Mark A. Large/The Daily Times

About 100 girls from Blount County middle and high schools listen attentively to Holly Hatcher, community policing director with the Alcoa Police Department, who delivered the keynote address at the Ninth Annual Sister-to-Sister Summit held Nov. 5 at Preservation Plaza, Maryville.

Summary

The Ninth Annual Sister-to-Sister Summit held Nov. 5 in Maryville drew about 100 Blount County girls in grades 7 through 12. Participants let their voices be heard as they drew attention to issues that affect them and then formulated a plan of action to realistically address these issues.

For more information

To learn more about the 2009 Sister-to-Sister Summit and to view the plan of action, visit the Maryville Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Web site at www.discoveret.org/aauwmvil/s2s.htm or contact Maryville College Center for Strong Communities at 981-8894.

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Sister-to-Sister Summit gives young women opportunity to voice concerns, solutions

From Staff Reports
Originally published: November 15. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: November 15. 2009 1:56AM

You might not have heard a roar Nov. 5 in downtown Maryville, but a group of about 100 young women definitely let their voices be heard during the Ninth Annual Sister-to-Sister Summit, held for Blount County girls in grades 7 through 12, at Preservation Plaza. The all-day event explored issues the girls identified as important to their lives and learning, then allowed them to develop their own ideas for realistic solutions as they worked in small groups with facilitators trained in dealing with sensitive issues. Topics for the discussion groups were chosen by the girls themselves and included "Love Game," problems with romantic relationships; "No More Drama," issues with friends, peers and gossip; and "Under Pressure," dealing with peer pressure. Discussion topics were identified based on information the girls provided when they registered for the summit.

"I love how we are all able to come together and talk about things that trouble us," said Heritage High School senior Zoe Stout, who has attended the past four summits and facilitated a small group at the 2009 event. "I was able to really come out of my shell about things. I was a lot less self-conscious, and I really learned I could be myself more."

Through discussing problems in their lives, the girls formulated messages and action plans for other young women and for adults in the community. Girls who attended the summit were given opportunities to develop their own ideas to find solutions to their problems. The summit also offers girls an opportunity to connect with their peers in other schools and to meet the women community leaders and role models.

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