You Go Girl!

January 30, 2024

Join us for an event designed just for you - where you can explore your creativity, build confidence, and discover your inner strength! Through engaging activities like dance, art and stories, you’ll uncover new ways to express yourself, manage big emotions, lift others up, and feel empowered

Objectives

Promote Empowerment: Inspire students to embrace their potential through personal stories, actionable advice, and community support.

Develop SEL Skills: Enhance students' self-awareness, relationship-building, and responsible decision-making skills.

Encourage Collaboration: Foster a sense of community and mutual support among students, teachers, parents, and guest speakers.

Achieve Standards Mastery: Align activities with Oregon State Standards for Speaking and Listening.

Day Schedule

9:30 - 10:30 Period 1

10:30 - 11:30 Period 2

11:30 - 12:28 Period 3

12:28 - 1:00 Lunch Break

1:00 - 2:00 Period 4

2:00 - 3:00 Period 5

3:00 - 3:30 Period 6

3:30 - 4:00 Commons Social Event

Guest Speakers

Kathryn Pawlick

Kathryn is an attorney who empowers sensitive and introverted individuals to achieve their dreams through compassionate communication and customizable solutions. She serves small to medium-sized businesses across diverse industries, providing tailored guidance on business operations, contracts, and estate planning. With a focus on protecting assets and simplifying estate administration, Kathryn also enjoys connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs making a positive impact.

Luz Reyna

Luz Reyna is the founder and CEO of Reyna Consulting Group, where she provides strategy, management consulting, and fractional leadership services to mission-driven leaders. With a background running over 50 political campaigns and building nonprofits and startups, she is passionate about supporting entrepreneurship and community-driven solutions to global challenges.

Marissa Cherepanov

Marissa Cherepanov is a resilient leader who overcame early-life challenges to build a successful corporate career in the fashion industry and become a sought-after mentor and speaker. She founded Inspire with Marissa to empower women through career coaching and leads the No Girl Left Behind organization, creating global initiatives to support women and girls. As CEO, speaker, and advisor, Marissa continues to inspire change and mentor future leaders in the pursuit of self-worth, confidence, and female empowerment.

Denise Perez

Before becoming a Nurse Injector, Denise worked in Trauma ICU, PACU, fertility care, and plastic surgery. She is also a Certified Holistic Health Coach. In her spare time she likes to cuddle with her German Shepherd Dog, travel, and make charcuterie boards. She is originally from Texas and moved to Oregon 3 years ago. She is fluent in Spanish and loves to connect with her culture as much as she can.

Sara Ngo

Sara is a Restaurant owner/operator of Chubby Bao House, a Salem local Asian Fusion Restaurant and Franchise. Born in Texas and raised in Mexico by immigrant parents, Sara’s work ethic and professionalism began early in life. Through years of Customer Service and some community college, she seeked out to find her voice. Oregon became her home and is where she thrived. Sara is currently a member of the local Chamber of Commerce.

Bonnie Milletto

Bonnie Milletto is the Founder and CEO of BONNIE MILLETTO LLC, where she has spent over a decade inspiring change and empowering women and youth through motivational speaking and event hosting. She is known for crafting personalized presentations that resonate with diverse audiences, focusing on hope, resilience, and actionable steps for personal transformation. Bonnie’s work, including the Amazing You Empowerment Conference, has earned recognition such as the Spirit Award and a feature in National Caring magazine for her commitment to making a lasting impact.

Kaasha Coombs

Kasha is a trained mediator and facilitator at Mountain West Investment Company, where she promotes the Outward Mindset to help communities see people as people. Her previous work includes supporting young adults at The Anasazi Foundation and Thinking Beyond Borders, and contributing to the mission of The Arbinger Institute to foster global change. Driven by a passion for helping others find peace in their relationships, Kasha enjoys global adventures, hosting friends, and spending time outdoors when not working.

Yirla Gonzalez Nolan

Yirla is a Mexico-born, Texas-raised entrepreneur with over 12 years of experience in strategic partnership building and economic development for underrepresented communities. She has held leadership roles at the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen, the Women’s Business Center, and the March of Dimes, bridging gaps between nonprofits, businesses, and communities. An active member of the Organization of Women Executives and Junior League of McAllen, Yirla is dedicated to promoting leadership and community impact.

Jazmin Hayworth

Jazmin Hayworth has been passionate about the Real Estate industry since 2017, working in lending, Title/Escrow, and earning her Real Estate License in 2023. She is active in the Mid Valley Association of Realtors and Leadership Salem, while also supporting local nonprofits like Family Building Blocks and Liberty House. Outside of work, Jazmin enjoys fitness, spending time with her family, and managing her small business.

