
Business is Delightful for Detroit-area Tweenpreneur


Want to start a STEM program for your kindergarten class or host a financial literacy night for teens and parents in your community? If your school, community organization or house of workshop can use some extra funding to support extracurricular programming, then you should definitely check out this resource.
As a youth development practitioner, I’m always reading to keep my skill set current and relevant. Youth Today is my go-to publication for everything related to adolescents. The bi-monthly independent newspaper has a special section full of current grants.
If you need money and resources for your project, having this resource is a must.
Check out these available grants:


In an effort to help parents and caregivers identify and address bullying, WedMD recently published the feature “What Does Bullying Look Like?”
Patricia Agatston, Ph.D., International Bullying Prevention Association president, and others across the country, offered their expertise in defining what is and what isn’t bullying and what can be done to identify and support children who’ve been impacted by it. Read the full feature here.
Agatston, a national cyberbullying, will be among the speakers at the Michigan Bullying Prevention Conference, scheduled October 1, 2016, in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Registration for the full-day event is $25 and includes breakfast and lunch. The conference will be preceded by a FREE social media workshop for parents. Karuna Nain, Facebook global safety manager, will present “Navigating the Social World with Your Teens — Insights from Facebook,” on Thursday, September 29. Visit the Michigan conference website for details.
I was honored to be invited last month to appear on the Hope for Detroit show, hosted by Eddie P. and produced by Work Life Entertainment. The community news program is filmed in the Detroit Trade Market and highlights Detroiters on a mission to transform the community and those who give back through their profession and passion.
Check out the interview:
HOPE FOR DETROIT WITH RASHEDA WILLIAMS from Work Life Entertainment on Vimeo.
January is National Mentoring Month and the need for positive role models for youth throughout the Detroit area and beyond is great. According to Mentor, the national mentoring partnership, 1 out of 3 children will grow up without a mentor.
Empowered Flower Girl, a social enterprise on a mission to transform the way young people relate to one another, is encouraging anyone with a desire to affect positive change to consider mentoring.
Since 2011, the company has observed National Mentoring Month (NMM) by supporting mentoring organizations and encouraging women, men, entrepreneurs, professionals, stay-at-home parents and everyday people to consider becoming a mentor.
“Sometimes people underestimate themselves and think that they’re not successful enough or cool enough to have an impact,” said Empowered Flower Girl Founder and long-time mentor Rasheda Kamaria. “But all it takes is a big heart and a little time to make a difference in a young person’s life.”
On Feb. 10, Empowered Flower Girl, in partnership with the Emerging Leaders group at the Skyline Club, will host “Be Inspired to Mentor” – a networking event for current and aspiring mentors or anyone interested in making a difference for youth. The event will be held 6-7:30 p.m. at the Skyline Club, 2000 Town Center in Southfield, Michigan.
Representatives from several organizations, including Detroit-based Alternatives for Girls and Mentoring Youth Network will share information about their programs and need for volunteers.
Admission is $15 per guest (21 and older) and includes a brief program, appetizers, drink ticket and giveaways. RSVP is required. Call 248-350-9898 to RSVP. Visit www.empoweredflowergirl.com for more information.
Join Empowered Flower Girl in attending and celebrating these events and observances:

Bullying Prevention Month
Observed the entire month of October
DETAILS: Founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, the campaign is observed during the month of October and unites communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention.
Community Conversation on Bullying
Oct. 26, 2018 [Waterford, Michigan]
DETAILS: Defeat the Label will host its 3rd annual Community Conversation on Bullying. The event brings together members of the community including representatives from the fields of education, medical, legal and mental health with the goal of supplying the information and tools necessary to engage educators, parents and students to be proactive in their anti-bullying efforts within their own communities. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. Empowered Flower Girl’s Rasheda Kamaria will be among the workshop presenters facilitating “Mentoring Girls & Inspiring Sisterhood: In the Age of Bad Girls, Housewives and Frenemies.”
Beautiful Me University
Nov. 10, 2018 [Detroit, Michigan]
DETAILS: Me, Myself & I Teens will host hands-on workshops, discussions and an afternoon of empowerment for girls 12-19. Attendees will receive a workbook and certificate of completion (Beautiful Degree of Me). Empowered Flower Girl will facilitate the Social Secrets: What Teens Should Know workshop. Register for FREE at mmiteens.com/bmu2018.
In an effort to prevent bullying, cyberbullying, drama and relational aggression, Empowered Flower Girl is awarding a total of $500 in grants to organizations interested in hosting workshops. Schools, community/faith-based organization and other nonprofits based in Southeastern Michigan are eligible.
Apply through Oct. 21 for a Fall 2015 grant.
From workshops combating teasing, cyberbullying and cliques, to programs encouraging goal-setting and self-esteem, Empowered Flower Girl helps schools and organizations address critical social issues.
For more information, visit www.empoweredflowergirl.com or email rkamaria@empoweredflowergirl.com.
“Ultimately, we believe that if students are equipped with the skills to peacefully and effectively problem solve as well as have the capacity for empathy, then they are less likely to be offenders of bullying, hazing or other disruptive behaviors.” – Rasheda Kamaria, Empowered Flower Girl Chief Empowering Officer
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