TAMPA, Fla. — Dr. Jeffery Johnson spoke glowingly about his plans to empower more than 1,500 teenage girls. Dr. Johnson said he founded the You Deserve to be Loved Summit eight years ago.
"You love yourself before you can ask anyone else to love you and affirm you," he said.
“We wanted to bring together other women who had proven themselves in their careers that could pour into young ladies,” Dr. Johnson said. “We’re teaching them motivation. We’re teaching them financial literacy, we’re teaching them entrepreneurial, we're teaching them beauty, aesthetics, self-esteem. We bring in speakers that are able to articulate to the ladies or young girls, that the mother or father may not be able to. It is overwhelming, in a good way.”
Taylor O’Connor recalled participating in the program’s first year.
"I would not be where I am without the summit, and I can wholeheartedly say that," Taylor said.
Taylor’s mom, Tanya O’Connor, said parents can also gain something.
“It helped me to start with her,” Tanya said. “To start every comment, question, suggestion with her. Young folks have different priorities than we have, and we need to make their priorities our priorities. It’s ultimately meeting them where they are and not where you want them to be. I was very concerned, and I was worried about her. I was worried about her. We weren’t listening. As parents, we weren’t genuinely listening.”
Allysen Kerr, CEO of Primal Elements, is volunteering her time to the summit.
“I remember growing up as a young girl in New York and not having these examples," Kerr said. "It is ok for us to show up as our full selves, and to not feel like we have to shrink. This is a place where everybody is welcome. Now, I walk in like I own the place, I think that was a learned behavior. They’ve got next, and if they’re not ready for that, then we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Johnson said the summit always taking donations: https://youdeservetobeloved.net/about/