Over 1,000 women gathered at the Lake Charles Civic Center on Thursday for the annual Women’s Commission of Southwest Louisiana conference. The event included a luncheon, workshops and a speech by television host Star Jones.

Krystle Johnson, Women’s Commission vice president, said the goal of the conference is for women to have fun and learn. She said the event is a way to empower women in Southwest Louisiana.

During the conference, women shopped at vendor booths and received information on health and wellness. Attendees also participated in multiple workshops and sessions, which covered a variety of topics — cooking, makeup techniques, cancer prevention, career success.

“We have a mixture of everything,” Johnson said. “We have over 180 vendors here today.”

Jones, who gave the keynote address, spoke to women about her goals as an advocate and what they could do to be successful.

“For me being an advocate for women is a daily blessing not an obligation,” she said. “I’m talking about how to use your network to get over any struggle or setback, and how to turn a setback into a setup for the next big thing.”

Johnson said the conference grows each year and that next year’s conference will be “bigger and better” than ever.

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Online: www.womenscommissionswla.com.(Rick Hickman/American Press)

Rick Hickman