Mind, body, spirit focus of seminars
For the 26th year, women in the region are invited to celebrate Women’s Day at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. This year’s event, which will be held on Thursday, May 24, features seminars for the mind, body and spirit, with a keynote address given by Barbara Braunstein. Organizers say the internationally acclaimed speaker is known for her energetic, fast-paced and humorous style.
“She’s a hoot,” said one of the event’s organizers, Harriet Galida.
Braunstein will present an address titled, “Here I Am, World. The Good, The Bad and The Wrinkles.”
Galida said Braunstein, during her talk, will focus on 10 areas, including letting go of guilt, being confident, learning to accept your body and other topics tailored to women. Galida said she and the others on the Women’s Day committee watched tapes of Braunstein and were impressed by her humor.
One Allegheny County woman signed up for the event just because Braunstein was speaking. Galida said the woman told organizers that she had heard Braunstein speak before and wanted to hear her again.
The day’s events, which include seminars and a lunch, run from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a registration cost. As it was last year, the entire program will be held in the Community Center Building and all of the participants will attend the same seminars.
The morning will open with a seminar by Crystal Jenkins-Calloway, a Uniontown woman who published the book “The Blessing of Sisterhood” in 2006. The book tells of Jenkins-Calloway’s life as other women influenced her. She told the Herald-Standard in November 2006 that she hoped the book would inspire women to look to other women for encouragement and recognize what women can give to one another.
Galida said they selected Jenkins-Calloway because she’s a native to the area and was at one time a student at Fayette Campus. Galida said she has read Jenkins-Calloway’s book and found it interesting.
The second workshop of the day is called “Fashion Savvy” and will be presented by Lois Pruitt, the buyer for the Nemacolin Collections. Her workshop will include fashion tips, the trends of the day and how to blend and wear those trends. The Nemacolin Collection stores, which opened in downtown Uniontown in 2005, are named Exquisite, featuring women’s clothing; Solemates, a shoe store; and Top Hat, men’s apparel.
The final workshop of the morning is titled “Expanding Your Creativity Using Guided Imagery.” Christine Freeman of Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services will invite participants to create a place of emotional well-being using guided imagery.
Also presenting are Gwendolyn Cochran and Jennifer L. Pixley, who will talk about a community outreach program designed to raise awareness and promote prevention of heart disease among women in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Additionally, a nurse will be available to answer questions about breast cancer screening and demonstrate self-exam techniques.
More than two-dozen agencies and businesses also will be at the event.
Galida said that advanced registration is suggested because organizers need to get a lunch count.
For more information on the Women’s Day program or to register, call 724-430-4140.