NFBPWC Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight

Kemi Oyebade — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 16:05:00 GMT

Kara LC Jones (CAIC, CRMT, BA)

I’m white, American born, cisgender woman with Italian heritage, and though I know all the curse words in Italian, truly, I only speak English. Since 1996, I’ve been in a monogamous, heterosexual commitment with a cisgender man who is Black and German. (Truth be told, I also know a few curse words in German, too.) We live in a community we were lovingly introduced to by a friend on Vashon Island, Washington.

My biggest grief experiences came with the deaths of three babies at birth. I’m a mom who has living and dead children, mom in a blended family, and now a

grandma, too.

My continued exploration of grief comes in around chronic illness. I have multiple chronic illness diagnoses (ME/CFS, PCOS, MCAS), though some of what is happening with my health is still a mystery. Given the state of our healthcare system here in America, I’m not entirely sure the root cause will ever be found. Anxiety and depression are part of my experiences at times, too, as the mystery part of being chronically alive can get to me. For the most part, I pass as abled which has both advantages and disadvantages.

I’m a Certified Appreciative Inquiry and Whole Systems Coach, and a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, holding double degrees in Literary and Cultural Theory and Creative Writing. I also have a minor degree from Chatham College in Early Childhood Development. I interned for three years at Family Communications (FCI) on production of Mister Rogers Neighborhood. I have authored several books including Mrs. Duck and the Woman, Flash Of Life, and 1000 Permissions Granted. I have contributed to publications such as They Were Still Born, Journal of Family Social Work, Living With Grief, Elegy, and more. For more see either GriefAndCreativity.comor CreativeGriefStudio.com.

What year did you join BPW?

2024

WHY did you join BPW?

Well my very best, very first friend ever Daneene Monroe Rusnak introduced me to BPW and invited me to speak at a JDEI meeting on my creative grief heARTwork around raising grief literacy for individuals but also as a cultural imperative. It was a lovely Zoom meet up, and Sher and Daneene both encouraged me to check out more about BPW. And here we are.

HOW has BPW helped your career and personal lifestyle?

Learning the history of the organization going back to 1919, it's heartening to think of all the women who've come before me unfolding the paths I've been able walk in my GenX iteration! I'm looking forward to learning more about the different programs and goals of BPW currently happening.

What wisdom can you pass on to other members?

One of the things that I keep seeing in the past few years is how much unprocessed grief and trauma we are enduring as individuals, all the way up to the socio-cultural level. It feels similar to me to seeing the unprocessed grief I saw when I was young in the WWII survivor generation of our family when they were all still alive. Today it feels like seeing a mirror of that unprocessed grief in my grandchildren as they are urged to "get back to normal" and "get back in the classroom in person" as quickly as possible without a lot of processing around the realities that they are sick over and over again. Not much has changed in infrastructure to protect them. But they have to get on with it. I keep seeing videos and social media posts from people my age or my childrens' ages saying things feel "off" or they've not been able to "go back to normal" and they wonder if they are alone in it. I am encountering more and more newly disabled people everyday who can no longer work the way they once did and question how to continue on with very little support. I see new videos every single day from people saying their work is no longer meaningful, they can barely make the ends meet, they don't understand why they are "failing."

As I witness all this, my inner monologue is naming it grief, grief, grief; not individual failing, but collective experience of systems failure. Grief shakes our sense of identity, our priorities even in things like the work we used to hold dear, our faith even. Because the grief we are all experiencing is unnamed, it hasn't even begun to be processed. So much of what we are experiencing, personally and collectively, is grief. But our grief literacy levels in this world are not great. I would say the wisdom I have to share is this: if you feel any level of what I'm describing here, please know you are not alone. This is the reaction humans are meant to have in the face of loss. We are meant to re-making meaning. We are meant to question. We are allowed to be creative in the face of grief. Being creative is more than artmaking or dancing. It is an approach to life. It is an approach to living in the face of loss and on-going humanness.

How does BPW benefit by having you as a member?

It struck me in the JDEI session that maybe talking about raising our grief literacy skills on a larger platform for women would be a beneficial thing to do for all of us. So many of us are carrying around the role of holding the grief for ourselves, our families, our workplaces. We need more support in doing that, in fortifying our grief literacy skills, in being with each other individually and collectively in grief support. It seemed maybe with your focus areas on advocacy as well as health and wellness, maybe there would be a good match here.

