All women have swagger – they are just waiting for permission to use it.

- Cindy Brown

Cindy Brown, founder of the Swagger movement will be in Boulder July 19-21, offering a series of workshops and presentations for girls and women. Swagger is the permission girls and women need to feel their full confidence and to increase their success at work, home, church, on the playing field and world stage, and in their relationships.  The presentations include:

• Tuesday, July 19:  YWCA Puente – Discussion and hike with participants in YWCA Punte, a program for Latina girls
  transitioning from middle to high school focused on positive body image and self-confidence.
• Wednesday, July 20:  Boulder Housing Partner Lunch and Learn – Lunchtime brownbag with Boulder Housing Partner (BHP), the housing authority of the city of Boulder, to discuss how the swagger concepts can be incorporated into the services provided by BHP to women and girls.
• Thursday, July 21: YMCA of Boulder Valley Girl Power Camp – Program of games, discussion, journaling, hiking and fun with middle school girls – focused on feeling confident and making their voices heard. According to the YMCA “since the Y’s
  three areas of focus are youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Swagger movement program taught to the middle school girls is a welcome collaboration.”

What is Swagger? Swagger means high feminine confidence. In the Swagger movement, we believe that swagger is important because women have many talents to contribute to the world, but the world has become out of balance, dominated by male energy. We believe that we need both male and female energy in the world and when those energies are in balance, there are more equitable and satisfying life opportunities for all people. By gaining confidence, especially at an early age, women are more able to make their contributions and help bring balance to the world.

The movement was born of Brown’s experience working in male-dominated professions for the past 25 years.  She is the former Co-Executive Director of Boulder Housing Partners and was an instructor at the University of Colorado, College of Architecture and Planning.  The Swagger movement is part of a growing number of organizations aimed at promoting self-confidence in young women, including the UN Program Girl Up and sister effort – The Priceless Project:  http://PricelessProject.com

For more information, contact 720-341-9703 or visit the website at www.girlsguidetoswagger.com.   For more information on YMCA programs, contact Susan Coker at 303-406-1180.

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What is swagger?

Swagger means high feminine confidence. In the Swagger movement, we believe that swagger is important because women have many talents to contribute to the world, but the world has become out of balance, dominated by male energy.  We believe that we need both male and female energy in the world and when those energies are in balance, there are more equitable and satisfying life opportunities for all people. By gaining confidence, especially at an early age, women are more able to make their contributions and help bring balance to the world.

One of the most important goals of swagger is to reach young girls and support their developing creativity and talents.  When you were growing up, were you encouraged to let your light shine or were you told to be quiet or not to boast or to keep your accomplishments to yourself so that you wouldn’t make other people, particularly boys, uncomfortable?  Many of us carry the scars and the deeply-ingrained message that we should accomplish much, but say little.

I saw a home movie of myself as a child.  I was full of excitement and happiness and came bounding into the room, smiling and laughing.  Somewhere along the way, I got told to keep it down, sit down and be more feminine and agreeable.  I’ve had swagger for most of my life, but I have often been in conflict with myself over how to express it.  As an adult in the work world, I would often hold back – not wanting to make people uncomfortable with my ideas and questions.  Inevitably, I would be unable to keep it to myself and my ideas would come out.  I sometimes got thanks for contributing, but surprisingly often I didn’t.  I even got thanked one time for being quiet. Read more…

Want to meet lots of authors in one place and hear more about swagger?  Join The Girl’s Guide to Swagger at two upcoming Colorado events:

Saturday, May 14 noon to 5 pm Author fair – Barbed Wire Books in Longmont CO

An opportunity to talk with 35 authors. Cindy Brown will be there with her first book, Lessons from Nature in healing, strength, and flexibility and information on the The Girl’s Guide to Swagger book-in-progress. http://www.barbedwirebooks.net/

Thursday, May 19 at 5:30 pm Author Fair – Boulder Business and Professional Women

A panel discussion and a chance to meet other authors and hear about their books. Cindy will be part of the Author Fair and have her previous books available and Swagger information, along with T-shirts, tote bags, and other Swagger Swag to win or purchase. For more information, visit: www.boulderbpw.org.