Educating local women about women's issues is important to the Mercer County Commission for Women, and its annual fall conference in UPMC Horizon's Womancare Center, Hermitage, will emphasize that.

"Women at the Center of Life" is the theme for the Oct. 20 conference, which will feature local agencies with representatives speaking on topics such as motivation, empowerment, spirituality, fitness and depression.

"We're not promoting any one agency," said Leslie Brazel, commission vice chairwoman. "We are just here to supply some options and some choices to the underserved in the community -- the underserved being the people who don't know what's out there."

The Mercer County Commission for Women began in 1990 as a liaison between the community and county commissioners to address issues that affect local women.

The daylong conference will open with a speaker from the state commission for women. Participants will have two 45-minute sessions, choosing from such topics as "The Joy of Soy," "When Success is not Enough," "Sexual Violence: What You Need to Know to be Safe" and "Empowerment and Disempowerment: Reclaiming our Voice and Our Place."

Speakers include Kathy Gracenin, Dr. Daisybelle Thomas Quinney, Dr. D. David Snider, Dr. John P. Gallagher and Dr. Kim Richards.

Representatives of the following agencies will be on hand: AW/ARE, the Shenango Valley Urban League, Mercer County Cooperative Extension, Multi-Cultural Affairs of Thiel College and Southwest Gardens Economic Development Corp.

Lunch, door prizes and tours of the center also are on tap. The cost is $5 for the event.

After lunch, Dr. Linda Spanos of UPMC Complementary and Integrative Medicine will close the conference with "Natural Approaches for Women's Health."

"In my thoughts, I wanted to go a little more upscale, more of a conference theme, more of a wellness-type theme," said Mrs. Brazel. "I'm just hoping it empowers women to take control of their life and utilize their support system in the community. Not just as women, but in all the roles women have to play."

"We're really pleased with how it's worked out," said Kim Lombardi, director of the Womancare Center. "We want the community to use this building."