The ninth annual All About the Girls event, hosted by GreatNews.Life, created by Jenny Craig-Brown, continued the trend of empowering and inspiring women of all ages. With a young team of dancers, seven uplifting women (all who’ve faced trials of their own and found success) giving speeches, and a fun basket giveaway, All About the Girls Part 9 gave returning attendees an equally heartening experience to prior years and gave first-time attendees an event to look forward to in years to come.
The theme of All About the Girls this year was #IBelong. Dr. Vanessa Allen McCloud opened for the speakers by citing a moving definition of what it means to belong.
“Let’s define belonging as being a member or a part of a group, an organization, or something that makes you feel happy,” says McCloud. “Belonging is having a feeling of acceptance and no competition. I do what I do, you do what you do, and when we work together it is powerful.”
The common sentiment among so many of the women in attendance, the speakers, and even Jenny Craig-Brown is that often women do not feel that they belong.
“I repeatedly called the theme ‘I Believe',’” said Craig-Brown. “I think I made that mistake more than once because, candidly, ‘I Belong’ is not something I have said or felt often.”
This self-doubt, the lack of a sense of belonging, resonated with many women in attendance. One speaker, Denise Koebcke, noted her strong belief in this year's theme and its powerful impact.
“I think the overall message of I Belong is to keep moving forward. It is a message that I feel every female can relate to in both their professional and personal lives,” said Koebcke. “Women, especially successful women, often struggle with imposter syndrome. As a woman, it’s important to know and be reminded that there are so many ways to belong and find your niche.”
Craig-Brown gathered a total of seven strong and influential women to speak at the ninth annual All About the Girls. From business owners to non-profit workers, reporters to city workers, mothers to survivors, and so many more roles, the women who were chosen to speak documented and testified to the strength and resilience of women, and to the power of finding where you belong.
Drew Sarkisan, the current owner of Modern Edge, an erosion control company, is proud of where she is. If she could go back to a younger version of herself, she would tell herself that you belong when you are being true to yourself. Through a tumultuous path, she found the true meaning of belonging for herself.
“Belonging is not about who accepts you. Belonging is about accepting yourself for the good and the bad, the impressive qualities, as well as the flaws. Belonging is about finding the sweet spot, the spot that gives you the chance and opportunity to push through and pat yourself on the back.”
Belief in yourself is a message that many of the speakers want to be understood by the audience. All the women who walked up that stage, presented the story of their life, and ended up where they are, did so through believing in themselves. These women found belonging by believing that they belonged.
One speaker, Mandy Krickhahn, describes her journey to where she is now. Krickhahn began her life as a people pleaser, hoping to make others believe she belonged. She has now ended up in a position where she knows she belongs just because of who she is.
“I was done trying to fit in where I didn’t belong,” said Krickhahn. “I surrounded myself with people who gave me what I gave them, who believed in me and loved me the way I loved them. The last three years of my life have been the hardest, but they have also taught me so much about myself. I created a space for myself, and through that, I found where I belonged.”
The themes of believing in yourself, making a place for yourself, and staying true to yourself go right along with a motivational sentiment. These women all got to where they now are through perseverance and strength. Koebcke chose her song, 500 Miles, to walk on the stage for its themes of perseverance.
The song was a crowd favorite, inciting clapping and cheers from attendees. While the song details being the “man who would walk 500 miles,” Koebcke chose it for the strong theme of determination.
“That song is about never giving up, it’s about reliability and choices, and that’s what my story is about tonight,” said Koebcke.
Like many other women who spoke, Koebcke’s life story is full of ups, downs, and unexpected events. These women all believe in the necessity of difficulties and unexpected twists to become the true version of themselves and to feel a true sense of belonging.
Through the vision of Craig-Brown, and with the help of numerous sponsors such as Service Doctor, Eenigenburg Exteriors, Group 7even, Fighting Pretty, Urban League of Northwest Indiana, The Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana, Party People DJ, First American Management, Comcast, United Healthcare, and Strack and Van Til among others, All About the Girls Part 9 was able to touch a large number of women. The night was filled with laughter, emotional moments, camaraderie, and support among all attendees.
The theme of “I Belong" was shown through the compelling speeches and stories, and in the way women from all over The Region interacted with each other. The closing speaker, Chelsea Whittington, told a meaningful story about her own journey to where she is today. In her closing remarks, she tied the theme of the night, the feeling that was present among all the women in attendance, together.
“When you have your own face and your own space and you can tell your own story, that is your superpower,” said Whittington. “When you have superpowers, that makes you a superhero.”
To get more encouragement from inspirational women in the Region, check out the All About the Girls Podcast here.
