The First Annual NAACP "New Beginnings" Young Womens Retreat begins today!

Later this afternoon, Wichita Branch NAACP in partnership with Youthville begin our first annual 2-day retreat for teen-mothers between the ages of 14 and 18. The young ladies who will attend this inaugural retreat are just a few of the many youth currently in the foster care/SRS system.

The goal is to empower these young women by sharing and imparting valuable information and life-skills to help them break the cycles of dysfunction and despair.

This retreat represents a first-of-its-kind partnership between the NAACP and Youthville; an agency  contracted by the State to handle child-placements within the foster-care system...

“This retreat will feature women in the community who have gone through foster care, had children at a very young age and became prosperous business professionals,” said Sandra Gasca Chief of Programs at Youthville. ”We really feel like the retreat is going to give these girls hope. We want them to believe in themselves and know that they can become anything the want to.”
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The Young ladies will receive official greetings from the Mayor of Wichita; Mr. Carl Brewer, and will attend workshops and sessions on:

• Effective Communications
• Available Youth Programs
• Filling out Job Applications
• Job Interviewing skills (with Mock Interview sessions)
• Dressing for Success
• Stress Management
• Self-esteem and Perception
• Staying out of Debt
• Success Stories
  

The Speakers list includes:

• Carl Brewer (Mayor of the City of Wichita)
• Melody McCray Miller- ( State Representative)
• Marilynn Jones - (Patient Advocacy Rep; Veterans Association) ]
• Lavonta Williams (City Councilwoman - Wichita NAACP Vice President - Retired Educator)
• Kathryn Theissen- (ARNP University of Medicine HIV Program)
• Kenya Cox- (Wichita NAACP VP of Public Relations - Candidate for State Senate)
• Mildred Edwards - (Regional Prevention Center)
• Sandra Rankin -(Retired School Psychologist - Wichita NAACP Education Co-Chair)
• Richard Cravens -(Financial Representative)
• Andrante Etheridge - (Former Resident of Youthville) Now working for Coch Industries
• Kevin Myles -(NAACP President)
• Sheldon Milton - CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children)
• Senator Donald Betts -(State Senator)- (Candidate for US Congress)
• Debroda Corneilius – (Cheif MSGT, Career Enhancement, McConnell Air Force Base)