What Really Happens at the Significant U Empowerment Conference

Every February, we host more than just another event; we welcome girls into a space designed to celebrate their significance and equip them to face the future with confidence. The Significant U Empowerment Conference, hosted by The Madrina Project, isn’t just about prom dresses (though those are pretty magical too).

It’s about creating moments that stick, the kind that can change a heart, a mind, a story.

Here’s what goes down:

We Start With An Empowerment Fair

When girls arrive, they’re welcomed into a vibrant, interactive Empowerment Fair. Tables are lined with community organizations and mentors offering resources and real-world inspiration. Cafe College is always a must, helping girls envision their next steps with confidence.

This year, we had an extra special addition: powerhouse voices from the book Latinas in PR by Melissa Vela-Williamson. A few of the featured contributors came to share stories, insight, and encouragement in real time.

(We’ll be spotlighting this book and doing a deep dive into Dr. Lorraine Pulido’s chapter, in a special fall blog post…👀)

None of this would be possible without our Momentum Makers, the volunteer team that brings heart, warmth, and direction to the Empowerment Fair. They make the start of the day feel like more than a check-in; they make it feel like they just got to a party.

Then Comes the Music🎤

Each year, our official program kicks off with an energizing live performance led by Melody Rain and her band, and let’s just say, she never disappoints.

Since 2015, Melody has used her voice, vulnerability, and vibrant energy to uplift the next generation of girls.

She’s especially passionate about cultivating friendships that allow girls to be vulnerable a lesson she’s learned through her own journey of healing from years of hurt and mistrust. Her presence is more than musical, it’s deeply personal.

This concert sets the tone for the day: bold, joyful, and full of power.

(We’ll be celebrating Melody’s years of service and sharing all the details about her upcoming EP release in next week’s Madrina Monday blog, stay tuned!)

Catherine York | Girl Gone Program MC

The Real Talk Begins

After the music, our program MCs keep the energy alive, mic in hand and hearts wide open, ushering in one of the most powerful parts of the day: our four immersive breakout sessions.

In our Education session, girls are reminded that their dreams are valid and that knowledge is a powerful tool for shaping their future.

Our Leadership session encourages them to see themselves as change makers, right now, not someday. In Wellness, we explore how nutrition, activity, healing, boundaries, and self-care are part of how we thrive, not just survive. And in Self-Worth, girls are challenged to own their value, rewrite old narratives, and walk in their God-given identity.

Each session is led by women whose stories reflect the girls we serve, women who know what it means to persevere, rise, and lead. These aren’t cookie-cutter workshops. They’re intentional conversations built to spark change.

Because we believe: when you change the conversation, you change the story.

We End with Magic

As the day winds down, we enter into a moment of reflective music and meditation. Here, every girl is invited to embrace her undeniable significance not just for one day, but for her whole life.

Boutique Time 👗

Then comes the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the most anticipated part of the day: our Founder and Executive Director, Carmen Lidia Fajardo, along with our Annual Hada Madrina (Fairy Godmother), officially opens the doors to the Fairy Godmother Boutique.

Each girl is paired with her very own Glam Guide, a personal stylist-meets-big-sister who helps her zip up, twirl around, and step into a dress that makes her feel beautiful, confident, and fully supported.

Glam Guides are the

heart of the boutique experience. 

They're the key volunteers who make the magic possible, not just on conference day, but at our year-round Fairy Godmother Boutique and especially at our FGB School Pop-Ups, where they help turn prom dreams into real, unforgettable memories.

Because every girl deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and radiant, just as she should.

Want to be part of the magic for SUEC 2026?

Drop a comment below that says: “Give me wings!” and we’ll reach out soon.

Every single moment of this conference is powered by love and by volunteers.

From the Momentum Makers who light up the Empowerment Fair, to the Show Runners coordinating every moving piece behind the scenes… from the Glam Guides zipping up gowns and hyping up girls, to the Tear Down Crew who help us close with care, this event doesn’t happen without them.

We love celebrating and supporting every one of these roles.

And this month, we’re saying a very special thank you to Melody Rain by showing up for her EP Release Night on Friday, July 18, 2025.

Subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss the next post with all the details, trust us, you’ll want to be there.

Love,

OFG

Carmen Lidia Fajardo