
Girl Talk Ministry holds
prom dress program with CCS
By Loretta Cozart
Last Fall, Tiana Roberts started Girl Talk Ministry, a program that allows minority girls to discuss everyday life challenges and empower one another on ways to rise above adversities. The program allows adolescent girls to transform their mind and enhance a better life through Christ.
We caught up with Tiana last weekend to learn about a new event she is facilitating with Cleveland County Schools. Tiana told the Herald, “Whenever you follow His will for your life, He will make sure what you need will come to you, or that you are attracted to people you need in order to fulfill the calling He has for you.”
Recently, she became reacquainted with a person she had known years before, a woman who had her own organization. Due to COVID, that woman’s path changed. The two exchanged numbers and went on their way. Months later, the woman called saying she had 20 prom dresses she needed to give away.
Tiana thought, “What am I going to do with 20 prom dresses?” So, she reached out to counselors at Kings Mountain High School for suggestions. When she did not hear back, she reached out to counselors at Shelby High School who suggested she sponsor an event. She discussed the idea with the clinical supervisor for her licensure who suggested she use the event to broach other important topics like safety recommendations and etiquette. “By the grace of God, everyone was in my ear at that moment,” Tiana said.
But she did not stop with just 20 dresses. She posted a flyer on social media, and before she knew it, people started donating. Eventually she collected over 90 dresses. And Quickway Cleaners in Gastonia agreed to deep clean the dresses.
This year, four schools are involved in the program: Kings Mountain High School, Cleveland County Early College High School, Crest High School, and Shelby High School. Burns was already partnering with another group and plans to participate next year. Each school identifies the girls who participate in the program and the program for this year is full.
The first event will be held Saturday, March 26 at the Cleveland County Chamber, from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. for Crest and Shelby. The second event will be held on April 9 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Vestibule A.M.E. Zion Church for Kings Mountain and Cleveland County Early College. The girls come in groups of six in half-hour intervals and get one-on-one attention in choosing their dresses.
The joy could be seen on Tiana’s face when she said, “It is every girl’s dream to go to prom and be cute and experience those memories. It is amazing just being able to let them shine for that moment and allow them to feel loved and be seen. I am excited to give back and bless someone who needs it and I give God all the glory!”
Last Fall, Tiana Roberts started Girl Talk Ministry, a program that allows minority girls to discuss everyday life challenges and empower one another on ways to rise above adversities. The program allows adolescent girls to transform their mind and enhance a better life through Christ.
We caught up with Tiana last weekend to learn about a new event she is facilitating with Cleveland County Schools. Tiana told the Herald, “Whenever you follow His will for your life, He will make sure what you need will come to you, or that you are attracted to people you need in order to fulfill the calling He has for you.”
Recently, she became reacquainted with a person she had known years before, a woman who had her own organization. Due to COVID, that woman’s path changed. The two exchanged numbers and went on their way. Months later, the woman called saying she had 20 prom dresses she needed to give away.
Tiana thought, “What am I going to do with 20 prom dresses?” So, she reached out to counselors at Kings Mountain High School for suggestions. When she did not hear back, she reached out to counselors at Shelby High School who suggested she sponsor an event. She discussed the idea with the clinical supervisor for her licensure who suggested she use the event to broach other important topics like safety recommendations and etiquette. “By the grace of God, everyone was in my ear at that moment,” Tiana said.
But she did not stop with just 20 dresses. She posted a flyer on social media, and before she knew it, people started donating. Eventually she collected over 90 dresses. And Quickway Cleaners in Gastonia agreed to deep clean the dresses.
This year, four schools are involved in the program: Kings Mountain High School, Cleveland County Early College High School, Crest High School, and Shelby High School. Burns was already partnering with another group and plans to participate next year. Each school identifies the girls who participate in the program and the program for this year is full.
The first event will be held Saturday, March 26 at the Cleveland County Chamber, from 11 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. for Crest and Shelby. The second event will be held on April 9 from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Vestibule A.M.E. Zion Church for Kings Mountain and Cleveland County Early College. The girls come in groups of six in half-hour intervals and get one-on-one attention in choosing their dresses.
The joy could be seen on Tiana’s face when she said, “It is every girl’s dream to go to prom and be cute and experience those memories. It is amazing just being able to let them shine for that moment and allow them to feel loved and be seen. I am excited to give back and bless someone who needs it and I give God all the glory!”