4th Annual IT Girls Empower Her
Conference

Our Pledge
I AM an Intelligent and Talented Girl
I AM an IT Girl
I am worthy of respect
And I give respect
I am worthy of love
And I am love
I am excellent
I am committed to excellence
And I am excellent
I take care of my mind, body, and spirit
Because I am worth it.
I seek help, I don't go it alone
And that makes me better
I set and achieve my goals
No matter the odds
My future is bright
Because I plan for it
I lead myself and others
I am a force for good
I am an Intelligent and Talented girl
I AM an IT Girl!
IT Girls Conference 2025 Agenda

Theme: EmpowerHER
Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Location: Killeen Civic & Convention Center
Audience: Girls Ages 10–18

8:00 – 9:00 AM: Registration + Light Breakfast
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Welcome bags & T-shirts
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Icebreaker activities at tables
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Music & photo booth station
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9:00 – 9:30 AM: Opening Session
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Welcome – Dr. Nancy Pettaway, Mistress of Ceremony
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Conference overview & housekeeping and recognize volunteers
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Icebreaker game: “Stand Up If...” – Dr. Keonna White
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IT Girls Pledge – Lisa Young
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9:30 – 10:15 AM: Keynote Address
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Introduction of speaker by the MC
Speaker: Aya Fubara Eneli, Esq.
Title: EmpowerHER: Becoming the Shero of Your Story
10:30 – 11:45 AM: Morning Workshop Session
Speaker: Sondra Wilkerson
Social Media Safety – Smart, Safe, and Empowered
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Protect your digital footprint.
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Learn to recognize online dangers and navigate social platforms wisely.
DANCE BREAK
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch + Career Chats – “Her Path, Her Power”
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Enjoy lunch while engaging with women mentors across professions.
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Career fields include: medicine, law, tech, arts, entrepreneurship, military, education, and more.
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1:15 – 2:00 PM: “Power in My Shoes”
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Moderated Discussion with Young Women Leaders
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Featuring Saquoi Dreckette and Ayanna Rudd
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Real talk about identity, pressure, family, bullying, academics, faith, activism, and big dreams.
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2:10 – 2:55 PM: Who Am I? Understanding and Owning My Identity & Culture – Dr. Nikita Murry
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Explore personal and cultural identity through storytelling and reflection.
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Celebrate pride in heritage and uniqueness
3:00 – 3:45 PM: Speaker: Saquoi
Goal Setting for Girls: Keys to Success
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Vision boards, SMART goals, and action planning.
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Setting goals in school, friendships, wellness & life.
3:45 - 4:30 PM: Centered & Strong: Mastering Emotions and Stress with Emotional Intelligence – Yoshenobia Harris
4:45 – 5: 30 Reflection & Art Journaling Session – “My EmpowerHER Legacy” –
Kas Owens and Amelia Rabroker
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Capture key takeaways
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Create collages, drawings, and affirmation pages
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Explore storytelling, poetry, journaling, and spoken word.
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Learn to use your voice with power and purpose.
5:30 – 6:00 PM: Closing Circle – “Affirm Her” – Dr. Keonna White
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Program Survey
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Interactive activity affirming each participant.
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Write and receive handwritten affirmations.
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Group gratitude moment and IT Girls pledge – Lisa Young
6:00 – 8:00 PM: Pizza Party + Ice Cream Social + Dance Party
Closing Remarks by MC
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DJ + Dance challenges
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Selfie wall
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Card and Board games

Mistress of Ceremony
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Dr. Nancy Pettaway has been a successful business woman for over three decades.
A devoted wife to her husband Charles, she is also the proud mother of three children.
Dr. Pettaway’s life is a testament to faith, resilience, and the power of walking boldly in your calling.
Dr. Keonna White - Speaker
Dr. Keonna White has served as an educational leader for over 23 years.
Her deepest desire is to advance opportunity for disenfranchised populations. She and her husband, Kenneth, reside in Harker Heights, TX.


