TYLER, Texas Hundreds of woman gathered in Tyler Saturday to help mentor other young women to success.

"We just really think that that's an age group that really needs self-confidence instilled and a lot of values being pushed towards them," said Monica Miller with the Junior League of Tyler, who sponsored the event.

From online safety to self-defense there were all sorts of topics covered to try and teach these sixth-grade girls how they can become their best selves.

Chapel Hill Middle School counselor Frances Palmer says making sure young women are educated is key to their future.

"Young women who are in their 20's and 30's place value on teaching the young girls giving them power, giving them information, giving them a plan for their future," Palmer said.

Former CBS 19 host Tashara Parker returned to the East Texas for the event. She says mentoring young women is embedded deep in her heart.

"To help young girls continue to succeed in whatever it is that they want to do because I want to show them that as long as you're preparing yourself for whatever opportunity and when it presents itself, then you're going to be ready," Parker said.

Both women believe girls have the power within them to succeed if they seize the opportunity.

"If they can walk away with a sense of community, knowing why it's important to give back and if they can walk away with knowing how to fulfill their greatest potential when it comes to confidence, then definitely, that's two things at the very least, that I want them to walk away with," Parker explained.

"I want them to grow up a little bit today and walk out with head high and feel better about themselves in their future," said Palmer.

More here:
Women come together in Tyler to help mentor the future - CBS19.tv KYTX