2025 SES®
Conference
On March 21-22, 2025, The Image Initiative, Inc. commemorated and celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Sisters Empowering Sisters Conference! 20 years of Enlightening, Engaging and Empowering girls in the City of Syracuse! Thank you to our young women and alumnae for being with us all these years, thank you to the City of Syracuse for acknowledging our commitment and thank you to our community of supporters!
This year featured 18-year old Kamora Freeland, who made history at 17 years old as one of the youngest African American female pilots in the United States and Genesis Denise Hale, multi-talented rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress from the hit series “The Chi.” Marquisa Gardner “Miss Prissy” aka the Queen of Krump first discovered in the feature film entitled RIZE brought the house down with her young daughters as they closed out the conference!
Close to 250 girls attended from the Syracuse City School District and neighboring schools.
The theme of the 20th Anniversary Sisters Empowering Sisters Conference was “20 Years: Standin’ On Women’s Business.” Conference highlights included the 15-year celebration and return of the Homegirls from Homeboy Industries, Inc. and our family, the iconic Grammy nominated MC and radio personality Monie Love!
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
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- Kamora Freeland
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- Genesis Denise Hale
Featured Guests
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- The Honorable Nodesia Hernandez
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- Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens
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- Monie Love
Performances By:
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- Marquisa "Miss Prissy" Gardner
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- De'Leah Coleman
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- Keera Kittles
Speakers
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- Dr. Nuria AbdulSabur
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- Amber Adams
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- Syeisha Byrd
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- Natalie M. Byrdsong
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- Tanesha Cameron Cole
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- Semaj Campbell-Blakes
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- Dr. Symone Campbell
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- Candace Carter
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- Dr. Sheilah Clayton
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- Lashae Coleman
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- Maria Davis
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- Gabrielle N. Eure
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- Dr. Portia Flowers
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- Judge Amber Givens
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- Amorie Green
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- Kahssia Hills Days
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- Adara Hobbs
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- Tionna Hunter
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- Shelly Jenkins
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- Kiesha Johnson
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- Janay Jones
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- Dr. Jasmin Jones
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- Joi Jones
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- Heather Keets Wright
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- Stephanie Lane
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- Erica Lopez Brown
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- Denise Moore
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- Genny Moore
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- Chevonne Nash
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- Tamika Otis
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- Jamileeth Palma
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- Dr. Tanya Paul
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- SaQuota Reaves
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- Chelsea Rodriguez
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- Cindy Salazar
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- Dr. Sherri Williams
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- Chelsea Willis
THANK YOU
HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES
for 15 Years of Partnership
We’ve provided numerous life-changing experiences to the young women in the community. Homeboy Industries is a Los Angeles-based non-profit that assists at-risk and formerly gang-involved individuals with becoming positive and contributing members of society. In addition, Homeboy Industries is a social enterprise that includes their Homeboys Bakery/Catering and Homegirls Cafe.
The Image Initiative would like to thank these incredible women from Homeboy Industries for 15 years of hope, inspiration, and love!
- Maria Flores
- Alicia Ruiz
- Stephanie Lane
- Fallon Tooks
- Gladys Janae Padillo
- Abbigale Perez
- Kimberly Vargas
- Shayna Welcher
- Adela Juarez
- Shameeka Welch
- Erika Cuella
- Evelyn Villegas
- Jenny Gamez
- Natalie Venegas
- Krystal Lopez
- Selena Amado
- Elaine Wardlaw
- Mariana Martinez
- Brazil Jackson
- Valerie Copeland
- Tuesday Esparza
- Brandy Harris
- Maria Hidalgo
- Selina Prince
- Tiffany Simi
- Ruth Butler
- Keishanay Tillis
- Leah Rachele Pinedo
- Kendra Lasheena Brown
- Jac’queena Lorena Matthews
- Guadalupe Torres
- Terrianna Trammell
- Carizma X. Brown
- Brandi L. Parham
- Janet Contreras
- Des Alvares
- Jessica Sanchez
- Stephanie Godinez
- Tammi White
- Diana Rayos
- Nichole Zuniga
- Ivy Navarrete
- Regina Huizar
- Cynthia Huizar
- Veronica Cortez
- Shirley Torres
- Cindy Salazar
- Chelsea Rodriguez
- Jamileeth Palma
