SALISBURY — Through her Awakenher Wellness charitable organization, Jante Gibson-Bryant is making it easier for young girls to be able to attend their high school proms.

Her plan began with the idea of helping one girl have the Perfect Prom Experience, which is the name of the project. Through a nomination process, the Rowan-Salisbury high school senior girl that is nominated and wins will receive a prom package of pretty much “everything that a girl could need for prom,” she said.

This would include getting her hair styled, a full makeover with makeup, a full set of nails, a pedicure, her dress, dinner for two and jewelry.

This is how her idea started and from there, she said, “I had the grand idea that I was going to collect prom dresses.” 

She said there will be some girls who will choose not to attend their prom because they feel like they can’t afford to go and they should not be forced to make that choice.

She then proceeded to search through her phone and send a text message to everyone she could and let them know of her plan to collect formal dresses.

In less than a week when she launched this plan, Gibson-Bryant said she thought she had 90 pieces, which includes dresses and pant suits, “because I understand that not all girls want the exact same look.”

These formal outfits will help these girls have something special to wear, and Gibson-Bryant said it’s completely free. 

The collection of prom dresses will continue through March 14, and those who have dresses to donate to the organization for these girls can contact Gibson-Bryant by emailing her at jante@awakenherwellness.com, and she can pick it up, she said.

Girls, who are juniors and seniors, needing a prom outfit, whether in Rowan County or other surrounding counties can register to receive one by going to the Say Yes to the Dress Awakenher Wellness eventbrite link and register also through March 14.

While she said she is doing this for Rowan County, she added that “if a girl needs a dress, she needs a dress, and prom should be memorable no matter what” and therefore opened this part of the plan to other counties.

Gibson-Bryant said that she is going with the registration process because she is also giving away some other items for the girls to have, noting she has some people who are committed to helping with hair and makeup. Therefore, these girls will have the chance to win raffles that would include those items as well. So registration to receive a dress is necessary.

Prom dresses can be picked up March 21 from 5-8 p.m. at City Park Recreation Center, 316 Lake Drive, Salisbury.

And while the prom dress is open to other counties, the one girl who wins the Perfect Prom Experience is open only to girls who are seniors in Rowan-Salisbury high schools, she said.

Nominations, which are open until March 1, can be submitted by teachers, counselors, friends, family or self-nominations.

Requirements for nomination includes the following: The girl must be a senior currently attending a Rowan-Salisbury high school; demonstrates outstanding character, leadership or academic achievement; shows a commitment to personal growth and future goals.

When making the nomination, the following information should be provided: describe the nominee giving their full name, age, high school, extracurricular activities and notable achievements.

As for future goals, provide answers to the following questions: what are the nominee’s future educational and/or career aspirations and how does the nominee plan to contribute to her community in the future.

In the character and leadership category, describe an instance where the nominee demonstrated exceptional character or leadership; and how has the nominee positively impacted her peers or school community.

In personal growth, how has the nominee shown a commitment to personal growth or overcoming challenges; and what are the nominee’s hobbies and interests, and how do they reflect her personality.

A recent photograph of the nominee should be attached with the submitted and email the completed submission to jante@awakenherwellness.

For more information, email her at the above address or call Gibson-Bryant at 336-488-4368. 

This is the first Say Yes to the Prom Dress events and she said that does foresee it becoming an annual event. In fact, she said, while getting donations, a woman told her that her daughter was getting married and after that, she would have possibly five dresses to share.

So Gibson-Bryant will already have a start on next year’s prom dress collection.

When asked what she would tell those who have donated, Gibson-Bryant said, for one thing, “it’s appreciated. We never know the impact we are making into these people, these young ladies, and we are breathing life into them by giving them this opportunity.”

While she said she was the brainchild behind this project, it wasn’t about her.

“I can’t do it by myself,” Gibson-Bryant said, “I cannot reach the women, the young girls that I want to reach by myself. It’s a team effort. So I’m thankful and I need them. The girls need them.” 

In addition to collecting the formal wear, she said she was also accepting financial contributions for the prom event.

“My plan is to give a small scholarship to the young lady who is chosen as the winner of the Perfect Prom Experience,” she said.

Those who would like to donate to the event may do so connecting to the link https://secure.givelively.org/donate/awakenher-wellness-inc 

When asked what it meant to her to be able to help these young girls, Gibson-Bryant said that through doing these things, “they heal the little girl on the inside of me as well” as she said she wasn’t able to experience a prom.

Through the Awakenher Wellness program, she said, “I have literally been poured back into, and so I’m definitely reaping what I sow. The benefit is I’m healing, the benefit is I’m empowering and this is for future generations and leaders.”

Gibson-Bryant founded the Awakenher Wellness organization, which she said is an extension of her own personal story. 

She said that her slogan for the organization is “Empower Women, Empower Children, Empower Children, Empower Community.” 

Through Awakenher Wellness, she also hosts the Period Purse Project, monthly Coffee and Conversations and Paint and Heal.

She is also an author, which she said started as journaling and then to blogging and has become publishing some books.

“Writing has always been my form of communication in a sense. I have found that as I was younger when trauma stole my voice, the writing gave it back, and now I write and I speak, because through writing I learned that I had power and freedom,” she said.

A person of faith, Gibson-Bryant said the organization is about the whole person, mind, body and soul and that God is her source.

“Awakenher Wellness is me being obedient,” she said, adding that God gave her this almost 20 years ago “at the worst part of my life, I feel like, when I didn’t have much to offer anybody, and here I am and I’m thankful. It holds me accountable. It gives me a reason to not just give up.”