Real Girls Rock: Mind, Body and Soul, An MLK Day of Service Project

BY MARCY PALMERI, Contributor

ST. PETERSBURG – As part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service project, the St. Petersburg Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will hold the Real Girls Rock two-day conference, which aims to empower the minds, bodies and souls of young ladies ages 12-17.

Ruby Baldwin Griffin

The St. Petersburg’s Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sponsors the GEMS, which stands for Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully. The GEMS is a group of young ladies between 14-18 years of age, and will be among the many who will participate in the conference located at Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 3500 18th Ave. S., St. Petersburg.

The function will encompass a series of workshops focusing on health, fitness, nutrition, body image and self-worth, in addition to promoting psychological and emotional development.

The sorority’s Chairperson, Anita Lewis, said they expect more than 100 girls to attend the two-day conference that takes place Sat., Jan. 17 from 9:30 – 2 p.m. and Mon., Jan. 19 from 3-5 p.m.

Saturday’s theme will be “fitness,” so the girls are asked to wear appropriate fitness attire. The day will end with lunch, followed by a workout from a Flex the Fitness Trainer. Monday’s attire is business casual.

Saturday’s colloquium will explore the body and mind, which is comprised of health, body image, nutrition and more. A nutritionist will be on site to lead the discussion and answer questions.

Monday, on the actual Day of Service, the “soul” portion of the event will conclude the series and will include topics related to mental health, depression and emotions.

In part, the purpose of this project is to alter the girls’ perception of how they see themselves despite the images portrayed by the media, which occupies so much of their lives.

They will learn about choosing foods to create delicious, healthy meals that will nourish their body from the inside out.

Lewis intends to introduce the girls to what their lives can be like if they treat themselves with more kindness and compassion, along with opening themselves up to the possibility of a new way of thinking. She wants to instill in them the “anything is possible” mentality, and help them to love themselves for who they are regardless of size.

Participants will receive refreshments, a free lunch and there will be giveaways. Bring a friend and be prepared for an uplifting, inspiring and enlightening experience.

Pre-registration for the Real Girls Rock: Body, Mind and Soul Conference is requested and can be secured by calling 727-755-1913.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world.

The organization is a sisterhood of predominantly black, college educated women. The sorority currently has 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters located in the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Republic of Korea.

The Delta GEMS program offers a road map for college and career planning and conducts activities that provide opportunities for self-reflection and individual growth. Delta GEMS, like Delta Academy, is implemented by chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Ruby Baldwin Griffin is the current president of the St. Petersburg alumnae chapter.