Beautifully EmpowHERed Hosted Its First Annual Jr. HER Story Conference: Empowering the Next Generation of Young Women
Naperville, IL – Beautifully EmpowHERed (BE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women and girls through mentorship, mental health support, and career development, proudly hosted its First Annual Jr. HER Story Conference on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at the Beautifully EmpowHERed Center.
The Jr. HER Story Conference was created as an extension of BE’s flagship HER Story Conference, designed specifically for girls ages 8–17 to give younger generations a space to share their voices, build confidence, and connect with mentors and peers. Rooted in BE’s mission, the event highlighted the power of storytelling, self-worth, and community as tools for growth during the formative childhood and teenage years.
This inaugural event welcomed more than 20 girls and families, who were greeted with music, an interactive welcome table, a photo backdrop, and icebreaker activities at each table. Bree Casey, Founder and Executive Director of Beautifully EmpowHERed, opened the conference by introducing BE’s mission and setting the tone for a safe, uplifting environment where girls were encouraged to fully participate and connect with one another.
Marla Lord, Insurance Director and Mentor, then led a session on confidence, identity, and self-worth, followed by an energizer break hosted by Samantha Portis, Marketing and Events Coordinator of Beautifully EmpowHERed to keep the energy high. Attendees then took part in a vision board workshop facilitated by Belen Morales, a sophomore attending North Central College, which included activities such as writing letters to their future selves, confidence journaling prompts, and table discussions on friendship, goals, and self-esteem.
Following a snack and mentorship connection break, where girls had the chance to build relationships with volunteers, mentors, and speakers through guided conversation, Cheryl Hejnal, LCSW, Licensed and Advocate Therapist, spoke on leadership, resilience, and future goals, touching on topics including overcoming challenges, mental health, and dreaming bigger about their futures.
The afternoon closed with a panel discussion moderated by Jennifer Pearson, featuring panelists Kayla Arie, Anne Sidio, and Laurel Daly. The panel covered advice they wished they’d known at a younger age, building confidence, navigating friendships and boundaries, and handling pressure and stress, along with questions submitted by attendees. The event concluded with a closing reflection, group affirmation, thank-you to volunteers, sponsors, and speakers, and a group photo.
The success of the First Annual Jr. HER Story Conference reflects Beautifully EmpowHERed’s continued commitment to investing in the next generation of women leaders. Given the enthusiastic response, BE plans to make the Jr. HER Story Conference an annual tradition alongside its flagship event.
Media Contact:
Sam Portis, Marketing Coordinator
