Women & Influence Conference Recap

On November 18, 2006, over 200 women (and a few enlightened men) gathered at WOMENS WAY’s 4th Annual Women & Influence Conference to address challenges facing low-wage women and their families. The conference’s focus was a purposeful counter to the myriad “opt-out” articles that suggest that hoards of women are voluntarily choosing to leave the workforce to raise their children. The stories have two primary flaws: (1) they focus on a tiny, privileged sliver of American women (white, well-educated and affluent); and (2) even among this group of women, they downplay the fact that for many, workplace inflexibility was a driving factor in their all-or-nothing career decision. WOMENS WAY invited a group of local experts to provide their views on critical issues impacting low-wage women and their families. Read more about the day’s events here.

Brighten the Holidays!

Want to make the holidays brighter for women, girls and families in our region? Our agency wish list is posted at www.womensway.org. It will connect you with the agencies, and let you know what items they need this holiday season.

WOMENS WAY Young Women’s Initiative Book Discussion

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Discussion facilitated by Jean Lutes, Assistant Professor of English, Villanova University
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Bonte – 1315 Walnut Street
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
This memoir chronicles the life of MSNBC columnist Jeannette Walls who endured a poverty filled, nomadic childhood with parents struggling with alcoholism, gambling addiction and mental health issues. Walls eventually moved to New York, attended Barnard and began rising up the journalistic ranks. This is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that, despite its profound challenges, gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.
» RSVP now

Gifts That Give

Please support WOMENS WAY by attending the Gifts That Give shopping event hosted by Susan Smith on December 2 and 3. You can designate WOMENS WAY as the recipient of a portion of all of your purchases.
» More info

Alice Paul Institute

Celebrate the Alice Paul Institute and what you like about New Jersey! 365 reasons to celebrate New Jersey will be selected from nominations and will be used throughout 2007 on billboards, posters and newspapers in the state. Help the Alice Paul Institute be included on the list and possibly even be featured on a billboard or poster. Visit www.celebratenj.com for an online entry form and tell why you think Alice Paul Institute is a great reason to celebrate New Jersey. The deadline is December 30.

Mountain Meadow

Youth Talk is Mountain Meadow's year-round program just for children and teens from LGBTQ families! Youth Talk occurs each month and involves games, discussions and other activities that address the issues LGBTQ families face. This fall the program expanded to include three age groups, and added a monthly Family Program in response to numerous requests from parents to involve their children in Mountain Meadow’s programs at a younger age.

YWCA of Chester County 36th Annual Holiday House Tour

Saturday, December 9
Tour historic houses in West Chester, beautifully decorated for the holidays and benefit services to empower women in Chester County.
» read more

CHOICE

CHOICE celebrated its 35th year of service to the Philadelphia community on November 15 at its 6th Annual Silent Auction and Cocktail Reception at the Philadelphia Westin. More than 150 guests attended the event in support of CHOICE’s commitment to providing accurate and compassionate information regarding reproductive and sexual health. Over 100 local artists, vendors, and businesses donated items, and Dorothy Mann, Executive Director of the Family Planning Council, was honored as the recipient of the Second Annual Gerstley Community Health Advocate Award.

Domestic Abuse Project (DAP)

DAP received $3,851 from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office (Tom Corbett) at a news conference on November 20. The money was obtained by the Charitable Trusts division in the Commonwealth under the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act in settlement of a matter involving alleged misrepresentations and omissions by the party soliciting funds for charitable purposes to allegedly benefit victims of domestic violence.

Supportive Older Women’s Network (SOWN)

Three members of SOWN’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group received a standing ovation as they were honored with the Kinship Care Conference’s “Exceptional Caregiver Award” on October 21 at Temple University. All three were honored for showing exceptional dedication to assuming the role of primary caregiver by raising children that are not biologically their own. Each woman has raised these children from infants to teenagers while overcoming medical and economic hardships.

Act Now to Preserve Reproductive Rights

Recently President Bush appointed Eric Keroack to lead the Department of Health and Human Services’ family-planning program, which helps more than five million people annually at 4,600 clinics nationwide. Keroack worked at an anti-choice faith-based pregnancy counseling organization that regards the distribution of contraceptives as “demeaning to women.” Send a message to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, urging him to reject Keroack’s appointment today at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201 or here.

Grants for Low Income Women

The Jeannette Rankin Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for and awarding grants to low-income women ages 35 and older. Each grant recipient has a vision of how a college education will benefit herself, her family, and her community. Most recipients are in truly meager financial circumstances and may have other hardships or disabilities.
» read more

WOMENS WAY’s website provides up-to-date information on local career and volunteer opportunities. Be sure to visit http://www.womensway.org regularly for the latest postings.
For more information on career, board and volunteer opportunities click here!

Make a difference in the lives of women, girls and families by supporting WOMENS WAY. Make your donation today!