Upcoming Events

Mean Girls: Survival Strategies for Bullying, Gossip, and Other Hazards of Being a Middle School Girl.
Girl fighting is often a painful part of middle school. Girls may express their aggression and insecurities through hurtful words, gossip and bullying. An experienced counselor will lead a panel discussion with a group of young college women as they talk about how they made it through middle school, and how to keep friendships strong, honest and healthy.

Protect Yourself
In the first part of this personal safety workshop, you will learn how to identify sexual predators, develop safety instincts and plan safety strategies on the streets as well as on the internet. Experts will provide awareness about sexual harassment, cyberbullying and cyberstalking.

Girl Talk: Communicate and Earn Respect.
Based on SafePlace's "Expect Respect" school program, this presentation will address the promotion of safe and healthy relationships for all girls. A strong girl speaks her mind in a relationship, refuses to do things that make her uncomfortable, and expects people to treat her with respect - even when others might be angry or disappointed. The program's focus will be on helping girls communicate their feelings, increasing girls' sense of personal safety and building healthy coping skills. The SafePlace School-based education and training team will facilitate this discussion.

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Rise Up and Lead.
What characteristics do leaders have? In this workshop, girls will discuss how leaders must have a healthy self-esteem, think critically, be an imaginative problem solver, have confidence, be a good team player, set goals and much more. Girls practice defining and visualizing leadership roles for themselves based on what they have learned about themselves and about girlhood.

Speakers Bios

Amy Samet currently works as a grant specialist at the Texas Education Agency and has worked in the past with the Texas Department of Health, the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board, and the Department of State Health Services. Part-time, she serves as a public speaking coach and trainer/speaker in areas of leadership, fundraising, and public speaking. She has worked with Comedy Coach Sam Cox to bring humor into her public speaking engagements. Amy is the Vice President of Education for Capital City Toastmasters and is a Division-Level Champion Speaker.

Tonja S. O'Neill is the founder and CEO of Soverex, Inc., providing consulting, speaking, and training services to the Austin community in areas of Management/Leadership and Business Execution since 2001. She has been managing people and projects in the high-tech industry for over 17 years. Prior to starting her own company, Tonja was the Chief Development Officer for Merinta, Inc., a software startup specializing in the development of commercial internet-based products. Tonja has an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and was honored with the George Kozmetsky Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement upon graduation. She also has a BS in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M; University and is an Accredited Associate of Insights Learning and Development, Ltd. Tonja is the Toastmasters International, District 55 Performance Analyst and President of her local chapter, The Austin Toastmasters.

Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza was recently elected to her fifth term as Travis County District Clerk. She was first elected District Clerk in 1990. A native of Del Rio, Texas, Ms. Rodriguez-Mendoza earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas in 1972 and a Master's degree from Antioch College in 1974. Her career includes service within the non-profit sector as well as government. As District Clerk, she has been an innovator in organization and use of technology; she instituted an award-winning online jury impaneling system (I-Jury), believed to be the first in the country. The I-Jury system, which was implemented in March 2002, has achieved 90% participation rate among those serving as jurors.

March 29 at 1:30 PM at Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary

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One Is the Loneliest Number
This discussion teaches girls how to be more supportive of each other and how to get support from friends. Girls will act out scenarios and identify reasons why support from family, friends and females is so important.

Speakers Bios

Jeri DeAngelis holds a Bachelors degree in music and a Masters degree in Education and Counseling. During her career she has taught music to students in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. She has worked in a private agency as a therapist and in an Austin High School as a counselor. She most recently served as the Executive Director of the Austin Chamber Music Center. She is the mother of a son who is 8 years old. She works as a volunteer for her son's school and her church, and as a fundraiser for the Long Center here in Austin.

Ann Salerno was born and raised in Eagle Pass, Texas and moved to Austin and earned a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Texas in 1984. She started her career with the City of Austin in 1986 where she started out as a Customer Service Representative for the Electric Utility. She moved up in the organization and currently manages three areas for the Utility including the apartment industry, commercial and key accounts. Her development of the Key Accounts Program for Austin Energy has earned recognition from the American Public Power Association, Chartwell's Best Practices and the Energy Planning Network as a model for other utilities.

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Dads and Daughters: Growing the Bond.
Studies show that fathers have an enormous influence over their daughter's future success and happiness. During this from-the-heart discussion, dads will learn what they can do to help their daughters be all they can be and daughters will be encouraged to confide those things they need from their fathers to feel more confident, competent and strong. Dads also will share with one another what seems to work in forging strong father-daughter bonds.

Speakers Bio

Steve Larson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and an ordained Lutheran Clergyperson. He has served 16 years on the streets of Ft. Worth; 10 years in California, serving a parish and teaching in the Graduate Theological Union; and 14 years in Austin as a Marriage and Family Therapist and criminal justice volunteer and advocate. He has three daughters, one who is a freshman at UTSA and a graduate of Austin High.

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Be oriGENal.
Do you ever feel like you’re just another fish in the sea? In this workshop, girls explore their differences in personalities, learning, motivation and communication styles through group activities and teamwork problem solving.

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Mother/Daughter: Hot Flashes and Personality Clashes.
Mothers and daughters learn how to use realistic approaches and practical strategies to communicate effectively and build loving and lifelong connections with each other.

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From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Winning Secrets for Success.
In the 21st century, there have never been so many ways for girls to achieve. This session will share success stories of girls who have reached their goals and the steps on how to get there. Listen to the career panel of young women who work in a variety of different fields. This session introduces girls to a vast range of potential job opportunities, while allowing the girls to consider how their future work will affect their lifestyle.

January 22 at 3:45 PM at O.Henry Middle School

January 30 at 11:30 PM at Redeemer Lutheran

February 12th at 11:15 AM at Lamar Middle School

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Set it and Exceed it!
Every girl has an oriGENal purpose. But, what does it take to fulfill that purpose? Goals! Girls will learn what goals are, how to set them and why they are so important in life. They will receive sound advice on the steps to setting and completing their goals.

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