Conference teaches local teens about female empowerment

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Female students from Riley High School and Jackson Middle School attended the annual District Sisterhood Conference at Indiana University South Bend on Friday.

After starting in 2016, the goal of the conference has always been to help young women build self-esteem, create career goals, and develop leadership skills.

“It has helped build myself as more of a character and be able to use the things that we learn in our workshops in life. So, I’ve been able to, you know, grow wiser and be able to be more of a leader to other women and young ladies. And, just know that I’m also a teacher to our mentors, so they learn from us as well as we learn from them,” said Jada Boyd, a senior at Riley High School.

The program also offers these women an opportunity to communicate and work through any social or personal issues they may be experiencing.

“I think it’s very, very important especially the times that we are in right now with mental health being a big issue. Many of these girls are in a place where they can vent, where they can be themselves, where they can hear they’re okay even if they are feeling down,” said Charan Richards, Director of Professional School Counselors in the South Bend Community School Corporation.