2017 Fabulous Me Conference Draws 220 Young Women

Michelle Lang — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 21:49:25 +0000

91��Ƭ 220 girls ages 11 to 17 attended this year’s Fabulous Me: Celebration of Womanhood conference hosted by the Family Service Bureau of Newark, an affiliate of 91��Ƭ. This year’s theme was #FightLikeAGirl with a fitting keynote speaker: five-time world and international boxing champion Mia St. John.
St. John talked about her struggles growing up as a Mexican-American, battling alcohol and drug addiction, dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder and the loss of her son to suicide. She told the girls in the audience, “No matter what obstacles you have in life, you can overcome them.”
Her daughter Paris St. John also spoke at the conference, telling the girls that they don’t have to be perfect and they should follow their hearts and be themselves.
The speakers resonated with attendees.
“My favorite part was the boxer and the boxer’s daughter talking about expressing yourself,” said Tameka Jackson-Bright, a 15-year-old attendee from Newark Arts High School who also served as a Junior Female Ambassador, helping plan and execute the conference.
Fellow 15-year-old Junior Female Ambassador Rashidah Babb of Hillside High School has attended the Fabulous Me conference since she was 12. This year the message she took away was, “To be yourself and love who you are.”
Family Service Bureau Executive Director Manuela Garcia said there are several purposes for Fabulous Me. “The goal for our 2017 Womanhood Conference is to promote, empower, teach and have girls understand the importance of growing up comfortable in today’s society. Also at the same time learn the values of leadership, independence, creativity, prevention and learn additional skills to be a successful woman in today’s world and be able to #FightLikeAGirl,” she said.
In addition to the speeches, girls participated in breakout sessions that covered topics such as cyberbullying, STDs, teen pregnancy and domestic violence.
To end the conference, members of used improvisation to showcase dating violence in various forms. The performance was interactive, with attendees asking questions to the actors while they were in character.
“The idea behind this is to promote bonding of young females across socioeconomic class and race. There are lot more similarities than differences,” said 91��Ƭ Chief of Health and Human Services Arti Kakkar. “Fabulous Me brings 200-plus girls together under one roof to share ideas and learn leadership skills.”

2017 Fabulous Me Womanhood Conference: #FightLikeAGirl

Michelle Lang — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 17:41:55 +0000

SOUTH ORANGE (June 13, 2017) — Five-time world and international boxing champion Mia St. John will deliver the keynote address at the 2017 Fabulous Me: Celebration of Womanhood Conference Friday, June 16 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at . Her daughter, Paris St. John – a singer, songwriter and mental health advocate – will also address the attendees.
The mother/daughter duo will focus on the issue of mental health and empowerment. #FightLikeAGirl is the theme of this year’s Fabulous Me conference, which is hosted by the Family Service Bureau of Newark, an affiliate of the nonprofit 91��Ƭ.
“I want to get the word out about mental health. What’s sad in this country, people don’t really talk about mental illness,” Mia St. John said. “Anyone that’s experiencing mental illness, it’s OK to speak up. You don’t have to feel ashamed.”
She has personal experience with mental health issues. She’s a recovering alcoholic and has obsessive compulsive disorder. Her son Julian, who was battling schizophrenia and addiction, committed suicide in 2014.
Mia St. John, a first generation Mexican-American and inductee into the National Boxing Hall of Fame, started the foundation “” to provide educational material, equipment and health and wellness programs to youth. She hopes by sharing her experiences, she can show young people they can overcome their challenges and achieve.
Her daughter Paris hopes speaking at the conference will encourage dialogue about mental health.
“When I was that age I wish I would’ve heard the conversation more about mental health and overall how to live a better life,” she said. “Because I think that’s important to have the tools. It really does start at a young age.”
The diverse group of participants will be composed of young women from across northern New Jersey who are referred by their school social workers and community leaders. Some participants are identified as at-risk while others have excelled in school, according to Manuela Garcia, executive director of the Family Service Bureau of Newark.
“This event will teach the importance of courage, strength, pride and so much more that girls need to be able to accept and succeed in today’s society. And the importance of being gracious, courageous and accept all the challenges and learn which ones to fight and which ones to avoid,” Garcia said.
Organized by the Family Service Bureau, the event is funded by a grant from the New Jersey Governor’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee, administered by the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission under the state Attorney General’s Office. The conference is co-sponsored by the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy at Seton Hall University.
Young women will participate in workshops during two breakout sessions and attend a resource fair and theater performance related to domestic violence. Breakfast and lunch are provided for attendees. Pre-registration is required.
Date: Friday, June 16, 2017
Time:��Fabulous Me Conference: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Welcome: 9 to 9:10 a.m.
Keynote Address (Mia St. John): 9:15 to 9:55 a.m.
Guest Speaker (Paris St. John): 9:55 to 10:15 a.m.
First Breakout Session: 10:45 to 11:30 a.m.
Second Breakout Session: 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Lunch/Resource Fair: 12:15 to 1 p.m.
Skit/Discussion 91��Ƭ Dating Violence: 1 to 2 p.m.
Closing/Questions/Surveys: 2 to 2:30 p.m.
NOTE: Breakout sessions address issues such as cyberbullying, STDs, teen pregnancy and domestic violence in adolescents.
Location:
Seton Hall University
University Center
400 South Orange Ave.
South Orange, NJ 07079
Conference starts and ends at McNulty Hall. Breakout sessions at Fahy Hall.
Interviews: Junior Female Ambassadors in attendance will be cleared to speak with media. Mia and Paris St. John and Family Service Bureau Executive Director Manuela Garcia will also be available.
Note: No girls other than the Junior Female Ambassadors may be photographed directly. All other photos of program participants must be from their backs.
Credentials: For information about press credentials, contact Michelle Lang at 973-497-4413.

Rutgers SCREAM Theater – 91��Ƭ

2017 Fabulous Me Conference Draws 220 Young Women

2017 Fabulous Me Womanhood Conference: #FightLikeAGirl