First B.R.A.V.E. Girls Conference Was A Success
On June 2, 2018 Armisha Fondon along with Minister Jessica Cox, De’Kisha Fondon, Vickie Person, Jasmine Phillips, Judy Bounds, Tierra Turner, and Kim Buford, hosted a B.R.A.V.E. Girls conference for girls ages 12-19 at Bayson Chapel Church.
Committee members organizing the B.R.A.V.E. Girls Conference include Armisha Fondon (President), Minister Jessica Cox (Vice President), Judy Bounds (mentor), De’Kisha Fondon (Chief Financial Officer), Tierra Turner (mentor), Kim Buford (Senior Administrator), Jasmine Phillips (Chief Marketing Officer), and Vickie Person (Academic Support Coordinator).
The B.R.A.V.E. (Bold, Remarkable, Admirable, Victorious, Empowered) girls’ conference held June 2 at Bayson Chapel M.B. Church was a success with 40 attendees coming from Water Valley and surrounding towns including Oxford, Coffeeville, Batesville, and other areas.
“The event was beyond anything that was expected,” conference founder Armisha Fondon stated. “We wanted to touch the lives of these young girls in a special way. We never imagined that they would also change our lives.”
The vision was given to Armisha in 2014 while living in Texas. She was inspired to establish a group in her hometown that would reach out to young girls. She wanted a place where girls could feel confident, safe, and secure, while enabling them to express themselves without judgment.
Armisha moved back to Yalobusha County in 2015 and began working to build a foundation for this group at Bayson Chapel Church, where she attends and holds the titles of choir member and youth teacher,
“Thanks to Pastor Amos Sims, the deacon ministry and the mother ministry of Bayson Chapel Church, who stood behind the vision,” Armisha added.
She knew she could not do it alone, so along with her as (president), she enlisted the following committee: Minister Jessica Cox (vice-president); De’Kisha Fondon (chief financial officer); Jasmine Philips (chief marketing officer; Vickie Person (academic coordinator counselor); Kim Buford (senior administrator); Tierra Turner and Judy Bounds (mentors). They all believed in her vision.
Armisha would like to thank all the businesses that helped sponsor this event: Larson’s Cash Saver; Tri-Lake Eye Clinic; State Farm; and Hometown Pizza of Water Valley. Armisha also says this is only the beginning. If you would like to find out more about the group, they have a Facebook group page, B.R.A.V.E. Girls or email bravegirls18@gmail.com
