The #NoFilter Girls Summit is a collaborative event produced annually by the White House Area Chamber of Commerce and the White House Police Department. Their third annual event took place June 23, 2023.

This event has successfully provided a safe and supportive environment for rising fifth through ninth-grade girls to embrace their true selves, free from societal pressures. With a strong focus on self-esteem, body positivity, and personal development, the #NoFilter event has become an annual success story, inspiring participants and volunteers alike.

In late April of 2021, Mandy Christenson, President and CEO of the White House Area Chamber of Commerce, was scrolling through Facebook when a shared post caught her eye. Becky Jenkins, the Children’s Director at Temple Baptist Church, shared a video on her Facebook page that highlights the challenges of self-doubt and comparison young girls are facing within our society.

“At this time, my daughter was entering fifth grade, and this video really moved me,” said Mandy. “Being a woman there is always self-doubt and comparison, but for our girls at this age, it is even more difficult because of what society portrays.”

Mandy sent this video to a good friend, Sargent Eric Enck, the Community Relations Officer for the White House Police Department. Sgt. Enck’s reply was that they needed a  #NoFilter Girls Summit, and the program was born! As they discussed possibilities, Mandy then contacted Becky Jenkins to explain what her post had created, and she immediately wanted to join the process.

“We planned and executed the first event in under three months, with over 50 volunteers and 160 young women participating; it was nothing short of a miracle to pull all of the content, workshops, funds, and volunteers to produce this event,” said Mandy.

This year the #NoFilter girls summit had over 113 girls registered with eight breakout workshop sessions and an opening keynote speaker from Nashville-based content creator, Cricut Crafter, and Marketing Specialist, Laura Lambert.

Laura strongly believes that everyone has a story worth sharing. Her passion lies in equipping individuals with the necessary tools to effectively express their stories within their own businesses, recognizing that the worth and power of one's narrative can truly transform lives.

The workshop session topics are carefully chosen based on the community's needs, including themes related to the workplace, schools, and churches. Workshop leaders are selected based on their expertise— most are trained educators, healthcare providers, or mental health professionals.

The topics covered in this year's summit were:

Creating Safe Spaces: What a healthy relationship looks like and how you build them with friends, family, and teachers. Led by Brandi Ubelhor.

Craft/Activity Session: Cookie Decorating with Courtney from Southern Charm Bakery and Cupcakery.

Framing It: How you view a situation, frame your attitude and response. Led by Stephanie Evans.

Manners & Etiquette with Fran Hutson and Madie Lewis.

Self Defense with WHPD Sargent Eric Enck.

Social Media Hazards: Why many of the challenges and fads are dangerous to your health. Led by Lavonne Clifford.

Social Media: Use with Caution - How social media can consume your time, what impact your posts can have. Led by Jessica Watson and Annhali Crawford.

Snack & Games with Deja Moo Creamery & Coffee Co. in White House.

Additionally, the girls were divided into groups by grade, each with 10-15 participants and a minimum of two adult leaders. The group leaders’ role is to foster a safe and supportive atmosphere, encouraging interaction, friendship, and personal growth.

“We would love to see every girl in our community participate in some way. The girls feel empowered after completing the summit, and our goal is for them to take that into the upcoming school year and share that feeling with those around them,” said Christenson. “Over one-third of our volunteers have been with us from the beginning, and we consistently add more every year, which is amazing because it takes a lot of help to pull this off.”

Plans are already underway to host the fourth #NoFilter girls summit in 2024, aiming for the second or third Friday of June. Furthermore, there is an ongoing effort to expand the event's impact by developing a summit specifically tailored for high school girls, with the goal of rolling it out in the following year. 

Follow the Facebook page for the White House Area Chamber of Commerce to learn more information on how to participate next year as an attendee or volunteer.

‍