors Tim Field and Neil Marr to describe suicide attributable to the victim having been bullied, is a serious concern for schools and communities across the nation.

The best thing parents can do –Kamaria said – is have open dialogues with their children about their friends and even “frienemies” on and offline. “The new school year not only signals new lesson plans, it also welcomes new friends, new cliques and new challenges fitting in. Sometimes all it takes is a simple conversation and active listening for teens to open up and share their concerns, fears and aspirations.”

For parents seeking additional resources to prevent and address bullying, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers tools and resources at www.stopbullying.gov. For more information about Empowered Flower Girl, visit www.empoweredflowergirl.com.

Check out the Y.E.S. Leadership Camp – Register through May 27th

Michigan Association for Female Entrepreneurs (MAFE) will host its Young Entrepreneurs Series (Y.E.S.) Leadership Camp, a leadership development program for girls age 14 to 18.  The camp will take place July 10 – 13, 2011 at Howell Conference & Nature Center located in Howell, Mich.

Leadership Camp is open to girls in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. Registrations are due by May 27, 2011. 

http://www.youngentrepreneurseries.com/LeadershipCamp.html

Check out Empowered Flower Girl CEO Rasheda Kamaria in her May 13th column in B.L.A.C. magazine. Kamaria, who was bullied in middle school, gives a first-person account of the taunting, teasing and alienation and the impact it had in her life. She also shares how she overcame the drama to pay it forward to youth.

Cherish Our Youth organization to host third annual Rising Above the Odds Against Me Summit

Cherish Thomas is paying it forward to girls who are experiencing the ups and downs she once faced as a teen in the foster care system.

The 23-year-old founder of Cherish Our Youth, a non-profit organization that provides resources and educational programs to youth in foster care, will host the third annual Rising Above the Odds Against Me: Girls ONLY Summit on Saturday, May 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. More than 200 participants ages 14-20 are expected to attend the day-long conference.

Thomas will share her experiences and discuss how youth can achieve their goals through mind, body and spirit development. Additional guest speakers and workshop presenters include Gail Perry-Mason, financial advisor and author of Girl Make Your Money Grow; Charisse Gibert, co-pastor of Detroit World Outreach; Gail Parker a psychologist who has made eight appearances on the Oprah Show; Tanisha N. Bolden, author of This is Why I Rock: A Self-Empowerment Journal for Youth; Tiffany Smith, founder of Queen City; Lashun Franklin, counselor and minister at Detroit World Outreach; and Karen Wicker, executive, teen leader and life coach.

This year’s summit theme “Diamond in the Rough to Princess Cut,” is a true testament to Thomas’s life.

Thomas entered the foster care system as a toddler and experienced more than 20 placements that included group homes, detention centers, foster homes, the streets and three failed adoptions. Over her lifetime, Thomas attended 14 schools, including five different high schools before graduating. But she didn’t let external circumstances stop her from achieving her dreams.

Thomas is graduate of the University of Michigan’s Sociology and African-American Studies programs. She has been recognized as a Julia Eder and Blavin Scholar. As the first graduate from the Blavin Scholar program, Thomas has worked as a part of the Blavin Scholar Design Team in developing programs to support aged-out foster care youth who begin their studies at U of M. Currently, Thomas is a student in the School of Social Work graduate program as a Child Welfare Scholar. She will receive an M.S.W. in August 2011.

“Many young girls struggle with finding their way,” Thomas said.  “As young girls we sometimes face obstacles that seem to block us from success and we allow our circumstances and situations to keep us from shinning our brightest.

“This conference is about helping girls realize their own talents, contributions and significance so they are empowered to live to their fullest potential.”

Supporting conference partners include Save Our Children Coalition, a project of U of M-Dearborn’s School of Education and Helping Individuals Succeed Agency.

For more information about the Above the Odds Against Me: Girls ONLY Summit or Cherish Our Youth, email cherishouryouth@gmail.com.

Rasheda Kamaria, long-time mentor and founder of Empowered Flower Girl LLC, is featured in Cosmopolitan’s May issue in an article highlighting adult women who overcame being bullied and teased as teens.

In the article “Being Bullied Changed My Life,” Rasheda and two other women share how repeated teasing and harassment affected their lives both negatively and positively.

According to a recent poll, 87 percent of Cosmo readers reported being targeted by a bully in the past.

Rasheda, who grew up in Detroit and lives in Royal Oak, Mich., said in spite of being teased as a seventh and eighth grader, she developed into a successful adult. “I have a happy, full life now – a great job and close friends,” she said in the article. “But I hate the idea of kids going through what I endured, so last year, I launched Empowered Flower Girl.”

Empowered Flower Girl produces workshops, literature and clothing that inspire girls to live powerfully. This spring and summer, Rasheda is facilitating “Chica Chat™” workshops to foster positive relationships and combat cliques and cyber bullying among tween and teens girls.

“Chica Chat™ participants have the opportunity to be self expressed, heard and understood by their peers and adult mentors in a supportive, safe and accepting environment,” Rasheda said. “Many teens don’t have this experience at school because of the taunting. It’s our goal to show them that it’s possible to live powerfully even if they’re being picked on and ostracized.”

Check out Cosmo’s May issue with Hayley Williams of Paramore on the cover.