List any social media handles you'd like us to tag you with.

IG:

https://www.instagram.com/griefandcreativity/

https://www.instagram.com/creativegriefstudio/

Threads:

https://www.threads.net/@griefandcreativity https://www.threads.net/@creativegriefstudioLinkedIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/griefandcreativity/https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-grief-studio

FB:

https://www.facebook.com/CreativeGriefStudio

NFBPWC New Member Spotlight

Kemi Oyebade — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:05:00 GMT

BPW Pennsylvania

“I see myself as a positive and encouraging leader within the BPW organization because this is how I live in my everyday life.”

Dr. Twila Lee Wynn, Owner/Founder of Diamonds Women in Wisdom, is an Evangelical spiritual leader with a mission focused on bringing women closer to Jesus Christ.

She earned her Doctorate in Biblical Studies with the completion of Doctor of Theology, Ministry, and Divinity from the Signal of Light Bible Seminary and has served as Preacher / Associate Pastor and Family Service Counselor.

Dr. Wynn is an award-winning author of Good Morning! Have a Nice Day! She is also a radio host of the show: Diamonds Women in Wisdom Love~Support~Unity and may be breaking into television soon! In addition to preaching, motivational and inspirational speaking engagements, Dr. Twila recently won the Pennsylvania State Speak-Off Winner 2023-2024. She is the mother of three, grandmother of ten, great grandmother of six.

Dr. Twila is a talented and passionate woman and has been a BPW member for five years. She is currently serving as her Club’s president, and we are so happy she has joined the BPW National and International Sisterhood. Going forward, Dr. Twila is interested in furthering NFBPWC’s focus area on Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Meet BPW Member - Amanda Owen

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:30:00 GMT

A member of NFBPWC/PA since 2020, Amanda Owen is the co-founder of the Justice Bell Foundation (JBF) - a nonprofit dedicated to reclaiming women's history and promoting voter participation.

Amanda has written and directed a documentary, Finding Justice: The Untold Story of Women's Fight for the Vote, which premiered at the National Women’s History Museum on August 26, 2020. Finding Justice has aired on PBS (WQLN and WHYY) and for a number of institutions, organizations, and film festivals.

Watch the trailer:

In her role as the Executive Director of the Justice Bell Foundation, Amanda commissioned a public art project in partnership with the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, a replica Justice Bell that travels to institutions, museums, and organizations, to educate the public about this lost icon of the women's suffrage movement and the women who fought for voting rights. Amanda has also participated in creating a school program that introduces children to the story of the women's suffrage movement.

Amanda is the author of two books published by Penguin, 'The Power of Receiving: A Revolutionary Approach to Giving Yourself the Life You Want and Deserve' and 'Born to Receive: 7 Powerful Steps Women Can Take Today to Reclaim Their Half of the Universe'. Her work investigating and researching the benefits of receiving has earned her accolades from her peers and her seminars and workshops have helped thousands of people transform their lives.

Amanda is currently writing a book about the Justice Bell's role in the American women's suffrage movement.

A couple of questions for Amanda --

WHAT HAS BEING INVOLVED IN NFBPWC MEANT FOR YOUR CAREER?

I enjoy being in communication with women who are committed to advocating for women’s equality. My local affiliate members have been very supportive of my work on behalf of my nonprofit, the Justice Bell Foundation, and I am glad that the BPW programs give me the opportunity to engage in activities that support women.

WHAT'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION FOR OUR READERS?

You can learn about the work of the Justice Bell Foundation at https://www.justicebell.org/ and our newest program, OUR HISTORY PROJECT: https://www.ourhistoryproject.org/

OUR HISTORY PROJECT is a joint initiative of the Justice Bell Foundation, Wild West Women, Inc. and the National Women's History Alliance. Our goal is to create a central location with free resources to help families locate their ancestors, particularly those who fought for voting rights and for equality.

Wow, Go Amanda!

Meet BPW Member - Rebecca Ajibola

Thu, 26 May 2022 21:41:40 GMT

A member of the Virtual Club since April 2022, Rebecca Ajibola is the Founder & CEO of the Humanity & Health Foundation.

As a passionate public health social change agent, Rebecca founded the foundation with a mission to prevent disease, promote health and literacy among populations in the poor socio-economic environment.

