Black and Brown girls “understood the assignment” as they showed up wearing beautiful white dresses in a wide array of designs for Ase Production’s 5th Annual Uniquely You Tea Party held at Oak Park’s 19th Century Club Sunday afternoon.
Held annually under one of five tenants — friendship, resilience, creativity, culture and leadership — the event is really a social and emotional workshop where elementary and middle school girls are surrounded by reinforcement to be proud of who they are and that being Black or someone of color, is a beautiful and special thing.
Juanta Griffin, Ase Productions executive director, added that because African Americans are sprinkled here and there throughout Oak Park, Black girls are not necessarily aware that they are a part of a larger Black community until they get to junior high school.
Her daughter Yemi Griffin, now in 8th grade, attended Horace Mann Elementary School in northwest Oak Park which is predominantly white.
“So putting on events like the Tea Party is a way to help Black and Brown girls feel seen,” Griffin said.
What started with empowering Black girls in Oak Park has grown over the years to include girls from neighboring communities.
“When we did that we got more girls with more experiences and we got a richer, more fulfilling workshop where the girls are really sharing, ” Griffin said.
Elementary and middle school girls are the focus of the event. With the exception of the 8th grade mothers who took part in the rite of passage ceremony, mothers are not allowed to attend so that girls feel free to express themselves.
Ryann Dawson, a junior at Fenwick High School served as emcee for the event. An icebreaker session kicked off the event with 100 or so girls seated at tables covered in white tablecloths, chanting “I love being Black.”
“Speaking up, knowing when to listen, and continuing to learn are three leadership characteristics,” Dawson told the girls, her voice filling the second-floor banquet hall with a kind of “Black girl magic.”
Dawson also introduced the Inaugural 2025 Uniquely You Tea Party Court made up of 8th grade girls referred to as ‘butterflies’ which symbolizes their evolution from middle to high school.
Local leaders including Oak Park Chief of Police Shatonya Johnson celebrate with local students during the annual Uniquely You Tea Party Sunday March 9, 2025. Chief Johnson is the first female Chief of Police in Oak Park. 
People including Ladonna Daniels of Oak Park help celebrate the creator of Uniquely You Tea Party Juanta Griffin during the annual event held Sunday March 9, 2025.
Presented with class and elegance in an upbeat manner to the delight of all in attendance, the court entered the banquet room in step with Kendrick Lamar’s “They Not Like Us.”
Wearing white cowboy hats topped with lights, the court performed a line dance to the popular “Boots on the Ground” song with fan popping and audience participation part of their routine.
The “It Takes a Village” saying was put into play with people from all walks of life in Oak Park and surrounding communities including elected officials who either sponsored, in some way supported or attended the event.
State Sen. Don Harmon, Oak Park’s village clerk’s office, The Nova Collective, Suburban Unity Alliance and Westgate Flowers sponsored the event. People from the community donated all of the swag bag items that were gifted to the girls.
Khalida Himes, a social worker at Oak Park and River Forest High School and mentor for the event, led this year’s leadership-themed exercise centering around putting the girls in the mindset of creating a product and owning their own company.
“I like being here because a lot of these 8th graders are going to be seeing me next year,” Himes said. “So, it’s really important for them to see a Black woman in the building. I just love being involved with anything that’s going to help them with their social and emotional health.
It was 13-year-old Journi Bolar’s third time taking part in the event.
“I feel special and I learn something every time.”
Sophy and Katara Watson were among the mothers and daughters who took part in what was a tearful, and emotional rite of passage ceremony for the eighth-grade girls.
The ceremony was also an opportunity for words of appreciation, encouragement and support as mothers placed a gold key – symbolic of unlocking the door to the future –around their daughter’s neck.
The daughters in turn presented their mothers with a meaningful bouquet of flowers and a word describing the parenting they’ve received.
“This event allows my daughter to be involved culturally and to experience sisterhood,” Sophy said.
Juanta and her own daughter, Yemi, were also part of the rite passage ceremony.
In a touching exchange, Juanta told her daughter that her wish for her was that when she made decisions for herself, that she would also make them for others and also for her community. Yemi expressed her appreciation for her mother’s hard work.
“I love being part of the event,” Yemi told Wednesday Journal prior to the ceremony. “It’s a way for [girls] of color to feel included. They come here and feel supported. My main takeaway is women empowerment. I’m in a room filled with powerful women.”
Tara Stamps. 1st District Cook County commissioner, has been part of the event since the beginning.
“Juanta does so much for the community at large,” Stamps said. “Specifically trying to amplify the voices, the images and the self-confidence of Black and Brown girls in the Oak Park community which has a history of being very liberal and welcoming but that’s not always the experience of our girls.”
Cook County Board Commissioner Tara Stamps provides Oak Park students including Olivia Bryant an opportunity to share what they think being a leader means during the annual Uniquely You Tea Party Sunday March 9, 2025. This year’s theme was Leadership and Civic engagement. 
Ry Rose of Chicago pours tea during the annual Uniquely You Tea Party Sunday March 9, 2025. The tea party is an annual event for Oak Park 3rd-8th graders 
Cook County Board Commissioner Tara Stamps talks with National Council of Negro Women (left) Allison Albert and Kidada Robinson while they offer raffles during the annual Uniquely You Tea Party Sunday March 9, 2025. This year’s theme was Leadership and Civic engagement.
Vicki Scaman, Oak Park village president, was in attendance, telling Wednesday Journal the event was a display of Black excellence.
What’s behind the big numbers in participation? Griffin said she thinks it’s because people want to connect culturally and belong.
“I like cotillion culture,” Griffin said. “That’s a part of our culture that I want to reclaim. This is like a mini cotillion. Our girls deserve to be presented and held in the highest esteem and have beautiful things around them and to dress beautifully. I think this is important for all Black girls.”
