ST. PETERSBURG — The Gathering of Women, Inc. presented the Flower Girls and Butterflies Salute to Motown reception at the Childs Park YMCA last Saturday, May 14. The program opened with the welcome by Chanterria LahDeja Bradley and Zaria Lenay Albritton.
Fifteen elementary to middle school aged girls got the opportunity to feel what it’s like to strut down a catwalk with all eyes on them. Model leads were Asya Lanae Maxine Dickerson, Tamara Key’Shawnna Green and Kiara Bernice Darling- Robinson.
The girls modeled in three scenes: Girls Rock to the Beat, Try Everything and Stepping Out in Style. The other girls who rounded out the cast of models were Sa’Quia Isis Middlebrooks, Adrianna Bonita Middlebrooks, Mariah Evans, Bran ‘Dreshia Cheyenne West, Quinci Caprice Butler, Lailah Lord, Kaideyn Aliah McDaniel, Jasmine Edmunds, Jada Edmunds, Adrianna LaToya Harris and Chanterria LahDe’ Ja Bradley.
The vision of The Gathering of Women’s Flower Girls (ages 5-11) and Butterflies (ages 12-17) was to create a positive outreach program for girls that addressed their current issues and concerns and included the old fashion values and etiquette that their mothers and grandmothers were reared under.
The Flower Girls were named in honor of Rene Flowers, a community leader, activist, former city council member and Pinellas County School Board District 7 member. After the young ladies finished modeling, each one paid tribute to Flowers by presenting her with a flower. She returned the gesture of appreciation by presenting each girl with a gift bag of goodies. The program concluded with a delicious meal.
For more information about the Flower Girls and Butterflies activities, contact Samantha Richardson at srtjazz8@aol.com.