Rebecca is versed in infectious and communicable disease, outbreak management, disease reporting and monitoring, data analysis, surveillance, statistical software applications, and mental health management.

A conversation with Rebecca:

Where do you attend school?

Walden University, United States
The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
College of Education, Nigeria
Queens School, (High School) Nigeria

What are your career and personal aspirations?

I want to be a motivator, restore lost hope, and aim to maximize the potential of those around me!

What brought you to this career path?

Personal loss, a quest for success and self fulfilment.

Can you tell us about an important life lesson you’ve learned so far?

Always perceive issues or stumbling blocks as a challenge and resolve to overcome it.

Is there a particular person who helped get you to where you are today?

Having lost my mother at a tender age, I cannot pin my success on a particular person. I have had many persons in my journey so far. Mentors, Teachers, and Managers, that held my hands, cheered me on, all have been instrumental in my progress. I am forever grateful for the building blocks they laid on my path.

How did you find BPW?

I found BPW through a discussion with a family member. I followed it up with a web search, and was impressed with what I was able to glean.

How can BPW help you on your career path?

My interest is in advocacy, mentoring and humanitarian efforts; with the ability to make a difference in the less privilege.

Welcome Rebecca! You can connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn!!

Meet BPW Member - Laurie Dameron

Sat, 07 May 2022 00:25:18 GMT

Laurie Dameron is a BPW/Boulder member since 2007. She is an award-winning musician who has been playing the guitar for nearly 50 years and singing even longer.

Between solo performances and performances with her band, Laurie D and the Blues Babes, this Billboard Magazine award recipient has performed for hundreds of venues in and out of Colorado over the past 25 years. A broad repertoire folk, blues, and jazz allows her to perform many different venues. She has produced three CDs and is currently working on fourth and fifth.

Laurie is a long time member of Colorado Music Business Association (1987) and has won numerous other songwriting contests including COMBO. She is also a member of Denver Musician's Association AFM Local 20-623 (Union).

Laurie is also an environmental activist and in 2012 started her project Spaceship Earth: What Can I Do? Multimedia Presentations to inspire folks to be better stewards to our beautiful planet Earth!

Her song “What Can I Do?” made it to the top ten finalists in the 2011 Tipperary World Peace Song Contest. She passed the first round of auditions for America’s Got Talent in Denver in December of 2013.

In 2015 Laurie was elected chair of Environmental and Sustainability Development (ESD) for BPW Colorado and is past chair for NFBPWC ESD Committee.

In 2017 she was awarded “Trailblazer Woman of the Year” at BPW Boulder’s biggest annual event Celebration of Women.

A couple of questions for Laurie --

What has being involved in NFBPWC meant for your career?

I originally joined BPW Boulder in 2007 to get my business on a more professional level by taking advantage of the networking and other events...which it did!

In 2014, my BPW colleague and mentor, Kathy Kelly, took me to coffee to tell me "Laurie, you're a lone wolf with your environmentalism and you need to get more involved with BPW."

I realized she was right and I started attending board meetings and learning so much about how our government works and about how legislation is created, dealt with and passed.

I now realize just how important my membership is to BPW and that as a citizen, how important it is to understand such structure and how extremely important it is to vote in every local and national election. And especially as a woman and fighting for social justice. And now more than ever!

In the summer of 2015, at our annual conference, I was elected as chair of Environmental and Sustainable Development Committee. Prior to that, BPW had never had such a committee. I guess I convinced them that none of these other issues will be important unless we get a handle on climate change.

BPW has also given me a platform to be heard on the important issues of climate change.

What's your Call to Action for our readers?

I believe what the EPA says:

“Over 40% of our greenhouse gases come from the way products are extracted, produced, transported, used, and even disposed of. Striving for Zero Waste is one of the quickest and easiest ways to address climate change and build healthy communities”

I also agree with Bill McKibben when he said: “We're under attack from climate change — and our only hope is to mobilize like we did in WWII.”

We all need to be fighting climate change every day.
Don’t allow your car to idle
Avoid using drive-throughs
Have a no-drive days every week
Shop and bank locally and divest from big banks that support oil and gas
Turn down the heat
Turn off lights when you leave a room
Minimize single-use plastics
Bring your own cup to your coffee shop
Use a reusable water bottle
Strive for zero waste.

Please share environmental posts when you see them on social media.

For more information: https://linktr.ee/LaurieD.

