It’s A Girl’s Thing – Etiquette, self-confidence, style, and optimism are the rules of the day at girls-only event

“We need to provide spaces for our young women to flourish,” says Sophia Grandison, the host of the annual “It’s A Girl Thing” event in Quincy.

Grandison, who runs a nonprofit, Support To Live, has made it her life’s pursuit accomplishment to uplift the young people of Gadsden County.

Grandison is a native of Chattahoochee, and knows first-hand the struggles facing most of Gadsden County’s teenaged girls.

“”Our girls are going through so much - body shaming, bullying, suicidal thoughs, family displacement, incarcerated parents, and not understanding their own bodies,” said Grandison.

When she was young, Grandison says she experienced many of the same things, and upon becoming an educator (first in Jacksonville, later in Gadsden County), she says she observed how the age-old problems she experienced as a teen were still plaguing girls across Florida.

“We’ve got to do more for our girls,” she said.

So Grandison started the It’s A Girl’s Thing experience - a night out where girls get dressed up in donated gowns, eat dinner with ladies while getting lessons in etiquette, hear from experts on self-confidence, health, relationships, and careers, and then get together to do an art project.

The evening is rounded out with a “Vision Board” project, where the girls put together their goals and visions for the future - a visual reminder of all they are capable of accomplishing.

Grandison’s event is in its eighth year, although this Saturday, September 17 was only the second year it has been held in Gadsden County.

It was launched in Jacksonville while Grandison taught there; when Grandison moved back home to Gadsden County, she brought the event with her.

While the event serves as a source for uplifting education for teenaged girls, Grandison said it is also offered as a place for girls to talk about experiences in their lives, with adults who offer advice and insight without judgment.

“As a mom of two daughters, I think it is important for us parents to realize that our children go through things and they don’t tell us about it,” said Grandison. “I want to provide a safe, happy place for them to talk to adults.”

The event’s focus is on the girls: on their education, on their awareness, and on making them feel like the beautiful young women they are, Grandison adds.

The event starts with allowing each girl to pick out the gown she will wear during the evening’s dinner - and the girls are given full freedom to choose what they want to wear.

“As long as it’s appropriate, it’s allowed. It is up to them. AI want them to feel beautiful in their own way,” said Grandison.A

During last week’s event, Grandison’s speakers were Dr. Hugger, a Tallahassee pediatrician, Loshonda Cromartie, a mental health therapist, and Leslie Williams, a podcaster who focuses on relationships, faith, and personal advancement.

Several of the girls said this was their first time attending an event like this - the overall consensus was that they enjoyed the evening, especially the parts that allowed them to talk to the other women and girls in attendance.

“I learned how to control my emotions. It’s healthier to paint your emotions, or write down what’s bothering you. It’s not healthy to keep it all bottled up inside,” said Jillian Davis, a repeat attendee of the event, and a resident of Blountstown, Florida.

“My favorite part was bonding with the other girls,” said Treneicia Cowen, from Tallahassee. “We really had a good time. You get to see thoughts from other age groups here.”

“I didn’t know we were going to have those panelists, and I learned from them that we’ve got to start loving ourselves for who we really are, instead of getting our validation from others,” said Savannah Grandison, from Chattahoochee.

With her eyes to the future, Sophia Grandison is looking towards future events - potentially a Christmas gala and engagement opportunities for all teens.

But in order to accomplish future events and bigger plans for It’s A Girl’s Thing, Grandison says she needs community partnerships.

“I need help from the community in order to continue,” said Grandison. “I know that next year, I’ll have more girls wanting to attend.”

Already, Grandison’s venue is nearly too small for her current crowd; she will need a new venue in order to include more girls.

She also needs monetary and in-kind donations to continue It’s A Girl’s Thing’s role in uplifting local girls.

If your group or business would like to partner with Grandison, she can be reached at (850) 901-7616 or sjackgran@yahoo.com

“We need to join hands for our girls,” she concludes.

Ashley Hunter - editor@gadsdencountytimes.com

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It’s A Girl’s Thing – Etiquette, self-confidence, style, and optimism are the rules of the day at girls-only event

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$38.6 million budget for the City of Quincy?

Gadsden County Times Legals – 9/29

Gadsden County Times Legals - 9/29

Recommended

Gadsden County Times Legals – 2/17

Gretna police investigate Saturday homicide

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