JAMESTOWN — On Saturday a new movement for girls will debut a first-of-its-kind one-day girls empowerment conference at the Willow Bay Theatre in downtown Jamestown called Brave. Brave is part of a global organization whose mission is to empower girls and prevent exploitation. Brave Global, Inc. is currently in 18 cities in the United States and Canada and in five locations internationally.

Brave is a year-round movement to empower girls through the partnerships of churches, schools, government and not-for-profit agencies and it centers around an annual capstone event. The will be the inaugural event of what local agencies hope will become a multi-year movement, to communicate to vulnerable girls in our community: “We see you and you matter,” “We believe in you and you can do it,” and “we are with you and you can count on us”– the Brave pillars.

The event hopes to gather 400 girls, between the ages of 11-18 and their caregivers, at the historic theatre for a day full of food, creative arts (live music, dance, and comedy), an inspiring keynote message by author and speaker Ashley Abercrombie, storytelling by women and girls who have overcome significant hurdles in their lives, a lunchtime block party packed with fun activities and a resource fair, and many gifts and surprises for the attendees.

Brave is a collaboration between Conduit Ministries, the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, GA Family Services, the Child Advocacy Program, Chautauqua Striders, JCC’s Liberty Partnerships Program, and the Chautauqua County Safe Harbour Program.

Brave Co-Lead Katie Castro says, “There are certain risk factors that make some girls more vulnerable than others to the realities of exploitation … but here’s what we know is actually true: All girls are at-risk, and (additionally) girls are not the problem — they are the solution. We believe that girls can actually solve the problem of exploitation and human trafficking — they are the vehicle for change. We believe radically in the girls of our community and are excited about the great hope that they represent. Brave is a movement to cheerlead them on and catalyze that hope.”

For more information, please visit www.braveglobal.org, follow @bravejmst on social media, or contact jessica@conduitministries.com.

Local sponsors for the event include: Chautauqua County Youth Bureau, Chautauqua Regional Community Foundation, SKF Aeroengine, Allied Alarm, United Refinery, Moonlight Electric, Jamestown Pediatrics, GA Family Services, Uber Law Office, YWCA of Westfield, Andriaccios Restaurant, JB Liquors, CASA, MDStar Presentations, Lakewood Kiwanis, Garden of Eden, Priceless Studios, Kranky Plate Productions, Rowen and Eden Photography, Ridouts Heating & Cooling, It’s Your Day Let’s Make It Beautiful, the Doubletree Hotel, Jamestown Free Methodist Church, Christ Church, Zion Covenant Church, Church on the Rock, REALiFE, Trinity United Methodist Church, and Levant Wesleyan Church.