YOU ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION!

Meet Young BPW Member - Sabrina Chu

Sun, 01 May 2022 13:59:52 GMT

Sabrina Chu lives in San Gabriel, CA and is a member of East Los Angeles-Montebelllo. She is the current Development and Grants Manager at the Asian Youth Center, a community-based nonprofit organization that provides employment, educational, and social services to low-income, immigrant youth and families in the San Gabriel Valley.

A member of East Los Angeles-Montebello, Sabrina lives in San Gabriel. She is the current Development and Grants Manager at the Asian Youth Center, a community-based nonprofit organization that provides employment, educational, and social services to low-income, immigrant youth and families in the San Gabriel Valley.

With four years of nonprofit experience, she had her start at AYC in direct services as a bilingual tutor at their various K-8 After School programs on local campuses in Alhambra Unified School District and San Gabriel Unified School District. She became the Development Coordinator in 2019 and the Development Manager in 2020.

Q&A with Sabrina --

Where did you go to school?

I graduated in 2018 with a B.A. in Psychology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. I was a research assistant during my time at Cal Poly Pomona under the Asian American Transnational Research Initiative and was part of the 2018 Cohort of the iSchool Inclusion Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh.

What are your career aspirations?

I am currently the Development and Grants Manager at the Asian Youth Center. As someone who started in direct services, I appreciate working directly with the people and getting to know their stories and their needs. When I was working as a bilingual tutor with immigrant students and their families, I related deeply to their struggles, such as language barriers and lack of access to basic needs.

In 2019, I had the opportunity to move into Development and I have appreciated working from a macro level perspective in the organization. I have learned many skills through event planning, fundraising, campaign implementation, and grant writing. I recognize that I will always have something new to learn so I do not necessarily have an end goal for my career, but I would like to continue to work in a space where I can empower and be in solidarity with historically marginalized and disenfranchised communities. My next professional or career goal currently is to go to grad school for Social Work.

What brought you to this career path?

I started working at the Asian Youth Center in 2017 as a tutor. Although I had worked other jobs as well, working at AYC appealed to me at the time because it was a community-based non-profit. I wanted to be involved with the community that I live in and build power through creating relationships and solidarity. I was also working as a research assistant at my college at the time under the Asian American Transnational Research Initiative (AATRI), where I spend many hours developing research projects to better understand communities of color, as well as transcribed many interviews documenting the legislative movement through the 80's revolving the passing of the federal designation Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI).

This had been a piece of legislation that allowed colleges that had a certain percentage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to be designated as an AANAPISI (similar to other Minority Serving Institutions, like Hispanic Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities), which would then be eligible for capacity-building funds that allowed the college to create programs that would better serve its student population.

It was through this project that I learned more about the Model Minority Myth and about how important it is to disaggregate data on AAPI's in order to dispel that myth, instead of considering AAPI's as a monolithic population. Many Asian immigrant stories do not align with the idea that one "can pull up their bootstraps" because they are facing systematic struggles such as racism, xenophobia, lack of language access, and fleeing from imperialist wars as refugees.

It also deepened my understanding about the Asian American experience and how many stories have been untold and simultaneously helped contextualize my work at AYC. With a broader understanding of this, I've been able to integrate that into grant writing and working with immigrant communities.

Can you tell us about an important lesson you've learned in your career so far?

I think the most important lesson I've learned in my career is maintaining a work/life balance. I am consistently working on asking for help, learning to trust others and letting things go, as well as being patient and kind to myself.

Is there a particular person who helped get you to where you are today?

I would like to give a fair attribution of where I am today to Dr. Mary Danico at Cal Poly Pomona, who was my research professor, for giving me all the opportunities to learn and travel to broaden my horizons, to Dr. Kayla Booth and Dr. Elizabeth Eikey for all their work and dedication to the iSchool Inclusion Institute, and to Michelle Freridge, my Executive Director at AYC.

I try to practice as much gratitude as I can and honor those who have put all their labor and care into empowering folks like myself. I once gifted Michelle a really spicy ramen package for Christmas and she ate the whole packet without knowing how spicy it was! But she told me with such grace and humor. I appreciate and respect her openness to my ideas and decisions, on a professional and personal level.

How did you find BPW?