​Aya Fubara Eneli: Empowerment Architect, Legacy Protector, and Global Advocate
Aya Fubara Eneli is a fearless and tireless advocate for the liberation of Africa, Africans in the diaspora, women, and youth. Born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in the West African nation of Nigeria, Aya’s life has been marked by bold leadership from the start. At just three years old, she appeared weekly on television, and by eight, she delivered the keynote address for Nigeria’s national celebration of the International Year of the Child. An academic powerhouse, Aya attended The Ohio State University, earning four degrees in just seven years: Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and English, a Master’s in Black Studies, and a Juris Doctorate from the Moritz College of Law. Her contributions were recognized in The Ohio State University, Encyclopedia of Pathbreaking Women. Aya's career is both diverse and impactful. As the founder and managing attorney of Ma’at Heritage Law Group, PLLC, Aya leads with compassion, precision, and fierce commitment to protecting families and preserving generational wealth. Her legal work focuses on estate planning, asset protection, domestic violence, and education law—always centering advocacy for marginalized communities. The unexpected loss of her younger brother, and the legal chaos that followed, ignited her mission to ensure no family under her care ever faces such uncertainty. Known globally as The Abundant Life Coach, Aya has inspired audiences in 13 countries and 44 U.S. states through her work as a certified life coach, diversity trainer, and CEO of Aya Eneli International. Her profound ability to weave legal expertise, life experience, and spiritual grounding has made her a sought-after speaker for women's groups, executives, youth, educators, and faith-based organizations. A prolific author, Aya has written four books, including the Amazon bestseller Your Self-Love Revolution, along with Live Your Abundant Life, Reclaim Your Life: Guidance for Wives at the Crossroads, and Live Your Abundant Life Too. For 15 years, her newspaper column Live Your Abundant Life offered weekly guidance and inspiration to thousands of readers. Aya’s passion for empowering the next generation led her to found Intelligent & Talented (IT) Girls and Success and Empowerment Youth Camp, serving over 350 girls in Central Texas and beyond. She is also the visionary behind The Emma Johnson Dirigo Wari, the first public library in Opobo, Nigeria — a transformational effort to promote literacy, education, and cultural pride in her ancestral home. Her global voice extends even further as co-host of Women and Resistance, a powerful podcast and YouTube series that celebrates women who overcame tremendous obstacles to leave a lasting legacy for the world. Aya’s reach extends into academia as a former university administrator committed to diversity, inclusion, and student access. Her corporate influence includes providing diversity and inclusion training for businesses, government agencies, and law enforcement, while her advocacy has taken her before national and international audiences. Her extraordinary journey—marked by professional achievements, business ownership, and personal resilience—includes the trials of childhood trauma, the loss of four children, and the courageous decision to leave a thriving career to raise her family. Through every chapter, she has transformed pain into purpose. Aya’s work has been widely featured in major media outlets, including ABC, MSNBC, Entrepreneur Magazine, PBS, Black Enterprise, and the Detroit Free Press. She is a certified diversity trainer, a member of the International Who’s Who of Entrepreneurs, and an Honored Member of the International Executive Guild. She also hosts the thought-provoking radio show and podcast, Rethinking Freedom, continuing to challenge and expand global conversations on freedom, justice, and personal power. Outside of her professional pursuits, Aya is an avid gardener, growing food that nourishes her family and community—a living example of balance, stewardship, and joy. Aya lives in Central Texas with her husband of nearly three decades, Dr. Kenechukwu Eneli, and together they are the proud parents of five extraordinary children — Madu, Kosi, Ona, Kene, and Ikem. Whether she is fighting for justice in the courtroom, empowering women and youth from the stage, building libraries, or guiding families through legacy planning, Aya Fubara Eneli’s mission remains constant: to help others live fully, love boldly, and leave a legacy of impact for generations to come.
Sondra Wilkerson – Speaker
Sondra is a 20+ year distinguished retired combat Army Veteran. She was born and raised in Dallas by her father and mother, Harvey and Ella Mae Malone. She graduated from The University of Houston with a BS and she earned her Masters degree from Webster University in Management and Leadership. She is to married to former Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Killeen Ken Wilkerson who is a 25+ year distinguished retired combat Army veteran. They have 2 children Khalen(KJ) and Khristian(Khris). KJ is a recent graduate of Texas Lutheran University receiving g his Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics. Khris is currently a student-athkete at Centenary College of Louisiana. Sondra is a member of Alph Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and The Links Incorporated where she has committed herself to Service, Sisterhood and Friendship. Upon retirement, she found a deeper rooted love in conversation and people that had always been there as a child-thus SeriouslySondra was birthed. She is currently a radio show announcer/host on KVBM 104.7FM. The only Southern Soul radio station in Central Texas. It is owned and operated by Veterans for Veterans: It is The Veteran's voice.


