‘Girl Talk’ finds footing with youth ages 12-18

A group for older girls in the Conway-Myrtle Beach area has become the talk of the town.

“Girl Talk,” going every other month since winter under the umbrella of the Sister to Sister Mentoring Program– and for free – will have its next gathering this weekend – a “Beach Edition,” begun with an ice breaker at a Friendly’s restaurant. It’s already at full capacity, too, heading into summer break, with plans to resume in September.

These outings, for girls ages 12-18, gives a comfortable, easygoing setting to discuss an array of topics, with a theme for each session, and several mentors on hand. On April 24, the focus was “How do I Fit In?” with not only discussion of everyday pressures that might arise for inclusion in a popular group or for keeping a certain image, but a team-building scavenger hunt at Broadway at the Beach.

Give the youth participants the credit, for they help drive the subjects and direction for subsequent gatherings.

The founder of the group,Conway native Jaleesa Hudson – who by day works as a special education teacher and curriculum coordinator – spoke of the importance of giving these youth another outlet to relate to, and learn from, one another. Michelle Hudson, Amber Day-Parker, and Jekea Scott round out the team of adults who volunteer their time to help facilitate the program.

Question | How has Girl Talk attracted attention so fast in its infancy?

Answer | Girl Talk has been going for about six months, ... and we see many of the same kids every month, but friends bring their friends. We started off with about 10 girls, ... and word travels by word of mouth. ... Now we average 17-18, and for this beach edition, we’ve maxed out; we’re right at 20 this time.

We’ve gotten really great feedback from the community. Also, at the end of each event, we have the girls explain what they want to learn and talk about for the next event. It’s centered on them.

Q. | How was the age span chosen, because even from 12 to 18, so much growth and maturation. through many different stages, happen so quickly?

A. | It’s right in that middle school range, where they might not sure who they are, and they deal with a lot of peer pressure. We want to catch them right now, because this is a crucial age. We hope to inspire them, ... and hope to help each of them turn into a leader. ... Some of the issues we talk about are a little heavier in nature, so older girls might break off into smaller sections for discussions. It all comes together, though, because things come to light in school and through their friends.

Q. | Not having children yourself, how special is your sharing motherly love and care through this program, especially in a time where so many youngsters have one or no parents at home?

A. | Just for me, I had great parents. They always instilled the values in me of getting active in the community, and one of my passions has especially been the youth. .... There are issues that girls have these days that I probably didn’t think about till much later, but I’m from a different generation. Many girls today might not have the supportive family that I had, and everyone isn’t afforded that opportunity, so I feel really strongly that they all have that one person you can look up to, because all you need is that little spark to inspire them. ...

This generation, ... they are our future lawyers, doctors, teachers ... .

Q. | Are there extra nuances and tidbits you learn from and about youth today through coordinating Girl Talk?

A. | They will laugh. I’m 28, and they might joke, “You’re old,” ... but I do have a TV, and I do listen to the radio. Through this program, I can’t even explain the joy of what I feel in learning and listening to everyone’s life story. Everyone has a different story. ...

Seeing them interact is not just facilitating them; it’s seeing them starting to learn to be a backbone, and that was Girl Talk is about, trying to help them figure out things together.

One of the things I’ve learned is how really resilient the girls are with the issues they deal with. Sitting there listening to them, I think ... it’s interesting to see the differences from when I was growing up, and how they can bounce back from the different experiences they have.

Q. | After the girls’ get-together this weekend, what’s next when school resumes?

A. | We’ll take a break for summer, and give them a chance to sink in with the new school year, then it’s every other month from then on. ...

We’ve had some great events, and we have a lot of choices. ... One thing that I want to do with them centers on more team-building activities, such as rope climbing and rope courses

Q. | What a gift this is for the participants, through the free cost thus far. How will finding other funding sources help widen the reach of Girl Talk?

A. | Everything is funded out of my pocket, ... and I am starting to work ... to write a grant. ... We’re starting to get bigger, but we need to have that underlying support, so we can expand. I hat to turn girls down, because there’s only so many of us. ...

We’re keeping it small to start, and we’ll hope later on, down the line, to grow, and help more girls. ... It’s really important for me to give back.

This story was originally published June 5, 2016 at 5:00 PM with the headline "‘Girl Talk’ finds footing with youth ages 12-18."