I was fortunate to have been nominated by my Executive Director and direct supervisor at the Asian Youth Center, Michelle Freridge, who is a member at East Los Angeles-Montebello BPW. The most memorable experience I've had, is that I delivered an emotional speech at the last Sierra Mar conference and all the members were so supportive of me.

How can the BPW club and its members help you on your career path?

I am open to collectively learning and struggle with others, so I would appreciate a space to be able to hear about other people's stories and connect with them on a human level. In my professional life, I would like to improve on my public speaking skills and also learn more about Public Policy or law. Currently, I am working on getting into grad school, so I would love any advice on good MSW or MPP programs out there.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-chu-417659140

Meet BPW Member - Marsha Riibner-Cady

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 15:35:51 GMT

Marsha Riibner-Cady joined the Virginia Dare BPW club in 2009, where she held the leadership roles of Corresponding Secretary then President for 2 years.

She was then elected as the BPW/NC State President – a position she held from 2015-2017. Today Marsha is the NFBPWC/NC State President and 2020-2022 Chair of the National Digital Training Committee.

A few questions for Marsha --

What HAS your career path lookED like, and where are you today?

I attended Drury College in Springfield, Missouri and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and minor in Chemistry. My career began in Baltimore, Maryland at The Johns Hopkins Hospital Blood Bank as a Medical Technologist. From there I sold laboratory equipment in Boston where I met and married Lyle Cady in 1989 on Grand Cayman, BWI. Mitchell and Roland were born which began my career as a stay-at-home mom. Then I moved onto various “mommy friendly jobs” and volunteering for the Boy Scouts. In 1999 I was named Boy Scout volunteer of the year for the Shenandoah Area Council.

Our family moved to Manteo, North Carolina in 2004. In 2006 I became the membership specialist for the Girl Scouts. I received several awards – including volunteer of the year for Manteo Middle School and NC Governors Medallion Award for managing volunteers. I also worked as the Director of the 5 After-School Enrichment Programs in our county and completed my certificate in Early Childhood Education.

COVID hit. In September 2020 I started my own business, Cady CPR Solutions, a CPR and First Aid Training company. I also serve on several “children associated” boards in Dare County, NC.

In my spare time I enjoy traveling to my cabin in West Virginia, seeing plays in New York City, walking our Rottweilers, Astoria and Indie and sometimes the grand puppy Annie (corgi). Lyle and I enjoy going to the movies on the weekend and I like to be outside doing yard work.

What has being involved in NFBPWC meant for your career?

I have always referred to NFBPWC as Big Girl, Girl Scouts. NFBPWC is a support system I had when I started my own business during a global pandemic. Without the support of the members, the Mentoring and Health Committees, I wouldn't have been able to do what I needed to do to get Cady CPR Solutions started.

In the process of starting my own business, I was introduced to a member who needed an administrative assistant. I am running my own business and I'm also helping someone else with their business! Women helping women succeed is what NFBPWC is all about.

What's your Call to Action for our readers?

I would like my BPW sisters to look at Cady CPR Solutions as your resource for CPR and First Aid training and AEDs. Visit my website for more information about my in-person and online training: www.cadycprsolutions.com.

Meet BPW Member – Dr. Jo Naylor

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 19:17:27 GMT

Dr. Jo Naylor is a NFBPWC Virtual Member who lives in Provo, Utah. She has worked as a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist for the past 23 years.

Jo is also the Owner of Joniqua's, a small business offering unique hand-crocheted scarves, hats, crafts, & earrings. Her product line is sold online and at the Provo Farmer's Market during the summer.

An active member since 2003, Jo has held several leadership positions: President of BPW/Corpus Christi (Texas), Foundation Scholarship Chair of BPW/North Carolina, and twice Secretary of BPW/North Carolina.

Jo enjoys collaborating and working with other business and professional members from all over the world.

A couple of questions for Jo --

What has being involved in NFBPWC meant for your career?

BPW has allowed me to gain the knowledge and confidence to present at local professional meetings, state conferences, and national conferences during my years with BPW. I have also been able to share my experiences and current events that impact women in my life.

WHAT's your Call to Action for our readers?

I would like for readers to help support me and the Koalas I support at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Australia by either donating directly or buying my products from www.joniquas.com (I send $1.00 per item sold at the end of the year).

Meet Young BPW Member - Emily VanVleck

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 01:46:29 GMT

Emily VanVleck is a member of the NFBPWC/NYC Chapter.

