Original Article
By Brian W. Carter (Staff Writer)

The free workshop is designed to empower young women to be successful, productive and highlight their inner beauty.

Photo courtesy of Diamond in the Raw

Free workshop for teen girls 12-18 designed to empower and educate.

“You’re Beautiful Inside & Outside” is one of the themes and focus of the up-and-coming Diamond in the Raw Foundation (DITRF) sponsored workshops on Saturday March 29. The free workshop is designed to empower young women to be successful, productive and highlight their inner beauty. Topics will include: “Image is Everything,” “Speak with Purpose,” “Skin Care -Think Wrinkle Free,” “Dress for the Cause-Professional Development,” “Health & Fitness,” “Hygiene,” and “Nutrients & Meditation.”

La Faye Baker is the founder and CEO of DITRF, a 501(C)(3) organization, which continues  to edify and educate at risk teens and foster care girls between the ages of 12-18 through the arts & S.T. E. M. education in the community. DITRF was established in 2008.

Baker is a native of Los Angeles-CA, born and raised. She attended Crenshaw High School and was an all-around athlete in school. Her physical prowess and athletic abilities took her all the way to Hollywood, where she works as a stuntwoman.

DITRF focuses on athleticism, education, vocational, cognitive and social skills, by developing and expanding generation X and Y’s expectations, and life-coping skills for achievement, as stated by their website.

The DITRF has a program called concepts in a box. The process involves picking a concept from a box, pitching it, selecting a story and developing a script, and a budget, and everyone gets assigned different positions.

Some of the programs that assist and help DITRF include the Sista2Sista shadowing program and the HIP/N/SMART mentorship programs. They collaborate with several other agencies such as the Gwen Bolden Youth Foundation, Los Angeles County Probation Department, GAPP Alternative Prevention Program, Los Angeles Unified School District, Neighborhood Youth Achievers and the Women in Film PSA Program. The foundation also grants scholarships to various at-risk teens. Other corporate sponsors include Mixed Chicks, Perlman Family Foundation, Clear Essence, Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, Marika and Stone Cold Action

“If you believe it, conceive it—then you can achieve it,” said Baker.

The free workshop for teen girls 12-18 will take place Saturday March 29 at A-MAN Center located 101 South La Brea Ave. in Inglewood from 9:00am – 4:00pm. Free gift for those who register before March 15, 2014.T