DURHAM – The Granite State Room was full of friends, smiling faces and tons of pink today as SHAARP and Health Services held their 4th annual Fierce and Fabulous Women’s Expose to bring awareness and women empowerment to the UNH campus.
Fun, upbeat music played over the speakers as dozens of girls sang along and walked around to the different tables and stations set up. This year being the Expose’s largest, upwards of nearly 25 organizations presented themselves with colorful poster boards, goodie bags and other fun prizes for anyone who attended.
The two hosts of this Expo each had their own stations equipped with candy, markers and pamphlets. A number of girls were gathered around the SHAARP table where they were decorating their own tee shirts and entering in a raffle. The open, positive environment radiated throughout the room as girls interacted with one another.
Kathleen Grace-Bishop, Director of Education and Promotion for Health Services and founder of the Fierce and Fabulous Women’s Group, was thrilled with todays outcome and said she’s so happy to help share as many resources as possible with the women on campus.
“It’s an opportunity for women to come together and explore themselves, and to realize that there is a supportive community out there, because one of the things women thrive on is connection to others.”
The Expose started from the Fierce and Fabulous Women’s Group that Kathleen runs. The Women’s Group is a nine-week program where women get together to share positive support and empowerment. According to Kathleen the Expo branched off as an idea to spread the feminism with all parts of the campus.
Another representative of Health Services explained that the goal was to make this particular fair as affirming, interactive and fun as possible. Dawn Zitney, Communications and Information Director of the department, wanted this event to be “something that people would remember.”
“Yeah, numbers are important, we want to see many people coming through, but then for us it’s also about the experience too,” said Zitney. “So the people who did come through had a good experience and can remember how much fun it was.”
Each organization represented feminism and affirming female support, and were more than willing to provide information to those who asked. Chloe Ford, who represented UNH VOX (the student run “voice” of Planned Parenthood), said “today is just about having fun with other girls, equal rights and feminism.”
UNH student accapella group, Maiden Harmony, performed two songs as everyone else in the room listened on. Other activities that were going on at the event included sugar cookie decorating, drawing and painting, free chair massages and make your own aromatherapy eye pillows.
Kathleen Grace-Bishop seeks to continually expand the outlets for feminine resources and information on the UNH campus. She wants everyone to be aware of the great support groups and programs that the community offers, “so that women understand how fierce and fabulous they are. Cause we are!”