The Dillon County Boys and Girls Youth Center helped young women get one step closer to envisioning their dream and achieving their life goals during the Yes I Can: Young Women’s Empowerment Summit (YWES).

The summit took place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, welcoming young women ages 10-21.
Social media plays such a huge role in the everyday lives of young women, creating an almost magnified sense of youth depending on their peers for acceptance on all levels—health, beauty, finance, success. and more. When youth are able to look beyond their smart phones and actually talk to community leaders and mentors about their issues, things can change.
The YWES Summit was that platform. The summit included inspiring guest speakers such as): Dr. Keyoka Smith, Columbia (Tearing Down Negative Stereotypes), Felicia Hunter, Atlanta, GA (Being A Lady of Good Character & Integrity), Mikeya Murphy, Miss. Hartsville USA, Dillon,  (Knowing Who You Are and Your Role as a Young Lady), Cynthia Pernell, Dillon,  (Taking Care of Your Health), Na’Talia McLeod, Dillon, (Teen Pregnancy Prevention) Min. Cynthia Griffin, Fayetteville, NC, (Being a Positive Role Model), Tina Ford, Dillon, (Your Financial Future), Tina Dupree, Coker College, (Pursuing Higher Education), Nicole DeShiell, Charlotte NC, (Positioning Yourself for Success), Min. Shay Jackson, Marion, (Finding Your Purpose), and A’keta Vasser, South Carolina’s Top 40 Under 40 of Purposely Driven. A’keta taught tangible, goal-setting techniques through her Vision Board Social, using pictures and words of affirmation to bring goals to life.  
The emcee for the event was Danielle Smith, Secretary, Dillon County Boys and Girls Youth Center.
Each attendees was also treated to lunch and a bag with goodies along with a t-dhirt, books, pens, vision boards, and banking and college information.  
Annie Smith, the program coordinator for The Dillon County Boys and Girls Youth Center, would like to thank everyone for their donations and gifts.
The Empowerment Summit for Young Males will be Saturday, September 24.  
This will be free to attendees, but everyone must register to attend.  
The Dillon County Boys and Girls Youth Center is a non-profit, tax-deductible 501©3 entity.