A first-of-its-kind expo is coming to Chatham this weekend.
The event called powHER is a gathering run by women, for women to talk about all things women on Sunday.
"I know there are expos for women in business, but I wanted to create something so that every woman could have something to come to about women and I couldn't find an expo like this. So, I thought, let's create one," Co-founder Brandee Kocsis said.
Kocsis explained that she's been a nurse for 10 years and owns her own medical aesthetics business, called Boujee Beauty, and still finds herself googling things she wouldn't ask others about. She reasoned that if she was searching online for personal growth other women likely were too.
She partnered with several other women, who specialize in everything from menopause and vaginal health to interior design, and powHER was born.
Kocsis had two main goals when she envisioned powHER; to provide a safe space for women to talk about things that they might otherwise feel too embarrassed to talk about and to empower them. "It's about health, wellness, mindfulness, beauty - everything women, in a safe space for women of all ages," she described.
Another driving force behind the event was just how much is going on in the world today. "I know that a lot of women speak out that they feel that a lot of things about being a woman are being taken away from them," Kocsis said, adding that she wanted to create a space for women to be able to express those feelings.
All the vendors at powHER will have items or classes available specifically for women.
Keynote speakers including Cathy Awad, an expert in vaginal health, Stephanie Simmons, an entrepreneur, content creator, and mom of six, and Crona Airgid a Registered Masters level Social Worker, who specializes in clinical therapy and crisis counselling, will be available to answer questions and speak with eventgoers.
"I want women to know it's okay to put themselves first with self-love, self-care - feeling beautiful on the inside as well as reflecting the beauty on the outside," Kocsis said. "It's okay to put yourself first; you're still a great mom, you're still a great sister, a great daughter."
PowHER will run from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 26 at the Retro Suites in Chatham.
Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased beforehand at Eventbrite or at the door. The proceeds will go to Cancer Care Ontario, to help people get to and from cancer treatments and to a yet-to-be-named women's wellness organization.
Kocsis said that the one thing she wants people to know about the event and to take with them going forward is that "empowered women empower women."
