Today's Ypulse Guest Post is from 14- year-old Kiley Krzyzek (pictured here in the pink scarf,) a long-time AllyKatzz.com and Advisory Board member who attended the First Ever National Tween Girl Summit in Washington DC on October 10 along with around 300 other tween and teen girls. Here's what Kiley had to say about the event:

Tween Report From First National Tween Girl Summit

I'd say the First National Tween Girl Summit was a once in a lifetime experience. The whole point of the Tween Summit was to give girls who aren't really kids anymore, but aren't older teens either, a voice. Attendees were girls ages 9-14 and the motto was "Girls talk, we listen. Now THAT'S a change!" There were also some notable people such as press, famous athletes, and sponsors as well as policymakers and a panel of adults such as a VP from Teen Nick.

We wrote on "The White House Wall" where everyone could write a memo to the world on an index card that was posted on one big poster. I wrote about how we have a voice and can come together and make a difference to help animals. Animal activism is very important to me. After seeing animal cruelty on frog dissection day firsthand in seventh grade, I decided right then and there I needed to help animals.

At the exhibit hall, Electronic Arts (EA) was there because they want to prove girls can play video games too. I've grown up watching my brother play video games where the object is to kill people! But now thanks to EA there are other options for girls like me. They've revolutionized video games and made them more appealing for girls. Instead of playing war games, girls have more options like A Littlest Pet Shop game for little girls, and a prom game for older ones.

Some pretty amazing girls also talked about some big time issues. Make Body Peace expert Jess Weiner held an open discussion about body image and why it's important to love the skin you're in and embrace your inner beauty. We looked at a picture of a super thin model and discussed our reactions. When a shocked girl told Jess the model looked anorexic, Jess informed all 300 girls why eating disorders are a serious illness and how we can prevent the obsession of physical appearances by stopping "girl talk" about how negatively other girls look. We were even instructed to turn to our neighbor and say one good thing about ourselves personally and then tell what is great about them. I just had this sense of empowerment – all these other girls have the same insecurities and worries that I do.

Girls who are bullied may feel alone. The best thing to do is talk about it with a trusted adult who can help. The Summit Music Festival was hosted by Disney Channel Suite Life On Deck's Debby Ryan. And guess what? Even Debby Ryan was bullied! When I interviewed Debby for AOL's JSYK.com, I asked her how did she deal with bullying? She told me "There was a lot of crying…. My mom always told me they do it because of a deep-rooted insecurity in themselves."

I was also stopped by an Allykatzz researcher who took my picture, and asked me the first thing that came to mind when a random word was said like "Shoes"(to which I replied Converse) or "Soda" (Dr. Pepper). The same researchers also performed "Purse Raids" to check out all the awesome goodies brought to us by the sponsors at The Exhibit Hall which had a ton of freebies and cool activities. [Editor's note: Allykatzz interviewed girls at this event for an upcoming syndicated research report they plan to sell.]

I learned at the 2009 First National Tween Girl Summit that I'm more powerful than I sometimes realize. And even though I'm still young, my voice does matter and I can make a difference. I'm more confident and proud of who I am now. Allykatzz and AK Tweens plan to hold "town hall" meetings throughout the year… And a Summit 2010 is also in the works!

Over, but not out, Kiley Krzyzek- Allykatzz.com Advisory Board member and JSYK.com Tween Reporter.

About Kiley
Kiley Krzyzek is an average and independent 14 year old girl who is interested in fashion, acting, animals, singing, and marketing. She takes her hobbies to the next level, in preparation to find a career doing what she loves. Kiley’s activities include Church Choir, BP. Nordstrom Fashion Board, and play practice if she’s cast in a production at the time. She is a vegetarian and hopes to open a no kill animal shelter someday. As a member of her local professional boys and girls Episcopal church choir, she has two rehearsals a week then sings with the adults and organ for Sunday Service. As a member of AllyKatzz.com, Kiley speaks to the press on behalf of "tween" aged girls everywhere.

Check out even more coverage of the summit from the folks at Shaping Youth.

For more coverage of the tween space, check out the Ypulse Tween Channel.

Categorized under: Tweens

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