The impact of girl power

It’s undeniable that all children and young people, regardless of gender, deserve to be consistently supported, encouraged, and empowered. Doing so builds the confidence needed to navigate today’s challenging society as a young person — one with increasing levels of anxiety and mental health issues. But this month, with the dedicated recognition of Women’s History and the recent International Women’s Day, Petite North Fork firmly stands behind the empowerment and uplift of girls and young women.

Recently, Petite North Fork had the pleasure of interviewing four standout women known for empowering girls and young women within our local community: Tijuana Fulford Founder and Executive Director at The Butterfly Effect Project — a nonprofit community-based organization designed to empower young girls, Stephanie Piraino, and Lauren Berry,

founders of North Fork Cheer — a competitive cheerleading gym that also offers recreational tumbling and ninja “training”, and Donna Pradas a passionate visual storytellerat LaurelEye Imagery who offers empowerment photography sessions in addition to other photography themes.

The thoughts that these powerful women shared are invaluable and important. Let’s uncover.

On Community

One of my most beloved quotes that fits the sentiment best for Petite during this celebratory month (and always) is “My favorite thing about girl power is that over time it turns into women power.” This quote, which author Cleo Wade wrote, reminds me that the encouragement of girls doesn’t just have a temporary outcome. When girls and young women feel powerful and resilient, there’s a better chance they will continue to persevere as grown women and inspire other women to do the same. 

Tijuana of The Butterfly Effect Project understands the impact that empowerment can have on a community. “To recognize and celebrate the success and persistence of women allows the next generation to know and understand what they can do and understand the roadblocks and challenges should not and will not hold them back,” she shared. “When we uplift one woman, we uplift a community.”

“By recognizing the success and persistence of women (of all ages!) in our society and community we give women a voice,” Stephanie of North Fork Cheer told us. “We show our daughters what they can accomplish, we show our mothers and grandmothers not only how far we have come but how grateful we are for all that they have accomplished.”

For Donna of LaurelEye Imagery, her thoughts nod to connection. “Women are nurturers by design, and the more we connect with each other and lift each other up, the more empowered our sisterhood will be, bringing strength and command over our lives and the world around us.”

On Self-value

North Fork Cheer is not just coaching children on the sport of cheerleading and tumbling, there’s an underlying element of constant encouragement and the building of self-value. “We pride ourselves in the idea of strong athletes training at our facility: strong in mind and body, doing things with intention and with the mindset of lifting others as they lift themselves,” commented Lauren. “We strive to give our young women the confidence to know that they are capable of anything. One of our core values in the gym is to never give up even when things may seem daunting or as if there is no way to succeed, we remind them day in and day out that anything and everything is possible if we are just willing to work at it. We remind our athletes that failures are temporary and that it is the will to persevere that propels us to success. We stress these values with the very belief that together we can all do more and be more,” Stephanie added.

“Women and girls are held to standards in the media that are not the real world, especially when it comes to body image and appearance, and my passion is to bring my clients to a place where they discover a newfound love and confidence in themselves for who they are,” Donna said of her passionate work. “How enlightening it would be if all the women and girls of the world could just relax and settle into their uniqueness and learn to be comfortable and confident in who they are, without competing with the unrealistic world of perfection splashed across social media.”

At The Butterfly Effect Project, they see the worth of an empowered woman. “We understand that they come in all shades, backgrounds, and economic classes. We ensure that we see them, hear them, and then intentionally give them the tools they need to achieve their dream, understanding each dream can and may look different. We celebrate that too. We know each dream represents a community, a family, and a vision that belongs to that individual that will create change in another individual,” Tiajuana shared.

On Importance

“Women's empowerment is important because it encourages women of all ages to be stronger, powerful, and confident in everything they embark on. It motivates all women to use their voice, set big goals, and know that they deserve to be acknowledged and recognized because they are worthy and capable of incredible things,” Lauren told us.

Tijuana’s thoughts on the importance of empowerment are forward-looking. “Women are natural leaders, who are told and taught at an early age to follow. To empower a woman today will change the future for tomorrow.

“Our young girls of today need to see the spotlight shine on the many women in their small communities, as well as on the world stage, who are persevering and succeeding in making our world a better place. We learn from our leaders, and there is nothing more empowering than for young girls to see women in leadership roles, making a mark where they have placed their focus,” added Donna.

On Support

“You can support women's empowerment, by showing up to causes that support and advocate for women's rights, ensure women are leading conversations that talk about women's issues,” said Tijuana. “Make sure there is funding in place to help sustain groups and organizations that are doing the work. Make sure that women are not just invited to the table but feel comfortable being at the table. Ensure you have policies in place to protect and help propel women.”

“Continuing to motivate and support the younger generation of women to reach for their goals and dreams is a way to support women’s empowerment,” Lauren shared. “Providing young women with opportunities to strive for greatness and explore new ideas and concepts that they have will help to empower our future generations. For others to continue to support past generations and their business and legacies to continue to display the pride we have for the generations before us.