Emily was born and raised in Oregon and started her professional life working in a bank. She was promoted to management and was running her own branch within three years but had always wanted to travel. This led her to apply to American Airlines where she has been a flight attendant for seven years! She was first based in Texas where she spent three years before moving to New York City.

Emily loves going on adventures and traveling as much as she can. She really likes going to places with a lot of history and culture. The more off the beaten path the better! Emily loves trying new things and learning as much as possible.

Where do you attend school?

I attend CUNY City College of New York and am on track to graduate in May 2022. I am completing my bachelor’s degree in international studies with a double minor in human rights and public policy.

What are your career aspirations?

My dream is to work for the UN or an international NGO helping people and creating a more equitable world for all. My paths of study align with my ambitions, and I have done several internships related to these fields of interest. My first internship was with NFBPWC in the NYC chapter as the advocacy and UN intern. In this position, I was able to sit on an NGO Committee on Migration subcommittee gaining relevant experience. I have also been a special committee member for the Afghan Women Project with NFBPWC which has allowed me to be a part of devising and implementing a large scale project in line with my career goals. Apart from BPW, I have participated in the ETR Women’s Public Service program where I was placed in a New York State Assembly member’s office and learned more about public service and policy formulation. I also volunteer in my spare time with READ718 as a literacy tutor helping to bridge literacy gaps for children from low-income families.

What brought you to this career path?

I am an extremely empathetic person and have always had a strong desire to help others. When I returned to college, I knew I wanted to help people. I considered a career in social work but felt it would be too emotionally tolling. Instead of helping people after bad things happened to them, I want to fix the broken systems that fail people to begin with. When I started to learn more about the UN and the work it does to make a more equitable world and promote human rights, I was inspired to one day work there.

Can you tell us about an important lesson you've learned in your career so far?

Flexibility and adaptivity are paramount! Life is always changing and willingness to adapt to new things will take you so far, the pandemic is a prime example of this.

Is there a particular person who helped get you to where you are today?

There are numerous people who have helped me get where I am today. The first person who started me on my path was a stranger who, based on my customer service skills at the Subway sandwich shop I worked at, offered me my job at US Bank, kickstarting my professional career. Without that initial push, I have no idea if I’d have the ambition to take the risks I have.

When I got my job as a flight attendant, my friends and family were extremely supportive. I was afraid to leave my home in Oregon along with everything and everyone I knew. My best friend gave me the encouragement I needed to move to Texas and take on the unknown.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit and my career was in jeopardy, my partner gave me unwavering support as I returned to school. I could not have done it without his help. Since I have become a member of NFBPWC, each member I have interacted with has also helped me get to where I am. Especially NYC president Nermin Ahmad, NYC secretary Voyka Soto, and my fellow intern and friend Djenabou Bah. Each of these ladies pushes me to be my best self and I am incredibly grateful for them.

How did you find BPW? Tell us about one memorable experience you've had with the club so far!

I found BPW through an internship at my college. I was selected for the Edward Koch Public Service Fellowship in summer 2021. NFBPWC/NYC was listed as a partner organization through the fellowship and I was interested in the UN/advocacy role available. My internship ended in August, but I am thrilled to continue as a student member.

The most memorable experience I’ve had with the club so far is being a part of the Afghan Women Project. My desire to help people is what motivated me to return to college, and I feel that is exactly what the Afghan Women Project is accomplishing.

How can the BPW club and its members help you on your career path? What do you wish we knew about you and your pursuits?

I would love to be more involved in our work with the UN!

Would you like to share how you have evolved since Covid-19 disrupted 'normal' business life?

My life was changed drastically by Covid-19! Before the pandemic I was comfortable in my career as a flight attendant. I sometimes struggled with feeling as though my work was not particularly fulfilling but didn’t do much to change that. When the pandemic hit, it upended my career. I knew I was going to be furloughed so I took the opportunity to make some big life changes. I decided to return to school and finish my bachelor’s degree and try to find a career that brought me more fulfillment. I went from being a career flight attendant to a mature student returning to college. It has been an immense change, but I am so grateful for it. I am now back to flying and trying to balance my flight attendant career with the new opportunities.