Saquoi Dreckette – Speaker
Saquoi Dreckette is 23 years old. She was raised in a West Indian American household along with my older brother and 2 younger sisters.
She received my BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University Central Texas in May of 2024 on a full ride academic scholarship. She’s been active in her community and in college as well. She is the youngest board member of IT Girls, Inc.
She loves spending time with loved ones , watching movies, playing board games, and mentoring our young ladies of tomorrow.
Ayanna Rudd – Speaker
Ayanna Rudd was born in Bethesda, Maryland and raised in Killeen, Texas as part of a proud military family.
A 2017 graduate of Ellison High School, Ayanna went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington. During her time at UTA, she was actively involved in several campus organizations, including the National Association of Colored Women’s Club, and became a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Since earning her degree in December 2021, Ayanna has been serving women and families as a Labor & Delivery Nurse in Dallas, Texas, where she continues to pursue her passion for maternal health and patient care.


Dr. Nikita Murry – Speaker
Dr. Nikita Murry serves in the Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Central Michigan University. She provides guidance for education related initiatives connected to equity, inclusion and belonging as the Director for Diversity Education, a post she has held since 2020. Through her role, Dr. Murry engages with faculty, staff, students, and alumni using scholarship and best practices for DEIJB to help ensure all individuals who engage with CMU experience authentic belonging and inclusion. This work includes working with campus partners to ensure that people experience CMU policies, practices and procedures in ways that align with the academic mission of the institution. Work in the equity and inclusion space has been a core function of every position Dr. Murry has held, especially her work that connects wellness and social justice. Her previous work as a college educator, licensed professional counselor, and journalist gives her unique perspectives on tuning in to and elevating disenfranchised and marginalized voices. As a longtime resident of the Great Lakes Bay Region, Dr. Murry has passionately worked with individuals across all ages to help them develop the tools and skills to achieve their highest potential. She earned her Ph.D. from Western Michigan University in counselor education and supervision, and a Master of Arts degree from CMU in professional counseling and school counseling. Her undergraduate degree is in journalism from Michigan State University. Dr. Murry engages with the community as the president and founder of The Go BACK Project, a nonprofit that seeks to help children, adolescents, and their families position themselves for a more hopeful future following an experience with physical or sexual trauma. She has served on the board of directors for multiple helping agencies across the state and the Great Lakes Bay Region, including the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, The ROCK, Camp Fire Boys and Girls Club, and the Children’s Grief Center of the Great Lakes Bay Region. Currently, she volunteers with the Midland Area Community Foundation. Last, Dr. Murry is a proud member of Faith Ministries Church in Midland and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Yoshenobia Harris – Speaker
Yoshenobia Harris is a dedicated Middle School Counselor with Copperas Cove ISD in Copperas Cove, Texas. Originally from Louisiana, she has called Central Texas home for the past 14 years. With over 20 years of experience in the counseling profession, Yoshenobia holds a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Walden University. Her work is driven by a deep passion for helping students reach their highest potential, embrace diversity, and build strong emotional wellness. She specializes in guiding students as they develop positive relationships, manage emotions, and resolve conflicts. A firm believer in the power of representation, Yoshenobia empowers students to build confidence in their identities and cultures. She lives by the philosophy that one should never stop learning, because continuous growth leads to greater possibilities. When she’s not supporting students, Yoshenobia enjoys traveling, shopping, and party planning.


