Approximately 30 area girls attended the first in what Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer hopes to be a series of such events that are designed to inspire youth in the community.
The Mayor’s Royal Tea was held May 18 at B’s Place, 508 S. Washington, for girls, ages 7-12.
A second tea is scheduled for older girls in June 15.
While she was keeping her fingers crossed for a larger crowd, Smith-Creer said she was pleased with the turnout and expects the event to grow as the word spreads.
Smith-Creer, who was elected last November as the city’s first African-American and first woman mayor, said the purpose of the teas is to motivate girls and young women to achieve their goals in life.
“I wanted to do something to give back and inspire the youth.We thought it would be good for them to dress up and come out and hang with the mayor and for them to see that I’m accessible,” she explained.
“I thought it would be something different for them to do. We drank tea and they seemed to enjoy it,” Smith-Creer said.
Serving as hostess of the event was 13-year-old Kaitlyn Brazle, the 2019 International Junior Miss Arkansas.
Brazle, of El Dorado, made a presentation and coordinated activities based on her anti-bullying pageant platform.
In 2016, Brazle was crowned International Junior Miss Arkansas Pre-Teen Queen. She is expected to travel to Orlando, Fla., July 8-13 for the International Junior Miss Pageant Finals.
With a queen serving as host, Smith-Creer said she thought “Royal Tea” would be a fitting name for the event.
Brazel’s mother, Yolanda Gafford, helped to organize the event and other volunteers assisted during the day, the mayor said.
The next tea will be held June 15 and will target girls, ages 13-18. The event will also be held at B’s Place.
“We’re going to have a slightly different focus for that age group, something a little different for them,” she said.
Registration for the Mayor’s Tea is $5. Smith-Creer said more details are forthcoming.
For more information, call the mayor’s office at 870-862-7911.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].