Embodied Leadership with CPS's Girls to Women Leadership Collaborative

Kami Lerma with a group from the Girls to Women peer leadership collaborative.

Kami Lerma, Director of Mind-Body Programming at The Well, had the privilege of guiding a breakout session at the recently held She-Leads Conference which kicked off Women’s History Month for 7th through 12th Grade Cincinnati Public School students involved in the Girls to Women peer leadership collaborative. 

The CPS Girls to Women Leadership Collaborative is “designed to provide equitable access for female students to leadership development opportunities that will transform school cultures for the better.” Each year, the She-Leads Conference, held at Memorial Hall, brings together G2W students from all of the CPS schools for this transformative event which allows them to connect with influential women in their community and learn from their stories, perspectives, and practices. The keynote speakers this year were Meeka Owens, Cincinnati City Council Member, and Kendra Mapp, Cincinnati Public Schools Board Member.  

In the Embodied Leadership breakout sessions, the students were invited into circle where we explored and collectively defined what it means to be an embodied leader. Then we moved into guided mindful and somatic (body-based) practices that could support each individual in their  own wellness and well-being and positively impact their ability to connect and lead others even during stressful times. 

The students were open and receptive. They were engaged and asked questions. Before they left the session, several of them shared their intentions to integrate the newly learned practices into their lives. We are grateful for the opportunity to share what we do with the students in such an impactful way.