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Last weekend, we were given the good fortune of participating in a catalytic event through our Senior Editor who was selected and invited to speak at the Girls Who Brunch Tour’s sixth DMV GWBT Experience in the city of Baltimore!
For more than eight years, the Girls Who Brunch Tour has been actively enriching the lives of girls ages nine to seventeen all over the country! The popular 501(c)(3) non-profit organization has been recognized and endorsed by names such as L’Oréal, Athleta, The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation, Forbes, and Build-A-Bear to simply scrape the surface! The non-profit’s founder, Ni’cola Mitchell, is also a best-selling author, executive producer, and advocate for women in addition to steering Girls Who Brunch and its national annual tour.
This year the DMV Girls Who Brunch Tour Experience was presented by The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation at the Residence Inn in Baltimore, Maryland. The five-hour day started promptly at eleven in the morning with a “Mix and Mingle” segment while girls checked in for the event. Thirty minutes later Ms. Ni’cola was introduced to the attendees. After greeting and welcoming everyone the award-winning author went on to introduce Page, an affiliate of the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation.
Following a high-energy fitness segment led by recording artists and actor Brave Williams the first panel discussion about business and entrepreneurship began an hour and a half into the event. Entrepreneurs Secilie Debellot and Katie Fickling dropped gems on what it means and takes to start a business, as well as how it can be done with the right focus and work. This segment closed out with a raffle and lunch break that allowed attendees and participants to indulge in the refreshments and dishes made available!
Baltimore’s incredibly talented Dynamic Force Dance Company entertained guests during lunch. Those guys did NOT come to play with their explosive choreography. Lunch also included food for thought as guests were also provided with a segment on self-love and the relevance of higher education and financial aid! Then, just as lunch was wrapping up, were given a taste of the runway as a team of young, bold, and fierce models worked the floor as they strutted back and forth in custom pieces. Even in the face of minor setbacks, the young models displayed elegance, professionalism, and great focus!
After many rounds of cheering and applauding, guests split up to join their breakout sessions of choice. While the adults stayed behind and attended a workshop of their own hosted by mother and published author Shawnta Jackson, the girls went to learn about having a growth mindset, communication, and realizing how much greater their purpose is compared to their fear.
By two-thirty, everyone was back together in the main ballroom and things were beginning to wind down with the last panel discussion of the day! The “Girl Chat” panel was moderated by Ni’cola Mitchell. The speakers of this panel included Model and vitiligo advocate Alayna Davenport, Founders of Black and Missing Derrica Wilson & Natalie Wilson, and XBlaze Magazine’s Senior Editor Torera, who also happened to be the youngest speaker on the panel.
The panel discussed the importance of safety amongst girls and women of color, the power of confidence, positivity, and self-love, as well as healthy relationships! After an enlightening conversation, the panel aided Ni’cola Mitchell in closing out a day full of sisterhood and empowerment!
It was quite exciting to be able to attend this year’s tour for the first time, and looking around it was clear to see the impact that the Experience had on attendees and participants. Not only did everyone leave with knowledge, but they left with a new friend, broadened network, and overall a breath of fresh air. This event definitely fulfills all that it promises attendees. Thus, this is our fair warning to you that once you become a Girl Who Brunch, you won’t want to leave. was clear to see.
Once again, we extend our gratitude to Ni’cola Mitchell and the entire Girls Who Brunch team for allowing us the opportunity to not only attend this year’s event but allow our Senior Editor a platform to share her story and wisdom with other young girls destined for greater heights. What a great way to kick off Women’s History Month! Can’t wait to see you all next time you stop by!
If you are interested in experiencing this tour firsthand, you can find more details on how to secure a ticket or contribute by visiting www.GirlsWhoBrucnhTour.com or by following @GirlsWhoBrucnhTour and @Mz_Nicola on Instagram!