Free to Be

Acceptance of ourselves and our journey is a beautiful thing. Our panel of guests includes three very important facets to our own acceptance through various stages of our lives - childhood, teenager and into adulthood - Melissa Wardy, the creator of Pigtail Pals. A stay-at-home mom who wants role models for her daughter that exemplify courage, intelligence, and independence. When Melissa couldn't find what she wanted, Pigtail Pals was born - to show girls that they may be bold, adventurous and heroic just like the boys! J. Brianne (BRIE) Widaman, President & Founder of REVOLUTION OF REAL WOMENTM, LLC, a global movement advocating the empowerment of females in reclaiming their freedom of individuality, self-esteem and unique beauty. Elin Stebbins Waldal - writer, poet, founder and executive director of girls kNOw more, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help build self-esteem in middle-school-age girls. End of summer, 2010 marks the release date of her book, Tornado Warning - A teenager's memoir of her stormy relationship juxtaposed with her reflections, as an adult and a mother, on a life shaped by an abusive relationship. Determined to overcome years of silence, Elin examines what it means to heal from teen dating violence. For her it is not enough to have survived. By sharing the pages of her journal, she allows the voice of her teenage self to serve as a warning of how any young girl can easily slip into the cyclone of toxic love.