There was no better way I could have spent the day than to end Women’s History month by Celebrating the Sista Within at the 5^th Annual Sista 2 Sista Youth Summit, Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY.  An empowering filled day of celebrations included engaging workshops, reflective activities which addressed issues that are faced in the lives of youth, and uplifting live entertainment helped make this event a memorable one that will leave a mark in the young girl attendees lives and give them new light as enter the real world!

By young girls participating in different workshops on Forgiveness, Aliveness, and Get Fly! with professionals in their respected trade, an atmosphere was created to allow a wave of emotions to sweep the space. Each workshop addressed different issues but all had a focus pertaining to self-image, forgiveness, healthy relationships, over coming fears, and health.

Imagine having “girl-talk” in a safe space with your fellow peers and professionals who may have had the same experiences that many of these young girls face today. Issues pertaining to love, dreams, self-esteem, relationships, forgiveness, and almost everything else you can imagine what some of our children face in these trying times today beyond just in the classroom. Then, gathering in an auditorium to get some additional empowerment boost through keynote speaker, Ms. Susan L. Taylor, global icon, editor, author, Editor-in- Chief Emeritus of Essence Magazine and Founder of National CARES Mentoring Movement who gave her testimony from her experiences as a young lady in Harlem, NY into her adult years and then discovering her purpose in life and encouraging the attendees to reclaim their own lives and create sustainable communities. Followed by an Awards Ceremony, which honored Gender Equity, Michaela Angela Davis, and announced the winner of the Andrea D. Brown Book Scholarship of $1,000.00 to a high achieving female high school senior who will attend college during the fall of 2012.

Celebrating the Sista Within would not be complete if we didn’t Celebrate the Song Within with musical guest including Chrisette Michele, Rhyme Like A Girl (RLAG), Queen GodIs, and mentees from Black Girls Rock! Who all gave an EMPOWER-MAZING performance, which allowed the crowd to Celebrate the song Within, the beat within, and most of all Celebrate the Sista Within!

EMPOWERMENT, SISTER HOOD, LOVE, and COMPASSION are just some of the words I have to describe what I experienced on this adventure. The overall experience I felt was a mixture of heartfelt emotions that I could relate to especially when I was a youth, on some of the issues they are currently facing in their infancy stage of life. I was elated to be able to become apart of service on this adventure in their life and encouraged them by letting them know they are “ALL THAT AND MORE!!

“If you don’t understand yourself you don’t understand anybody else.” – Nikki Giovanni