Beyonce Knowles made a surprise visit to a group of teenage girls attending a forum against violence before her concert Thursday in Washington.

The 25-year-old pop singer — clad in silver high heels, jeans and a gray blouse — shook hands and chatted for about 15 minutes with about 70 girls gathered at the Verizon Center. She posed with them in groups as a photographer in her entourage snapped pictures.

The Defining Our Own Destiny Forum for girls was organized by District of Columbia Council member Kwame Brown and his staff as a counterweight to the many anti-violence programs in the city for teenage boys.

“We have so much youth violence in this city,” Brown said. “So many people shooting each other up. So many drive-by shootings, and young girl gangs are on the rise in this city. But these girls have a lot of power getting this to stop.”

The forum featured presentations on perseverance despite obstacles, maintaining a healthy self-image and trying to become a peacemaker in the community.

Beyonce’s brief appearance was not exactly what Brown had expected. He had hoped she would speak about healthy eating and living.