The Girls in Leadership program will host “Mind, Body, and Soul: Women Raising Women” at Orchard Knob Middle School on Saturday, Feb. 19 from 9 a.m.-noon. The seminar’s goal is to change the stigma surrounding mental health generationally. The free conference will feature various mental and physical health vendors. Reach One Teach One Uca is looking for additional vendors and sponsors. Applications will be accepted via girlsinleadership18@gmail.com.
Reach One Teach One Uca is an early intervention program for children ages five to 14 with the mission of providing Chattanooga’s underserved youth with opportunities to explore insight on community and careers. The nonprofit’s executive director Reginald Yearby created the Boys in Leadership and Girls in Leadership programs to focus on the specific needs of young men and women.
The Girls in Leadership Program Director Stephanie Athalone noticed that one particular need in the community is mental health resources. “It’s our goal to crack the surface of breaking down the generational curse of poverty. In the black community, it’s taboo to even talk about mental health. I want to bring the conversation to the forefront of the community,” said Ms. Athalone.
The seminar is open to all females who are raising young women. Ms. Athalone says it’s important to address mental health with the girls and the adults who are raising them. “We can take the children out of their environment and teach them skill sets, but then we need to ensure that when they leave our program that the environment that they return to has the tools necessary to provide proper emotional support,” said Ms. Athalone.
Some of the vendors at the conference include Aroyal Therapy Holistic Healing Company, Natural Journeyz, International Healing Empowerment Center, JOYRE TCMedi Spa and Bronz Visionary.
Reach One Teach One Uca has five sponsors, including Impact Chattanooga, Pretty Chic Eats, Silverdale Baptist, Miztha and Orchard Knob School. Interested attendees are asked to pre-register for the event by calling Ms. Athalone at 423-602-1218. All CDC guidelines for COVID-19 will be followed.