Kas Owens is a national award winning Texas native creative. She uses her poetry and visual art as mediums to share her story and encourage others to find the power in their own voices. Her accolades include: 5 time published author, actress, poetic director for independent film company 'Melanin Behind the Lens', speaker and workshop facilitator. Kas proudly serves as a member of Central Texas Pride Community Center. She is an advocate for bringing awareness to cultural issues, LGBTQ rights, mental health awareness, abuse against women & children and the inequalities that the marginalized face.
"We the creatives are the voices of the people. We hold the power to create, share and connect in our hands, and no one can take that from us." -Kas
Kas Owens – Speaker
Amelia Rabroker – Speaker
Amelia Rabroker, a Texas Artist, educator, business owner, and activist has spent her life in Central Texas working in education and art advocacy. She is a mother of two beautiful children, and a proud firefighter wife and Navy mom. Originally from Waco Texas, Amelia graduated from Baylor University with a degree in elementary education and a specialization in art education. During her college years, she coordinated summer art programs at the Art Center Waco and afterschool programs for Waco ISD. She was also a featured artist for the Austin Community College Show at the Dougherty Arts Center in Austin, created costuming for the Waco Symphony Orchestra, and her pottery was featured in a Baylor Gallery Showing. After meeting her husband, a career firefighter/Medic for the City of Killeen she started her career at Killeen ISD as a fourth grade teacher before transitioning into art education. During her years at the public-school system she developed an elementary art program for Clear Creek Elementary. There, Amelia was recipient of the Killeen Daily Herald Excellence in Teaching Award and created several tile murals with her students' artwork as legacy pieces. The latter of her career was spent at Iduma Elementary. Iduma provided Amelia the opportunity to create art programming with an emphasis on cultural studies through their International Baccalaureate Program and this experience would later serve as a source of inspiration for her entrepreneurial endeavour. After eleven wonderful years at Killeen ISD, she decided it was time to spread her advocacy and work on a wider scale and stepped out on a limb to create Tap Tap Art School, the first traveling art bus. During the development of her business; Amelia had been inspired by the Haitian Tap Tap buses that she had taught her students about over the years. She wanted to spread the same joy of having a vibrant bus driving around the community, and the Tap Tap Art bus was born! Amelia grew her business with the Tap Tap bus by contracting with schools, cities, and countless festivals and parties. Eventually she created a brick and mortar location in Harker Heights, TX. Tap Tap has served as an art, and educational community resource for many years. The highlight of Amelia’s career as a business owner has been working with military families through her after school/summer programs at Tap Tap. She was honored that tap tap became a second home to so many children. During this part of her career, Amelia also created art enriched field trips for local schools as well as Gifted and Talented Conferences. Amelia further helped the community throughout COVID by sewing masks, taking care of essential workers' children, and keeping staff employed. As a leader she shifted services many times and successfully manoeuvred her business through that challenging time. She has donated two art pieces to the City of Harker Heights, the Mural at Carl Levan Park was painted by her and her staff, and a statue for the Harker Heights Fire Dept. Amelia received the Harker Heights Shining Star in honor of her community work. She was president of our local theater, Viva Les Arts and served on the Union Grove CBDM committee for many years. She is currently serving on the Intelligent and Talented Girls board of directors as the secretary. Amelia rebranded the business to The Art Space of Central Texas and is focused on creating a third space for the arts to include more adult programming and events. Her personal and professional goals have shifted into her artwork, home design, and political activism. Amelia has designed homes and worked with clients through her family’s home building company for 18 years. Her one woman art show made its show in 2024. It is an art collective that followed her deconstruction journey into race, sexuality, and gender. Along with the focus of the arts, Amelia is also focused on her political activism to fight for democracy and equal rights and creating brave spaces for those in need of those spaces.
