Girls Spark 2023 Summit: A Call-To-Action for the Future Generation

Girls Spark 2023 SummitJulia Kasper (center) founder of Girls Spark with participants from the 2022 Girls Spark Summit (Submitted Image)

EXTON, PA — Free registration is now open for the Girls Spark 2023 Summit, “Be the Spark,” to be held Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Penn State Brandywine Campus, 25 Yearsley Mill Road, Media, PA.

Registration is limited to 300 participants, and girls may register for one of two tracks:

  • Middle School: Those in 6th – 8th grade as of September 2023        9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • High School: Those in 9th – 12th grade as of September 2023         10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

According to a recent CDC report, nearly three in five (57%) of teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021ꟷdouble the number of boys, representing nearly a 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade.

“Teen girls face more social issues than ever before,” says Julia Kasper, who founded Girls Spark in 2018 as a high school junior. “The goal of Girls Spark is to address the social, physical or emotional struggles girls face by providing a forum for teen peers to share and discuss their challenges and gain feedback, resources, guidance and support.”

Now in its third year, the Summit will bring together middle- and high-school-aged girls to interact and participate in more than 20 groundbreaking workshops, hands-on activities, and presentations. Girls will also enjoy a complimentary lunch and gift bag. This year’s keynotes include Jaclyn Gallo, a two-time best-selling author and host of “Spark Your Light,” and Lynette Medley, M.Ed., an advocate for gender, racial and reproductive justice and CEO of the world’s first menstrual hub/uterine wellness center.

“Due to the popularity of last year’s summit and the addition of a middle school track, we expect that the event will double in size,” says Laura Kasper, Girls Spark Board Chair and President and CEO of Monarch Staffing. “In order to enable girls to attend the conference at no cost, we rely on generous support of sponsors.” A variety of sponsorship levels and opportunities remain available. Inquiries can be made to laurakasper@girlsspark.com.

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Sponsors already committed to supporting the event include CHOP Specialty Care of King of Prussia, PECO, Walmart, Monarch Staffing, Loutel, Encompass Elements, Sun East Credit Union Delaware County Community College, Workplace Harmony, Sun East Credit Union, Poka-Yoke Solutions, The Possibility Fund, and NouSoma Communications, Inc.

Members of the Girls Spark teen leadership board collaborate with facilitators to choose and create Summit programming. Some of this year’s topics and workshops include Anti-Bullying, Overcoming Social Anxiety, Body Image & Self-Confidence, Art Therapy, Street Smarts and Self-Defense, Healthy Relationships, Yoga & Meditation, Sexual Health, Setting Healthy Boundaries, Unconscious Bias, Better Decision Making, LGBTQ+ Gender Identity, Financial Independence, College Career Coaching, Better Health & Wellness, and more.

Free transportation to the Summit is available from the Upper Darby Upper High School and Downingtown West High School, provided by Krapf Bus.

For questions, registration or sponsorship information, visit GirlsSpark.com

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