BE SEEN, BE HEARD, BE POWERFUL! LEAD GIRLS OF NC ANNUAL EXPO OCT 27-28

Empowering, free event for girls in grades 6-10 will feature author Kelly Starling Lyons, roundtables with female leaders in our community, and a special parent panel discussion on becoming your child’s best advocate

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (October 1, 2023) – The annual LEAD Girls Expo is a unique experience designed to inspire, motivate, and empower girls to LEAD at school, at home and with their peers. Hosted by Winston-Salem nonprofit LEAD Girls of NC, the Expo features high-energy workshops and inspiring presentations by influential female leaders from our community and beyond.

The event’s featured speaker is Kelly Starling Lyons, a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf, teaching artist and award-winning children’s book author. Her mission is to center Black heroes, celebrate family, friendship and heritage and show all children the stories they hold inside. Among her acclaimed titles are Caldecott Honor winner Going Down Home with Daddy, Geisel Honor Award recipient, Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom, and Christopher Award winner Tiara’s Hat Parade. Kelly is the author of three popular chapter books series for young readers starring her characters Jada Jones, Miles Lewis and Ty’s Travels easy readers. Lyons, who now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, was named to Good Morning America’s 2021 Inspiration List: Who’s Making Black History.

As the girls head to their workshops, parents will participate in a special panel discussion that will include Hayley Lampkin from the Children’s Law Center, Dr. Jaleema Speaks, with Novant Health WomanCare, and Dr. Paula Wilkins, chief academic officer for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

Each year, more than 300 girls in Forsyth County engage with LEAD, which stands for Learning Everyday Accomplishing Dreams, through the organization’s in-school curriculum delivered in partnership with local middle schools as well as weekend and summer programming and special events.