Evening Activities

4:30 PM: Registration Opens

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM: Welcome & Keynote Speaker

5:15 PM - 6:45 PM: Activities and/or Stations

6:45 PM - 7:00 PM: Prize Drawings & Closing Remarks

Dinner Prepared and Served by Houck Students

Anabel Del Rio's Foods class. 4:30 - 5:00 in Cafeteria

Thank you to our wonderful students for preparing tonight's meal!

Keynote Speaker Angela Williams

Angela is an accomplished insurance professional with over 20 years experience in the insurance industry. Beyond her work in insurance, Angela is deeply committed to the community, dedicating countless volunteer hours and serving on several local boards.

Chairman of NextGen Board of Directors
Vice-Chair of Salem Academy Board of Trustees
Board member of McLaran Leadership Foundation
Member of Big I Oregon
Member of Safeco Regional Advisory Council
Board member of Salem Area Chamber of Commerce

Angela's passion for passion for helping others extends beyond protecting what matters most-its about building stronger, more connected families and communities.

Activities

5:15 - 6:45

Earn a badge to complete your

Empowerment Quest

get a stamp when you visit the following:

EmpowerHER: A Journey of Self-Expression and Growth

Visit various stations in the commons from 5:15 - 6:45

Hair Braiding & Flowers - Maria Nunez, Deborah Cabello

Cultural appreciation and self-expression through hair styling.

Portraits of Praise - Martha Specht, Teacher, Washington Elementary

Celebrate yourself with affirmations and a photo session.

Journaling & Pen-Making - Monica Takata, Principal, Chavez Elementary

Personalize your own journal and beaded pen for self-reflection.

Watercolor Thank-You Cards, Rebekah Klocke & Julie Dickey

Show gratitude to others by creating personalized thank-you cards.

Plant Propagation Workshop, Irma Decker

Learn the art of propagating plants and bring home your own.

Zentangle for Self Care - Haley Barks

Practice mindful drawing to relax and de-stress.

Bucket List Creation - Caryn Lockhart

Set personal goals and dreams for the future.

Words are Powerful and so are You - Jean Kendrick

Write an acrostic poem using your name.

DIY Fidgets for Stress Relief - Rachel Luther, Chloe Woods

Create your own sensory fidgets to help manage stress.

Young Entrepreneurs Market, Rachel Fletcher

Empowering girls to become entrepreneurs by creating and selling their handmade goods.

Strength in You - Lift to Empower

Join Bryanna Smith in the Main Gym for easy weightlifting ideas.

Weightlifting shifts the focus from appearance to performance, encouraging girls to appreciate their bodies for what they can do rather than how they look. This fosters a healthy relationship with their bodies. Exercise, including weightlifting, has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Feeling physically and mentally strong reinforces girls’ overall sense of empowerment and well-being.

Ballet Folklorico

Join Instructor Erica Manzo in the main gym from 5:15 - 5:45

Mindfulness and Focus: Dance requires concentration and mindfulness, which can help divert attention away from negative or overwhelming emotions. The focus on rhythm, movement, and coordination encourages being present in the moment, reducing rumination and anxiety.

Women on the Move

Join Beth Schmidt, Program Coordinator with Salem-Keizer Safe Routes to School in the rotunda.

Learn how the bicycle was not just a tool for transportation; it was a powerful symbol and enabler of women’s independence, promoting greater mobility, social involvement, and empowerment.

Prizes & Closing Remarks

Turn in your Empowerment Quest to be eligible for a prize. Drawing will begin at 6:45pm in the commons.

Thank you to...

All of our presenters! You are an inspiration to us all.

Mary Higgins for doing most of the work to organize this event. Thank you!!!!

Cathy McInnis, United Way Director and her team for supporting our vision in helping to gather resources and speakers.

Anabel Del Rio, Houck Foods teacher for organzing our students to serve the meal.

Beth Schmidt for always lifting me up and helping me see my worth.

They said it better!

Be yourself: "A girl should be two things: who and what she wants" — Coco Chanel
Be courageous: "Do one thing every day that scares you" — Eleanor Roosevelt
Take chances: "No one ever became a success without taking chances" — Estée Lauder
Be kind: "If you see someone without a smile, give them yours" — Dolly Parton
Be unique: "The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique" — Walt Disney
Be passionate: "Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it" — Julia Child
Be strong: "A strong woman understands that the gifts such as logic, decisiveness, and strength are just as feminine as intuition and emotional connection" — Nancy Rathburn
Be vulnerable: "It's tougher to be vulnerable than to be tough" — Rihanna
Be determined: "I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger" — Serena Williams

Let's choose to support and empower each other, turning competition into collaboration and lifting each other up, so we can create a community where every girl thrives together!

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