Teens are invited to join Abuse Counseling and Treatment for a conference in January that will empower them while helping them recognize personal boundaries.

“Our mission is basically to support, educate and empower victims of domestic violence and their children, survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking,” ACT Violence Prevention educator Kelly Rico said. “We want to empower them to be able to recognize personal boundaries and prevent sexual and relationship violence and have the confidence to speak up for themselves, as well.”

The “Main Character Energy Teen Female Conference” will be held on Jan. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Collaboratory, at 2031 Jackson St., Fort Myers.

“We are trying to have them register at least a week before the event, so we have enough time to create the swag bags gifting for the kids,” she said, as well as meal count.

Rico said the girls conference will feature several motivational speakers.

“We want to be able to create that awareness for teen girls,” she said. “We have Claribel Bocanegra, who is the founder of Gemstones; Marilyn Santiago, who is the founder of Creative Architectural Resin Products; and Chantel Rhodes, who is a medical social worker at Golisano’s hospital.”

Rico said rather than teens just listening to these empowering women, they will have several interactive activities throughout the event in breakout sessions.

The “Main Character Energy Teen Male Summit” on Jan. 17 will be offered in a hybrid format, with attendance via Zoom or at Collaboratory in Fort Myers. Registration will start at 3:30 p.m., with the presentations beginning at 4 p.m.

Rico said they realize that because they offer services in three counties — Lee, Hendry and Glades — everyone might not have transportation.

“We wanted to be able to create that hybrid for the rural areas,” she said. “We will have two keynote speakers. For the teen boys summit, we have Devon Beck, facilitator of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Talbot County Public Schools, and Zachary Mason, who goes by Capt. Mason and is a Florida Army National Guard and part of the Florida counterdrug task force.”

It is the first time the male summit will be held. The girls conference was held last year.

“Both events are free. We are going to provide a boxed lunch for teen girls and dinner for the teen males. We are also going to provide the swag bags full of gifts at both events,” Rico said. “We just want to invite everyone who wants to really know about our mission and be able to prevent sexual and relationship violence. If the mother, or the fathers, or any parents, caregivers want to attend with their teens, they can also attend. We want to create that safe environment and invite everyone.”

To RSVP, contact Rico at 239-939-2554 or KRico@actabuse.com, or bgrot@actabuse.com.