First Girls Leadership Summit meets in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The halls of UTC were flooded with hundreds of young women today for the 2023 Girls Leadership Summit titled HEAR US. The Commission on Children and Youth teamed with the Rise-Up Co-operative to bring hundreds of young women together and teach them about healthy platonic and romantic relationships.
“I really hope the biggest takeaway is what a healthy relationship is and isn’t so that they understand if they’re in a healthy relationship or not,” said Sandy Pricer, creator of RiseUp Co-Operative. “Or if somebody in their life is or isn’t so that they can be empowered to advocate for themselves and others.”
The Hear Us Summit was inspired by a 2021 report from TCCY that found more than 1 out of every 6 girls in Tennessee high schools had experienced physical dating violence. Rise-Up and TCCY were immediately inspired to spread awareness about the realities of abuse.
Marissa Player-Montgomer, Southeast Coordinator of TCCY believes this is a necessary topic of discussion. “We talk about dating violence like I said for adults, college kids, but we don’t think about girls in fifth, sixth, or seventh grade going through abusive relationships or being bullied,” she said. “Not even just with a boyfriend girlfriend type of relationship or whatever have you, even friendships and violence in the home. That’s an issue that our kids are seeing and facing, and no one’s talking about it”
Parents could also attend the Summit and take classes about building healthy relationships with their kids. The intention being that parents and children could learn vital techniques and lessons and grow closer.
“Not only did we have classes for the girls, but we wanted to have classes for the adults that mimic some of the things the girls are going through. So, [the girls] will learn about healthy relationships and social and emotional health, but so will the adults. And [parents] are going to learn it on what their kids are seeing,” said Player-Montgomery
This is the first of many Leadership Summits, but until the next one, you can find support and other resources with the Rise Up Co-Operative and the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth.
