Rep. Watson Coleman Hosts 5th &Girls Conference to Engage, Uplift, and Empower Local Black Girls

Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) hosted the 5th &Girls conference at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), a day-long seminar to engage, uplift, and empower Black girls in middle and high school.

 

The first &Girls conference was held in 2017. This year's conference, entitled "Black, Beautiful, and Brilliant: My Mind, My Voice," is part of the ongoing work of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls to highlight and address the unique needs and issues impacting Black girls.

 

Approximately 100 girls from all walks of life attended the conference, which featured breakout sessions for the attendees and addresses by prominent Black women leaders and academics, including Congresswomen Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robin Kelly (IL-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), keynote speaker, Professor Dr. Winnie Brown Glaude, professor of African American studies and sociology, Dr. Tia Dole, a seasoned clinical psychologist, and nonprofit leader, and Dr. Tacquice Davis, TCNJ Vice President for Inclusive Excellence.

 

“I developed the &Girls conference almost 10 years ago to empower young women in the 12th District and Beyond to become the best version of themself,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “This year’s speakers and breakout sessions allowed these promising young ladies to come away from today’s program with some tools they can use in their homes, in their classrooms, in their neighborhoods. These young ladies are our future and it is our duty to provide them with the tools they need to traverse our modern world.”

 

“It was an honor to speak at this year’s &Girls conference and impart on a roomful of beautiful young women some of the confidence that trailblazers imparted on me,” said Rep. LaMonica McIver. “I reminded them to not ‘let anybody restrict you to a certain place; the entire world is at your feet; don’t wait for someone else to give it to you. Grab it.’”