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Camp Diva Summer Retreat 2010 Closing Ceremony
Captured
Purpose of Mentoring Program For Young Ladies!
Volume XIV, Number VI
Published: September 2010
 It's always a great privilege for our paper whenever we cover any program that Camp Diva is involved in. The recent Camp Diva Summer Retreat 2010 Closing Ceremony
for its young ladies was no exception. To see the great work that Camp Diva's mentoring program does for young girls cannot be commended enough. To try to capture with
words the ambiance and spirit filled affair that permeated throughout the extremely well orchestrated event, I feel will pale in comparison to actually having been there.
It was most impressive to see how the program was brilliantly constructed to have each young lady actively involved in all phases of the ceremony for the evening. Actually the first portion of the program was done entirely by the young Camp
Diva queens, which they handled flawlessly. The welcome was done
by sister Jasmine Carter. The girls pledge by sisters Asia Eppes, Justis
Carter and Kellie Smith. Libation: Karimah Turner. Introduction to
Kwanzaa: Asia Rather. Kwanzaa Principles: Ymaree Ingram, Deja
Cofield, Jovia Moore, Taliah Richardson, Jayln Hamman and Jayla
Morris. Introduction of Rev. Burton was done by Natalie Jordan.
The keynote speaker for the evening, introduced by Enyiah
Genesie was the Honorable 7th District Councilwoman, Cynthia
Newbille. Councilwoman Newbille delivered a very powerful and
well crafted speech on how fortunate the Camp Diva young ladies are
to have such a wonderful mentoring program available for them-and
how they should take advantage of every opportunity being afforded
to them. She stated that when she was a young girl growing up she
wished that she could have been involved in such an awesome esteem
building and encouraging program such as the Camp Diva Mentoring
Program for young girls.
On January 25, 2004-5 year old Diva Mstadi Smith-Roane tragically lost her life to
a firearm. Today through Camp Diva's Mentoring Program for young girls her memory
lives on. Diva's mother Clover states, "As a mother, when you lose a child it's never easy.
Having the opportunity to be a part of being able to give back to these young ladies what I
would have given back to my daughter is a real blessing-it is within itself, therapy for me.
It is healing for me. I love the fact that sister Angela Patton has engaged us in this process
of working with these young girls who come from the places we come from-who look
like we look-it's just a motivational experience within-the giving of oneself is more than
therapy-it's more than healing."
Camp Diva volunteer, Mary Cofield, grandmother of Camp Diva
member Deja Cofield commented, "Now that I'm retired I wanted to do
something more to give back to the community. I saw this as a way to
spend the summer with my daughter and at the same time help mentor
some other women's daughters. This program has been awesome, it
has been very fulfilling. I was able to watch the girls grow and do
self-improvement and to be more in control of their feelings over the
summer-and that was a beautiful thing."
Percy Williams, program attendee and grandparent of participant
Natalie Jordan commented, "It is a good feeling to see my granddaughter
participating in such a prestigious program because I think that the
structure of the program and the things that she's learned I think is really
great. It's good to see that structure in her life and that she's having fun
also."
Precilla Williams stated, "I agree with Percy-there is structure at
Camp Diva. Within that structure and all the learning, I saw growth."
Angela Patton, Executive Director, Camp Diva's Mentoring Program
for Girls is to be highly commended for her never ending dedication to her young girls, as
well as for her tireless efforts always seeking new and exciting projects to get her Camp
Diva girls involved in. She is an awesome blessing to society.
Sister Asia Eppes was honored as Diva of the Year. The program culminated in a
special video presentation featuring the Camp Diva girls and program staff members by
sister Jazmine Morris.
Contact us for more information on Camp Diva's Mentoring Program for young girls.
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