Cece Winans on a Mission to Reach Teen Girls from Every Walk of Life

PREPARATIONS FOR 2ND ANNUAL ALWAYS SISTERS GIRLS CONFERENCE WELL UNDER WAY; CHURCH LEADERS & ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY ON BOARD

Nashville, TN - Entrepreneur/singer/author, CeCe Winans and her team are gearing up for the 2nd Annual Always Sisters Girls Conference, which is scheduled to be held at the Curb Center in Nashville, TN on August 4th and 5th. "Teenage girls today of all races and backgrounds are in trouble and they need our help. The goal of the conference is to educate, motivate and re-direct the life choices this generation is making", states Winans.

HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, eating disorders, problems resulting from absent fathers and teen suicide are just a few of the challenges our young girls are facing today. According to information published by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on major health care issues), African-America women account for 36 percent of diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases compared to 14 percent of white women. Although African American teens represent 15% of U.S. teenagers, in 2002 they accounted for 65% of new AIDS cases. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, teen mothers are less likely to complete school and more likely to be a single parent; less than one-third of teens who begin their families before age 18 ever earn more than a high school diploma. Only 1.5% earn a college degree by the age of 30. Experts estimate that 1% of American teens have a eating disorder. Single mothers head 54% of America's households and 85% of children raised without fathers exhibit behavioral disorders. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15 -24 year olds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, and girls tend to attempt suicide by over dosing on drugs or cutting themselves. It is estimated that more than 1,000 suicides occur on college campuses every year.

"For years, I've had a strong burden for the girls who are struggling with these issues. Over 800 girls and women attended the first Always Sisters Girls Conference held in 2005. We received incredible feed-back from life changing seminars such as, Daughter's From A Father's Point of View, Sister's From A Brother's Point of View, and The Queen In You", says Winans. Other topics addressed were self-esteem, dating, AIDS and more.

Continuing the mission to reach our young girls, Winans will be joined by, actor and former star of UPN's "One On One", Flex Alexander ; author/conference host and daughter of Billy Graham, Ruth Graham; Atlantic Recording Artist, Yolanda Adams; producer/songwriter, Rodney Jerkins and his wife recording artist, Joy Enriquez; Word recording artist, Nicole C. Mullen; EMI Gospel recording artist, KiKi Sheard; The Katinas, author of Preaching With Aids, Carolyn Pineda, and Mother of the renowned Winans Family, Delores Winans, author and pastor Kimberly Daniels, Pastors Horace and Kitty Hockett and more. There will be a special session for mothers, a teen fashion show and Winans will climax the two day event with a concert.

It is Winans desire to reach as many young women in the next few years as possible, so any contributions and sponsorships are welcomed. All contributions are tax deductible! If you desire to help in these efforts contact Tammy Bennett at (615) 371-1575 or tammy@bennettevents.com for contribution details. For conference information and registration log on to www.alwayssisters.com