Seventh Annual We Are Girls Statewide Conference Will Inspire More Than 1,800 Girls and Adults to “Take the Lead”

AUSTIN, Texas – October 6, 2014 – GENaustin – the Girls Empowerment Network – will host its seventh annual We Are Girls conference Sat., Nov. 15, 2014 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (doors open 8 a.m.) at Austin High School, 1715 W. Cesar Chavez St., in Austin, Texas, sponsored by Samsung Austin Semiconductor. With 45 workshops covering everything about being a girl — from body image and bullying to relationships and entrepreneurship – We Are Girls 2014 also welcomes three featured speakers to reinforce a powerful message for girls in grades 3 – 12: Take the Lead.

Designed for girls ages 8 – 18 and the adults who care about them, this statewide event inspires and supports girls with a full-day of skill-building workshops and dynamic presentations straight from the experts. Joining longtime We Are Girls presenters such as teen life coach Barb Steinberg-LMSW, Dell, and GirlStart are social media experts from Facebook (“A Parent’s Guide to Social Media” and “Lean In” for girls) as well as inspiring local entrepreneur Katie Niemeyer (SJS-TENS survivor and founder, My Handana), and experts from Glamtrepreneur (“Business Plan Writing”) and Math for Keeps. The day’s activities give girls and adults access to experts with answers on questions about social and emotional skills, academics and professional development, health, wellness and sexuality, as well as creativity, self-expression and entrepreneurship.

The 2014 We Are Girls conference also marks the launch of GENaustin’s newest program for high school girls, called Pathfinder. At the conference, girls in grades 9 – 12 may choose up to three Pathfinder workshops on leadership and careers, designed to prepare them for the road to independence.
“We Are Girls helps girls find and reach their potential in their many roles – daughter, student, friend and individual,” says Julia Cuba, MSW, executive director of GENaustin. “We fill the day with activities, information and great role models and teachers for girls and parents, then let them get close, ask questions, and leave excited and inspired.”

The annual conference brings more than 1,800 girls and adults from all across the state of Texas. They will have opportunities to hear from three featured speakers encouraging them to “Take the Lead”: Ragen Chastain, SaulPaul and Jaime Horn.

Ragen Chastain is a nationally recognized speaker, dancer, choreographer and writer. After leaving a successful consulting career to pursue her dreams, Chastain now travels the country speaking about self-esteem, body image, leadership and wellness. Her popular blog, Dances with Fat, tells her adventures of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness at any size. Her session will tell girls how they really are good enough, and they only need to look inward for validation.

SaulPaul is known as a musician with a message. Part rapper, part singer-songwriter, SaulPaul has travelled the world entertaining and inspiring audiences. He’s lectured at some of America’s top universities and is the author of the book Dream in 3D. The University of Texas at Austin graduate’s story of tragedy to triumph has been told on screen through the film Tower to Tower. His interactive session will include songwriting with the entire audience before he performs the just-created song from the stage.

Jaime Horn is the founder of The Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women (ALI), which seeks to give young women the necessary skills to become leaders in their own communities. With over 14 years of experience in communications, politics and international development, Horn has previously worked for The Institute for Inclusive Security and for the UN Women’s South Asia Regional Office in Delhi, in the anti-human trafficking and women, peace and security division. She currently works for Blue Engine Message & Media. Her session will discuss how we have and will all experience rough times in life and we must find ways to deal with such hardships, using your own strength and voice as a leader to rise above challenging times.

Tickets to We Are Girls are $30 and are available for purchase at the event and online at www.wearegirls.eventbrite.com. Scholarships are available. Admission includes lunch, supplies, goodie bag, access to all Featured Conference Speaker’s presentations, breakout workshops and resource fair.

About GENaustin and We Are Girls

Through after-school clubs, programs and community workshops for girls and parents, GENaustin — The Girls Empowerment Network supports and guides girls to make wise choices as they navigate the unique pressures of girlhood. GENaustin created We Are Girls in 2008 to expand its services that empower girls and their parents to navigate the challenges of girlhood.

WE ARE GIRLS 2014
Take the Lead
Sat., Nov. 15, 2014 – Austin High School, Austin, Texas
Featured Speakers: Ragen Chastain, dances with fat; SaulPaul, a musician with a message; and Jaime Horn
2014 WE ARE GIRLS Workshop Titles and Presenters (as of Oct. 1, 2014)

1. A Parent’s Guide to Social Media, Facebook
2. BeaUtiful- Know Your Value & How to Present Them to Others, Muse Stream
3. Binge Drinking: The Truth About Getting Buzzed WHO?
4. BizGlam Business Plan Writing, Glamtrepreneur
5. Body Image: Promoting a Healthy Ideal, GENaustin
6. Bystander Power: Find out What it’s all About, Next Step Program of LifeWorks
7. Can you Picture your Dreams? – Amanda McPherson- Masters in Counseling, Blogger, Speaker
8. Chores, Children, and Work Oh My! – Con Mi Madre
9. DELL’s Digital Detectives Dell: WISE
10. DELL’s Digital Photo Fun Dell: WISE
11. Finding Your Personal Crown Upside Down Paper Crown
12. Getting to Know Your Body: Introduction to Puberty Who??
13. Girls With Pens Creative Writing Workshop, Girls With Pens
14. Growing Up Healthy: What’s Happening to my Body? , GENaustin club facilitator
15. Handana Inspires you to Cross your Finish line in Life! MyHandana
16. Healthy Digital Relationships Love is Respect
17. How to Talk to Adults About Queer Issues Fund Texas Choice
18. Jewelry. Design a Pendant Experiment and Explore
19. Leadership Genaustin, Pathfinder
20. Lean In, Facebook
21. learning to let go and let your girl lead: Parenting for empowerment, Nurture Family Counseling
22. Lessons from a Square Watermelon Ballet Austin’s Butler Community School
23. Media MessaGES: What’s Your Image?, Engender Health
24. Middle School Revealed, GENaustin
25. No One Else is Coming: Save Yourself!, Schreiner University
26. On a Roll, GirlStart
27. Own Your Power, Kidpower
28. Pink Chaos: Navigating the Mother/Daughter Relationship Austin Therapy for Girls
29. Quick, Healthy Meals for Empowered Girls on the Go, Sustainable Food Center
30. Real Beauty: Girl Connect, GENaustin
31. Redefine Beautiful, THRIVE
32. Reflect, Reclaim, Rejuvenate: Creating Balance from the Inside- Out Career Strategists/ Renee Trudeau & Associates
33. Scribble Drawing Workshop Experiment and Explore
34. Songwriting Girls Rock Austin
35. Student SWAG Lady Papillons, Inc. & Parent SWAG (Success with Academic Greatness)
36. Talk First Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
37. The Best Career Advice I Never Heard Genaustin, Pathfinder
38. Top Secret Friendship Lessons THRIVE
39. Trumpettes Darcy McNutt Counseling
40. UNDER PRESSURE: Helping Girls Manage Stress Barb Steinberg, Teen Life Coach
41. What do Brain Hacking, Mastering Math, girl Power, and Dance Breaks Have in Common? Math for Keeps
42. What’s Behind and Advertisement? ThreeDefined- A Marketing Boutique
43. Writing Leads the Way Yvette Benavides, MFA
44. Yoga for a Better Body Image Yoga RX
45. Zumba® Dance Fitness Rebekah Fowler