Chica Chat: Imagining Girl World Peace

Posted on by empoweredflowergirl
Do you want girl world peace in your school/community?

Imagine the day where exclusion, apathy and relational aggression no longer exist. It’s all possible if youth are engaged and equipped with the right tools.

Designed for middle and high school students, Chica Chat promotes sisterhood and gives girls the tools to transforms the they relate to one another.

Participants have the opportunity to be self-expressed, heard and understood by their peers and adult mentors in a supportive, safe and accepting environment.

Additionally, girls break down barriers by participating in fun and engaging ice-breaking activities and have the opportunity to ask questions anonymously that are answered by their peers with guidance by facilitators.

Why Chica Chat?

In our 10 years of facilitating bullying prevention and esteem building programs, we’ve noticed:

  • On and offline conflict adversely impact classroom dynamics and student performance.
  • Girls often exclude each other because they really don’t know each other.
  • Girls who are confident in expressing their own feelings are typically more empathetic toward others.

Why Empowered Flower Girl?

  • 98% of Chica Chat participants found the workshop content helpful or very helpful.
  • EFG founder and chief empowering officer Rasheda Kamaria Williams has more than 15 years’ experience as a mentor and youth empowerment speaker.

But don’t just take our word. Here’s what educators/youth advocates have to say:

“We were experiencing a lot of drama with our middle school girls. Our girls needed a structured and safe environment to learn and express themselves. The Chica Chat allowed them to do so. I received positive feedback afterward and even felt the climate change a bit. One girl even said ‘I actually squashed some beef from that.’ Hearing that, made me very happy.”  – Alaina Evans, Teacher, Laurus Academy 

“The workshop provides students a forum to talk about issues that are important to them. The workshop also allows young ladies to freely express their feelings without being judged or embarrassed”. – Bianca Heath, Student Family Liaison, Reach Academy

Are you ready and able to invest in transforming the climate in your school or community? If so, let’s work together. Schedule your consultation today. Email rkamaria@empoweredflowergirl.com or fill out the form below. 

Back to School Series: How to inspire an emPOWERed school year

Posted on by empoweredflowergirl

Educators and parents, mentors and coaches all care about the wellbeing and livelihood of young people in our communities.  We are well aware that twenty-first century tweens and teens face unprecedented challenges that many of us may have never imagined, from cyberbullying, drama, trauma and immense societal pressure. 

 But to combat these challenges, I was inspired to do something.

Nearly 15 years ago, I was a mentor and youth advocate who wanted to do something to make a difference for middle and high school students – who like me – were teased, bullied and ostracized by classmates and even relatives.

In 2010, I launched Empowered Flower Girl. Since we started, we’ve been on a mission to transform the way young people relate to one another. Through workshops and programs that address and combat cyberbullying, relational aggression and other social/communications challenges facing youth, we work to empower the next generation of leaders.

So as students prepare for a new school year, we want to remind the adults in their lives of the importance of collaboration aka the Village approach.

It takes parents, educators, community members and youth themselves to truly make a difference.

Let’s work together to ensure that every young person has a successful and safe school year!

Business is Delightful for Detroit-area Tweenpreneur

Posted on by empoweredflowergirl
Asia 2
Asia Washington is a serial entrepreneur. From creating whimsical necklaces and soy wax melts to launching a line of doll accessories, Asia is diversifying her business and brand portfolio. 

You’d expect this sort of entrepreneurial prowess from someone in their 30s. But Asia, 11, is a girl empowered and ready for world domination! 

I caught up with her after meeting this summer at a church carnival/picnic where she and her mom were selling their “delightful” goods.

What businesses do you own? I own Delightful Ribbons, a hair bow and doll accessories business. I make and sell hair bows and headbands for girls and 18- inch dolls. I recently started hand painting designs on t-shirts for the 18 inch dolls to match my hair accessories. When I’m not making doll accessories, I make soy wax melts with my mother. She allows me to make my own scent creations and sell them to her fans on Facebook.

How old were you when you started your businesses?  I started at the tender age of eight. When I started out, I made chunky beaded necklaces and soy wax melts.

What do you like most about being an entrepreneur?  You get to choose something you really like or love doing and start selling it for money. Plus, you get to be your own boss.

What are your hopes for your future?  My hope for the future is to one day sell enough crafts so that when I’m ready for college I can afford it. I plan on attending school to become an architect /illustrator.

What advice would you give to kids who want to start a business?  You might want to start with something simple or your hobbies first and soon as you get really good at it, you can start selling it. The better you get with your skill the more money you can sell it for. You never know unless you try. Don’t be afraid of rejection because it just makes you stronger.

You can find Asia’s awesome products at delightfulribbons.com.