Eight young women were introduced Saturday to their family and friends as ladies during the Inaugural Presentation Ball of the Mansfield Integrated Learning Center’s “Ladies in Training” Debutante Cotillion Program.
“The eight young ladies you will be introduced to tonight have worked very hard over the last four months to become the beautiful young ladies you see today,” said Giselle M. Lindsay, creator and director of the Ladies in Training (LIT) Program at the school. “The road was not always easy, but through faith, perseverance and determination they have completed their journey. The girls’ beauty is more than skin deep; it goes to their core. I thank them for trusting me and believing in my vision.”
The theme of the evening was “Ignite the Night,” and the event was held at the Life Celebration Reception Center. India Drye, Ashley Forwith, Shay Harris, Cierra Hoskins, Michaela Martin, Mykeia Martin, Dominique Nusbaum and Menawsha Parks were all presented as ladies to their family and friends.
Each of the ladies were presented to their parents, grandparents, church family and friends, wearing matching white semi-ruffled gown that signified their purity as girls. The gowns were donated to the ladies of the program by their, “Fairy Glow Mothers and Fairy Glow Fathers,” Lindsay explained.
Cathy Davison, Winston Greene, Rose Hood, Carol Payton, Elizabeth Stevens, Terese Terrell, Deanna West-Torrence, and the Lindsay family all donated for their ladies’ dresses.
“We thank them for providing us the opportunity to shine as we ‘Ignite the Night’ during our presentation ball,” Lindsay said.
The LIT program was advised by Martha Jones, master’s social worker at Mansfield Integrated Learning Center (MILC). MILC is an alternative school for students with a variety of non-traditional learning needs.
“Each of these young ladies as well as all students in general came to the Mansfield Integrated Learning Center with their own set of strengths and struggles,” said Jones. “For some, their struggles often become their barriers or obstacles to their success. The young ladies presented to you this evening shine with new knowledge, insight, strengths and skills which have and will help them as they pursue their goals.”
The young ladies learned about etiquette, relationships, health, community, style, career readiness, finances, self-esteem, self-expression and leisure, when they met twice a week to learn the “10 Pearls of Wisdom model,” said Lindsay. Velma Atkins designed, assembled and donated eight pearl bracelets for each young lady.
Each of the ladies had a senior and a junior escort for the evening. The senior escort was a father or father figure and the junior escort was a boyfriend or friend. The ladies performed a Waltz dance with each of their escorts.
The program was emceed by Elder Mark Cobb, associate minister at Shiloh Full Gospel Baptist Church where he is also the youth pastor. Some of the girls gave speeches about their experience in the LIT program, while one wrote a poem and another played the violin. There was also a dinner, candy bar, photo booth and D.J. for entertainment.
“Ladies in Training means everything to me. Its girls from all different ages, sizes and colors coming together and helping each other grow into young ladies,” said Drye.
Jones said she hopes the worthwhile program can survive the eminent cuts at Mansfield City Schools.
Sponsors of the LIT Debutante Cotillion were: the Mansfield Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Providence Baptist, Greater Mitchell Chapel, A.M.E. Church, Tim and Debra Holt, The Cookies and Milk Project, Shirley Jefferson, Michael Stoltzfus, Leslie Vance, Carell Gandy, Mansfield City Schools treasurer’s office.
