More than 60 girls attended the Garland Kiwanis “Girls With Goals” annual Leadership Conference Saturday, Oct. 17 at Bussey Middle School. The theme of the event was “Dream, Believe, Pursue.”
The GISD Light Brigade group welcomed the girls with a team building activity called “Boom! Snap! Clap!”
Life Coach and INSPIRE U Coaching and Educational Services Director, Sonya Parker Goode, spoke to the girls on setting life goals. She emphasized 12 things they can do to put their ‘best selves’ forward, and be the best they can be. She advised the girls to have dreams, work toward them and never let anyone or anything come between them and their dreams. Parker ended her presentation with an activity…”putting your Best Face Forward!”
“Girl Talk: Keep it Fresh! was the message from Dr. Sherri Morgan, MD Family Practitioner, at Baylor Medical Center of Garland. The focus of her discussion with the girls was on the impact of puberty and the importance of feminine hygiene and personal care.
Officer Jessica Chittamai, NPO from the Garland Police Department, spoke on social media and bullying. She began with a video that described how the use of social media is rampant among teens and preteens and the dangers of meeting people online. A discussion about what is inappropriate for posting and/or on-line conversation followed. She stressed that if it is not someone they know in person (from school, church or neighborhood) that they have no business talking to them online or otherwise.
A panel of women, “Ladies of Distinction” included Officer Jessica Chittamai, Engineer Christine Hauk, Dr. Sherri Morgan, Captain Elizabeth Rascon, U.S. Army Commander of the Cavalry and Financial Advisor, Genai Walker-Macklin addressed the leadership role of women in our communities and the commitment necessary to ourselves and to each other.
Officer Chittamai spoke on having a plan and succeeding in spite of the odds.
Christine Hauk talked about keeping things in perspective, setting and getting goals accomplished and the importance of being able to support yourself.
Dr. Morgan shared about the importance of working, volunteering in the community and giving back to the community.
Commander Rascon spoke about finding your passion, serving your country and going to college. Her passion was horses and she described how school and community leaders and sponsors in programs like 4-H, JROTC influenced her journey, her appointment to West Point, her deployment to Afghanistan and her eventual dream job as Commander of the Cavalry at Fort Hood in Killeen. Her message: “Find your passion, follow your dreams”.
Genai Walker-Macklin described her journey of becoming a financial advisor from her career as a professional basketball player. She began with her college scholarship in basketball at the University of Arkansas where she earned a math degree. She then began a professional basketball career in Europe with the WNBA. She worked as a bank officer while she was playing basketball. She currently works for Morgan-Stanley and focuses on financial planning for minorities and athletes.
Elvia Flores, founder of “Girls With Goals” said, “We bring girls together to learn about all of the positive possibilities that exist in our community and country. This is a day of positive influences for the girls with a focus on their futures and becoming leaders in their peer groups, schools, churches and communities.”
For more information, contact Elvia Flores at 214-215-6796 or mneflores@aol.com or Priscilla Wilson at 972-754-7105 or pwilson@garlandtx.gov.