By LENORA LAKE | Tribune correspondent Published: February 19, 2013 Updated: February 19, 2013 - 12:44 PM

Women and girls will have a chance to build self esteem and support their physical, emotional and spiritual health in a workshop on March 2.

"Beyond Survival: Honoring Women's Resilience, Spirituality and Sexual Health" will feature health screenings, speakers, informational booths and snacks.

Organized by a volunteer committee of social service providers and community members, the event is in conjunction with National Women's History Month and National Women and Girls HIV Awareness Day on March 10, said committee chairwoman Grace Terry, founder of Bridge Builder's Center for Grief Education.

Terry is a member of the faith-based Subcommittee for Connect 2 Protect, an organization whose goal is to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS to vulnerable girls and women in Central Tampa.

Free HIV testing will be part of the event.

Terry said, "One of the messages is making HIV test routine. There is a lot of stigma about getting the test."

The test will be offered confidentially in a separate room from other health for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.

Rosa McKinzy Cambridge, president of the National Association of Black Nurses Tampa Bay Chapter, said they will encourage everyone in attendance to get tested. "But we aren't going to walk around and ask everyone if they did. We just want to help de-stigmatize it," Cambridge said.

The event, held at the Center for Manifestation, 3102 1/2 E. Lake Ave., is for ages 13 and older.

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Tampa conference helps women celebrate spirituality, health