Women Midlife Challenges Conference - Upstate Women Empowerment Event

Greenville’s New Initiative for Women in Midlife

Andrea Smith and her team of professionals have created “All the RAGE”, a conference and support program for upstate women navigating through the unique challenges of their middle years. These challenges commonly arise from an array of life transformations, such as becoming empty nesters, adjusting to aging parents, evolving marriages, and dealing with hormonal changes.

“The conference is directed at women who are likely empty nesters; they’re grieving a little because they miss their kids. It’s an identity crisis: ‘I don’t even know who I am now that my kids are gone,’” Smith explains.

Addressing Every Layer of Womanhood

The “All the RAGE” conference and its activities aim to delve into a woman’s mental and physical well-being, exercise and nutrition tailored for midlife, creating and maintaining relationships, as well as providing fun, social engagements to minimize isolation.

The conference will present four sessions led by professionals in their respective fields. A companding pharmacist will discuss hormone replacement medications, and a nutrition and exercise expert will provide tips on healthy lifestyle choices. An emotional and mental health counselor will be available to provide insights while Smith herself will focus on addressing social needs during midlife.

All the RAGE- Reinventing, Activating, Growing, and Enjoying Your Middle Years

The event plans to conclude with the entertainment of Anita Renfroe, a comedic musician known for her “sass, edge” and a “slightly offbeat take on all things female”. The attendees can look forward to light fun as Renfroe presents a skewered look at womanhood.

Conference attendees will be provided a schedule of follow-up events that include weekly exercise classes, educational seminars, and social activities like hiking, scrapbooking, or simply meeting for a cup of coffee to maintain the sense of community and support.

Catering to a Wide Age Range of Women

The “All the RAGE” conference, though tailored for women embracing their middle years, refuses to set a strict age limit. “If the conference speaks to people, we’re not going to turn them away,” said Smith.

Smith further explained the conference’s name, “All the RAGE” saying “It’s exciting: ‘It’s all the RAGE.’ But there’s also a lot of anger during this time of life. We just don’t want that anger to be the thing that screams at people”

The goal of the conference is to help women find joy in this challenging time of life, and to help them realize that the difficult phases are temporary and can be managed effectively through a focus on health and relationships.

Information and Tickets

The All the RAGE conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 6 at the Senior Action Event Center, 3715 E. North St. in Greenville. Lunch will be served, and tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite at $40.