When conceding the Democratic nomination for president in June, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton memorably mentioned the "18 million cracks" in the glass ceiling, voters who supported her bid to become the nation's first woman president. A conference later this month on girls' issues is attempting to swing a hammer at those cracks.

"What do you do to help girls take that next step in shattering the ceiling and becoming the person they can be?" asked Kristy Trautmann, co-chair of the Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania. "What enriches them enriches the region."

Early registration ends tomorrow for the first conference by the Girls Coalition, with 63 member organizations, Jan. 29 at the Sheraton Station Square.

One of the aims of the conference is to provide local advocates for girls with up-to-the-minute information and training on girl-related issues: general topics will include health (including teen pregnancy and body image); empowerment (training in negotiations and politics); and programming (supporting and paying for girl services).

It also will offer them at a time when, due to economic woes, many agencies cannot afford to send employees outside the city to other conferences, noted Ms. Trautmann.

"Many youth service organizations don't have the funding to do the level of training they want to do and need to do," she said.

Speakers will include local and national experts. The keynote speaker will be Peggy Orenstein, author of "Schoolgirls: Young Women, Self-Esteem and the Confidence Gap."

A session on nutrition and body messages will be by Leslie Bonci of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Sports Medicine Nutrition Program.

Early registration through tomorrow for the day-long conference is $75. Afterwards, tickets cost $90. More information is at www.girlscoalitionswpa.org.