About our Event
The Gurl Guide Expo is a free event provided by the Heart of Texas Children’s Advocacy Center that will be held at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church on Saturday, February 20th from 2pm-7pm. Guest speakers include: Amy Hamilton-Praise & Worship, Brittany Cox-Dazzling Divas Modesty Fashion Show, Keren Myers-Mary Kay Makeup Tips, Hailey Allen-Nathana’s Hair Tips, Jody Easley-Brownwood Fitness Club Healthy Living Tips, Terri Medlock- Pregnancy Care Center, Howard Payne University Gurl Guide Mentors, and Kelsey Robinson- Gurl Guide Director.
About Gurl Guide
In May of 2014, on the 10 year anniversary of her rape in college, Kelsey Robinson felt God calling her to reach out to teen girls. As a coach and a teacher, Robinson came in contact with several teen girls dealing with issues that they should never have to go through.
Kelsey believed that if teen girls could have open communication about self-esteem/pressures/relationships, then they would be able to stand up for themselves and hold onto their beliefs when they faced struggles in their daily lives.
God continued to put people and opportunities in Robinson's path and Gurl Guide was formed. In Gurl Guide's first year (2014-2015) they had: 6 themed events at the Heartland Mall that included:
Halloween Spooktacular: Self-Esteem
Ugly Christmas Sweater Bash: Pressures
PJ Party: Future Goals and Dreams
Valentines Gathering: Love & Respect in the Family
80's Themed: Before You Date
Luau Themed: Healthy Relationships
Each themed event hosted 30-50 teen girls.
Gurl Guide was also made an official organization at Howard Payne University to recruit HPU female students as mentors and developers of Gurl Guide program.
In GG's 2nd year (2015-2016) they moved locations to Coggin Avenue Baptist Church and became a part of the Heart of Texas Children's Advocacy Center. The HOTCAC's mission is to help break the cycle of child abuse one child at a time. Gurl Guide is able to be a preventative measure and to also identify and help abused children in our community. Kelsey now works as a Family Advocate and Community Outreach Coordinator at the Heart of Texas Children's Advocacy Center.
Gurl Guide also decided to change from the monthly themed meetings to: book study, lock in , and Expo for 2015-2016. From October 11th- November 22nd Gurl Guide did a book study over Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity Teen Edition with HPU mentors and small group break off. On December 4th & 5th GG hosted a lock in with 30 teen girls and 10 volunteers in attendance.
The next Gurl Guide event will be the Expo for teen girls and their mothers/role models that they are currently planning for now.
The HPU mentors will meet in spring to discuss next year events for Gurl Guide program.
