May 10, 2004, was a day of support, laughter and introspection for more than 270 La Plata County eighth-grade girls who attended the 4th Annual "Girls to Women, Women to Girls Conference" sponsored by WRC.

Close to 100 professional women gave of their time and talents to honor the girls in their transition from middle school to high school, and beyond. The conference theme, "Pieces of Me," encouraged the girls to consider all the different pieces that make up the whole of who they are, including what makes them unique, balanced and happy. High-energy, interactive workshops provided the means for the girls to explore those varied pieces.

Young Latina dancers from Ballet Folklorico opened the conference, celebrating local heritage as well as the "dancers" within many girls and women.

Throughout the day, scores of girls crowded the halls and classrooms of Bayfield Elementary School to attend sessions on body image (Banish Barbie), personal finance and lifestyle (Reality Bytes), stress management (Healthy Lifestyles), and career exploration.

A Career Fair introduced the girls to more than 30 professional women offering advice, stories and answers to questions about their careers. During their lunch break, girls met with advocates from 16 local nonprofit and social service agencies to learn more about how to incorporate volunteerism as an important piece of their future lives. The final workshop of the day, Your Next Step, gave the girls a chance to talk frankly with teens from area high schools, without adults present.