The Magic of Igniting the Power Within - Pathfinder Leadership Summit Houston 2022
by Alejandra Hernandez, Program Coordinator, Houston, TX
Girls Empowerment Network’s Pathfinder Leadership Summit is a personal and professional development program aimed at giving rising 9th-12th grade girls and gender expansive youth a head start on their road to independence, college and career readiness. This summer, participants met in-person at the Young Women's College Preparatory Academy in Houston for a week long summer program. A 2nd Cup, Houston’s non-profit coffee shop working to end human trafficking, hosted Pathfinder on the last day as we celebrated and closed another successful chapter with a graduation ceremony.
Pathfinder Leadership Summit brings life skills and empowerment to rising girls in Houston
Navigating the societal challenges of womanhood in a generation that has experienced the ongoing lasting effects of a pandemic, has compounded on how girls of all demographics already receive mixed messages from the world around them. The girls kicked off Pathfinder with increased self-awareness and learned more about each other in an icebreaker activity from our curriculum’s Identity and Diversity module. Additionally, our Stress Management module taught them valuable coping skills and other transferrable self-regulating tools they can apply anywhere that they go.
This year’s dynamic group of leaders stepped into their futures and learned how to plan for the life they desire. The girls practiced collaboration in simulated activities such as “Building Your Budget” facilitated by The Women’s Resource. Participants were put to the test by critically thinking and engaging in creative solutions as they weighed out real-life housing, transportation, and spending decisions.
“The Women’s Resource was founded on the belief that a woman who controls her finances controls her destiny.”
Houston leaders meet with youth one-on-one in inspiring power chats
Power Chat sessions are unique and personable pod-style experiences for participants to gain insight on diverse career roles from relatable adult role models in the community. Communication skills from the girls transpired across the room with inquisitive thoughts mirrored with inspirational words of wisdom from women entrepreneurs and professionals. These small group discussions translated into igniting the power within as they planted seeds into their own career and entrepreneurship aspirations!
A Pathfinder participant when asked what she learned after Power Chats session one said, “I learned that it is never too late to change your mind and to always keep learning.” Additional words used by participants during Power Chats session two to describe how they felt in one word included: hopeful, encouraged, knowledgeable, inspired, energized, grounded, enlightened, and proud.
Coping skills, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, communication, and confidence skills complete the 6 Cs of self-efficacy and core values at Girls Empowerment Network.
the Summit ignites the power in participants with dance sessions, writing workshops and community service
KJ Echols, Houston’s very own professional dance teacher and expert, guided the girls through creative dance choreography that engaged the entire group to shine, and let shine, with confidence!
After dance class, another participant said, “I learned something new, if I put my mind to it, I can do it.”
Pictured above: Kennedy B., Adrianna C., Hayden F.
On the last day, all Pathfinder participants celebrated their incredible growth and accomplishments in a graduation ceremony. The celebration continued with a special announcement! After a writing workshop facilitated by Writers in Schools (WITS) earlier in the week, the girls participated in a creative essay writing opportunity. The prompt was to write about a hardship in their life and how they overcame that experience. The magic in the room was magnetic as they uplifted and celebrated three of the winners!
Giving back to the community and practicing compassion for others was shown by putting together wellness kits for our Service Project with the TERJA Foundation. The girls also participated in a food drive hosted by the Houston Food Bank.
The future looks bright and empowering as this intelligent group of young leaders take on the world by owning who they are authentically and unapologetically as catalysts that will leave a positive impact in any space, they choose to be in.
It’s never to early to start planning for summer! Fill out the 2023 Pathfinder Leadership Summit Interest Form and stay in the know about our upcoming summit!
Thank You!
Houston Program Coordinator, Alejandra Hernandez brings a clinical foundation in her role as a Registered Behavior Technician. She is passionate for advancing equity and providing resources for youth and their families. Alejandra is growing in her own research interests at Texas State University. Majority of her recent research has focused on the advancement of the ecological systems theory as a framework in addressing cross-cultural needs of high-risk populations in the social work literature.