The ELBD Blog is to share information that uplifts and helps our program participants and their parents to learn more about being an ELBD and to showcase our students and the awesome things they are doing in our program and within their communities. Be mindful that any rude or condescending comments in response to Blog content or program participants will be deleted. This blog is to EMPOWER and INSPIRE all young people.
My name is Derrione Watkins and I'm 16 years old. A couple of months ago I had an argument with my boyfriend, Tyree, that didn't end well. Looking back on it, we always argued over stupid stuff, but this particular argument was different, because Tyree hit me.
Read MoreLadies, in this lifetime you will develop many physical, emotional and social relationships. Be careful not to sabotage yourself by burning bridges. Do it too often and you will find yourself alone when you need friendship or assistance the most. Save yourself from having to swallow your pride down the road when you need to reach out to the people that you dismissed.
Read MoreUnfortunately, we all know one, knew one, or will know one in the future . . . The Bully! How do you deal with them? Why do they do what they do? What can you do to avoid bullying? Take a look at the awesome tips Zuri Hall shares on this topic and bring your bullying to an end.
We have all heard about little girls being bullied at school, on the playground and within their circle of friends. However, I hear myself saying the words "adult" and "bullying" in the same sentence all too often. Many adult women do not like admitting to it, but the phenomenon is prevalent. Women bullying other women often takes place within our social circles, the workplace, within social and civic organizations, and on social media. Having witnessed a great deal of this type of behavior in recent years, I have reached the conclusion that aging is mandatory, but maturing is definitely optional.
Read MoreWe would like to introduce you to Miss Alpatryce. We are excited to have Alpatryce on board as one of our new Teen Reporters. Alpatryce is 15 years old and is in the 10th grade. She will be reporting on things that affect teens within her community and across the country.
Read MoreAre you a teen living with vitiligo? There are many others who are dealing with the same thing. Take a moment to watch this young lady's story of living with vitiligo and how she has learned to embrace her differences and love her uniqueness. No one person truly defines beauty . . . God does! "Don't be a slave to what others think of you." - Jesi.
Read MoreThe day after the Presidential Election felt like the aftermath of a hurricane; the feeling of shock, sadness, and anger. The eerie quiet throughout the streets and my college campus. I cried throughout the entire morning because I knew that life was about to become a lot harder. Still, I made a promise that day; that I’d do everything in my power to stand up for my rights as well as the rights of others. So when I saw the Women’s March event on Facebook a few weeks later, I knew that I was going to keep good on that promise.
Read MoreIt's the new year and we are excited to introduce our new ELBD Teen Ambassador for 2017, Miss Kyasia Snead. Our former Teen Ambassador, Miss Kaitlyn Crosby is now transitioning into her new role as our Young Women's Ambassador to better serve our young women and college students who are 18 years and over. Kaitlyn has been wonderful in her role as our Teen Ambassador and she has set the foundation and the bar for Kyasia to reach for the stars.
Read MoreOkay Thanksgiving Hosts and Hostesses. The countdown has started and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. There have been phone calls, texts and emails to decide at whose house is this year’s gathering place and what will be on the menu. Some families are extremely traditional and turkey with all of the dressings and trimmings will be in order. Others will take a “new wave” approach and will go out to restaurants to keep from having to cook themselves or be subjected to the meal by the relative who just did not pick up Grandma’s cooking skills.
Read MoreHow many times do we hear the adage that girls need their fathers? A million times over, right? Recently at an ELBD Young Women’s Leadership gathering, a young lady (we’ll call her Michelle) expressed raw emotions when she was asked about her father. Michelle initially tried to hold back, but after a moment decided to release the pain she was feeling as she is still grieving the loss of her father. She mentioned that the anniversary of his death was the next day. We embraced Michelle in love and allowed her to grieve her loss.
Read MoreDon’t doubt yourself before you even get started.
And be not moved by things when it gets a little harder.
That’s the moment you tap into the gift, that magic that God has instilled in you.
Remember, only you can create the life you want and that every day given is brand new.
Debutante balls, cotillions, and beautillions I have been told, bring about a negative assumption about the participants and the organizations hosting such events are teaching young girls to be bourgeois. I must admit that once upon a time, I did not look favorably upon what seemed to be a "right of passage" that excluded me and other children who lived in my low-income community. My parents did not belong to a social or civic organization, have degrees, a lot of money and were not members of a fraternity/sorority or social/civic organization that hosted such events. The assumption in my neighborhood was that these types of programs were only for the "bourgeoisie." While this is not true, unfortunately, this thinking still exists for many people in general.
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