On Aug. 19, girls and women from up and down the state will convene at Middletown High School for the inaugural Girls Empowerment Celebration — the first of many annual celebrations, if all goes as planned.
The evening of entertainment, vendors and awards is the brainchild of Dee Yancey-Harris, who founded the hosting organization, Great Taste Design Foundation (GTDF), in late 2016. The nonprofit’s mission is provide tools and resources that positively impact the lives of women and girls in the community, via programs, training and special events.
“Women can be competitive with each other,” said Yancey-Harris. “We can bring each other down. I think that’s detrimental to us. We need to unite, we’ll go farther.”
The celebration’s focus is to inspire girls in middle and high school, but Yancey-Harris notes that women of all ages will find the evening inspirational. “We’re bringing together all kinds of women and girls with the message of unity — from business millionaires to students to entertainers, entrepreneurs and politicians from all over the state,” she says.
Guests include House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, Shana Payne of the Delaware Department of Education, Councilwoman Rysheema Dixon and Miss Delaware Chelsea Bruce.
In addition to influential Delaware women speaking, the event will feature live entertainment — all young talent from the community, including:
- Poet Hannah Sturgis (2016 Delaware state champion of Poetry Out Loud)
- Singer/Songwriter Bria Noel Evans
- Singer/Songwriter Hannah Dale
- Dancer Juliet Irrizary
- Danceworks Dance Studio of New Castle
Check out our Girls Empowerment Celebration #GEC2017 on 8/19 at Middletown HS for performances, photoshoots, awards, & more! Tickets in bio! pic.twitter.com/jrYjryGUKA
— Great Taste Design (@GTasteDesign) August 2, 2017
Funds raised at the event will help fund GTDF, including scholarships for young women in the areas of leadership, art, philanthropy, academics, athletics, and entrepreneurship.
Tickets are $16, and are still available.
Get tickets
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