The Al-Khadija Young Women’s Empowerment Retreat,
took place on Saturday, September 28
th, 2013 at Loyola Marymount
University-St. Roberts Hall.
The day featured five workshops, led by :
- Linda Whitman, MBA
- Laaila Abdullah, MFA
- Lagreta McHenry
- Joanna Cain, MFT
- Dr. Amina Humphrey, PhD
The program commenced with an empowerment
session led by Linda Whitman in which she spoke on the importance of
setting goals and incorporating your passion into your everyday actions. She
pointed out the importance of “living the life you have imagined” at a young
age.
The participants then had a chance to focus on
their health and spirituality, through a yoga session with Laaila
Abdullah.
Joanna Cain led the girls in a jewelry workshop
in preparation for starting their own business initiative.
Dr. Amina Humphreys ,PhD led us in a closing
session about the rewards of education and the ways in which the participants
can empower themselves as young women of color.
La Greta McHenry shared stories of her journey of founding her own nonprofit, Culinary Cultural Exchange Program for youth and the power of cultivating one’s talents.
La Greta McHenry
La Greta T. McHenry is Founder of The International Youth Culinary and Educational Exchange Program (IYCEEP) a 501 (c ) 3 and has been involved with community based non profit organizations, serving in various capacities close to twenty years. La Greta is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a BA in Communication Arts with an emphasis in writing. However, it is the culinary arts that have held a special place in her heart since she baked her first cake at age ten– there was no turning back. Originally, thinking of baking and cooking as only a hobby, she decided the culinary arts would be a great way to bring young people of culturally diverse backgrounds together—allowing them to see how much we all have in common, using the culinary arts as the vehicle to unite us.
