The WOMEN'S FOUNDATION of ARKANSAS

- Promoting philanthropy among women

- Helping women and girls achieve their full potential

A Day at a Girls of Promise Conference

Each of the WFA's Girls of Promise conferences is hosted by a college or university on a Saturday of the spring semester.  Conferences run from 8:15 am until 3:30 pm. 

8:15 - 9:00:  Check-in, Morning Survey, Team time

Chaperones check girls & themselves in. 

Girls receive team assignments & preconference surveys.  Morning Escorts take girls through goodie bags, t-shirts, and breakfast and deliver to Team Leader.  Girls complete morning survey and learn about their team heroine.  Team Leaders facilitate ice-breaker activities.

Chaperones receive team assignments & morning information.  Chaperones receive goodie bag & breakfast.  Chaperones review morning information and participate in team time.  Chaperones receive t-shirts after girls receive “first choice” of sizes.

9:00 - 9:30:  Morning General Session

Teams watch a short video of inspiring women throughout history.  A Girls of Promise representative welcomes attendees to the conference.  A campus representative welcomes attendees to the school.  Teams receive a charge for the day.

9:35 - 10:20:  Breakout Session 1

Each team meets with a professional woman from a non-traditional field to learn in a small-group setting about her career, the path she took to get there, and participate in a “hands on” experience that relates to her career.

10:30 - 11:15:  Breakout Session 2

11:20 - 12:00:  Keynote General Session

Girls hear from keynote speakers such as Mrs. Ginger Beebe, First Lady of Arkansas, Ms. Allyson Lewis, author of the Seven Minute Difference, and Dr. Janet Ply, Managing Partner of Pendere, Inc. 

12:00 - 12:30:  Lunch & Pictures

Team Leaders facilitate team discussions and team building activities during lunch.  Team Leaders ensure that teams visit the Photo Booth for a team photo.  Chaperones are encouraged to join in all team activities.

12:30 - 12:55:  Speaker Extravaganza

Similar to a "Career Day" experience, girls spend 5-minutes with five speakers of their choice to either learn more from a speaker she has already met, or meet a speaker that she will not get to have a break-out session with.

1:00 - 1:45:  Breakout Session 3

1:55 - 2:40:  Breakout Session 4

2:45 - 3:00:  Team time

Team Leaders pass out team photos and encourage team to exchange contact information.  Team Leaders facilitate a discussion reflecting on what the team has learned throughout the day and come up with a “team statement.”

3:00 - 3:30:  Closing General Session

Teams share their "team statements" and other facts they have learned throughout the day.  Girls are guided through reflection exercises to help them understand the “big picture” of the conference.  All participants complete a final evaluation form.

3:30:  Dismissal

Girls meet back up with their chaperones and classmates and compare experiences on the drive home.