See a girl's world 'through her eyes' at conference

By Lori Szepelak

Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD Girls are the focus of an interactive and intensive daylong conference, sponsored by the Center for Human Development, which will address a host of issues ranging from runaways and girls at-risk to youth activism.

The fourth annual conference titled "Through Her Eyes: Is Your Image My Reality?" is planned for Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the MassMutual Center. The conference deals with the experience of girls and the juvenile justice system, and focuses on issues including trauma, neglect, and the inability of existing systems to address gender-specific problems.

Keynote speaker Dr. Jean Kilbourne, an internationally recognized pioneer for her work on alcohol and tobacco advertising and the image of women in advertising, as well as an expert on addictions, gender issues and the media, will screen one of her films, "Slim Hopes." Kilbourne notes that the film offers a new way to think about life-threatening eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, and provides a well-documented critical perspective on the social impact of advertising. Kilbourne will also host a question-and-answer session with the audience following her presentation.

Workshop topics slated during the morning include "The Making of a Female Criminal: How Perceptions, Gender and Societal Attitudes May Contribute to Female Juvenile Delinquency," "Runaway Girls and the Urgency of Advocacy," "No Place Like Home: Permanency Planning for Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Girls in Care," "Nature vs. Nurture In Our Modern Times," and "Fantastic Girls: Educating and Inspiring At-Risk Girls."

The afternoon sessions begin with "Understanding Juvenile CORI," a workshop offering youth advocates an understanding of how juvenile records affect young women's training and employment opportunities. Workshop leader Lisa H. Thurau, Esq., hopes her presentation will offer youth and youth workers strategies for helping young people overcome the barriers presented by such records. Afternoon workshops will also include "Girls' LEAP: Keeping Girls Safe and Strong," "Hurting Outside & In: Adolescent Girls and Self-Harming Behavior," "Continuing to Realize the Dream: Enhancing Relational Practice within an Institutional Setting" and "Youth Activism: A Tool for Self Empowerment."

The cost for the conference is $120 per person and $100 for students. CEU's and PDP's will be offered. More than 250 attendees are expected for the annual event and early registration is advised.

For registration information, visit www.throughhereyes.org or call 733-6624.