Hill Harper Makes Inspirational Impact On Oakland's Cinnamongirls

November 3, 2008 (Oakland, Ca) Giggles of excitement quickly turned into a deep, motivating discussion on life choices when actor/author Hill Harper visited Oakland’s Cinnamongirl, Inc. (CGI) participants for a group discussion and book signing. The special appearance was a thrill for the teenage Cinnamongirls, who are familiar with Harper’s films and hit television series CSI:NY. Harper’s October 25, 2008 talk was a great opportunity for Harper to work with young girls who have reached out to find mentors, an important aspect of his new best-selling book, Letters to a Young Sister: DeFine Your Destiny.

Harper spoke on topics addressed in Letters to a Young Sister, offering personal examples and involving the girls in the interactive talk. Carrying on the theme of Developing the Whole Self, the focus of the CGI program for 2008-2009, Harper used the concept of “being an architect for your own life” as the foundation of the talk.

“It is inspiring to witness the close bonds of mentoring and friendship that Cinnamongirl is able to promote as an organization,” says Harper of Cinnamongirl, Inc., “To see such young girls actively participating in a program that supports mentoring, self-esteem, education, and broadening horizons of young girls of color is encouraging for the future of our young people.”

CGI founder and executive director, Renee Richard-Smith, was thrilled that Harper was able to meet the Cinnamongirls. “To have Hill Harper take time to meet the Cinnamongirls has made a lasting impact on them. The topics he speaks on and writes about underscore many of the lessons that we are teaching as part of our program,” notes Richard-Smith. “By reading Harper's book, the Cinnamongirls and mentors truly benefitted from his motivating talk. We will all continue to learn from his book.”

Throughout the program year the Cinnamongirls work with mentors, building natural and lasting friendships along with a strong foundation of support among the group. The 1:2 ratio of mentors to Cinnamongirl participants creates a hands-on environment in which the girls find easy interaction with the mentors on a range of topics and concerns. CGI mentors are dedicated to addressing the critical need for girls to become well educated on the issues of self-esteem, health, finance, career and educational opportunities, and much more. CGI’s 2008-2009 program is focused on self-esteem, coinciding with the self-confidence, mentoring, and inspirational elements of Harper’s book. CGI mentors, successful, professional women from a range of occupations, work continually with the girls in and outside of the formal CGI workshops, dialogues, and special discussions like the recent event with Hill Harper.

Hill Harper is an inspiring public speaker and an impassioned advocate of helping all women to achieve their own destiny. In Letters to a Young Sister: DeFine Your Destiny, Harper shares his powerful wisdom for young women, drawing on the courageous advice of female role models and interviews with young women around the country. Harper spent much of his Saturday morning with the Cinnamongirls, opening up an honest dialogue, offering guidance, advice, and reassurance while urging the young sisters to identify, embrace, and go after their own passions and dreams.