Connect with Emily on:

Meet Young BPW member - Djenabou Bah

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 20:57:48 GMT

Djenabou Bah was born and raised in Ivory Coast but her parents come from Guinea, Conakry, both counties in west Africa. She is a native French speaker and loves outdoor activities and adventures that do not involve heights! She likes tourism because it gives her the possibility to travel around the world to learn more about other cultures, meet new people and taste homemade food which allows her to try new recipes. She loves cooking!

Djenabou also likes spending her free time volunteering for food pantries, soup kitchens, Food Banks and other organizations that help people like Habitat for Humanity. She is interested in working with non-government organizations that are concerned with social issues especially poverty, unemployment, women's issues and quality education.

What is the name of your BPW Club?

I am member of the NFBPWC/NYC Chapter. I live in NY City in Manhattan precisely in Harlem.

Where do you attend school? What are you studying?

I have a degree in Tourism Management from "L’Ecole Supérieure du Tourisme et de l’Hôtellerie (ESTH)" in my country Guinea before coming to the US in 2017 to study. I first attended the CUNY Borough of Manhattan community college (BMCC) where I got my associate degree in Liberal Arts. Then I transferred to CUNY City College of New York (CCNY) where I am doing my bachelor's degree in International Studies with a concentration in Development and a minor in Community Change Studies.

What are your career aspirations?

I want to create a non-government organization (NGO) that will focus on development and tackle social issues such as quality education, unemployment, women's issues and developing the tourism sector of my country.

I want to find a way to engage the national government to invest in its tourism sector, invite shareholders and partners to the country, and facilitate excursions for the country to become a world-class tourist destination both in Africa and in the world. This will not only boost Guinea’s economy, but also create several job opportunities for the populations.

My current objective is to obtain a position within a non-government or international organization that will fully utilize my skills and offer me an opportunity for continued professional growth.

I aspire to work with international with UNDP, UNICEF and USAID and also non-profit organizations that have the task of achieving sustainable economic growth and human development. I am doing all my best to make this happen by participating in many programs that have influenced my development by providing me with opportunities to develop my advocacy skill and learn how to identify and access key city, state, and federal government stakeholders.

School programs such as the CUNY USS (University Student Senate) and the CUNY Malave Leadership Academy program I have lobbied in Albany and Washington DC for CUNY students. I have participated in service projects that address issues important to The City University of New York (CUNY).

This has helped me develop leadership values and skills through experiential civic engagement, advocacy activities, and leadership competency training.

I have learned how to be an effective leader both within CUNY and in my community.

I am also making sure to do as many internships as possible before I finish my studies. Among them is the CUNY Women’s Public Service Internship Program which is coordinated by Edward T. Rogowsky Internship Program in Government & Public Affairs -- which provide students the opportunity to learn by doing in the offices of selected legislators working to benefit women and promote women’s issues in New York.

As I also want to know how the organizations I want to work with attain their goals. That is why I joined the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (NFBPWC) as an intern as its' mission is to " develop the professional, business, and leadership potential of women." NFBPWC works to empower women through education, advocacy, mentoring, networking, skill-building, and economic empowerment programs and projects. This is a perfect organization to work with as I will have the opportunity to learn those things while interning.

What brought you to this career path?

I am passionate about anything related to international development. That includes tourism because it can be a tool for developing a country especially if that country has the criteria necessary which Guinea has. Guinea has a varied tourist and cultural potential. Its biological diversity conceals appreciable aesthetic values, diverse and varied natural beauties composed of natural parks and aquariums, thermal springs, specific animal species and mountain ranges with numerous rivers, wide coastal beaches with dense forest, the foothills of the Fouta Djallon and the vast plains drained by the Niger river and its tributaries. The country has a seafront of 300 km and a continental shelf of 56,000 km2 among the largest in West Africa extending up to 80 nautical miles from the coast.

Unfortunately, this is not known to the rest of the world. So, I want to be able to participate in developing this sector in my country. Access to quality education, lack of job opportunities and women's issues is something my country is struggling with. So, I feel obligated to help find solutions to those problems.

Can you tell us about an important lesson you've learned in your career so far?

One of the things I learned and am still trying to apply is that: if you do not show your work and achievements or talk about them, you will not be seen or recognized. From where I come from, that would have been considered bragging about yourself. But here making sure that everyone knows the good work you are doing or did is putting yourself in front of the podium which can open a lot of doors for you.
Another thing I also learned, whatever career you are pursuing, make sure to get enough experiences and skills as it sets you up to the game and gives you more change and opportunities. So, for someone that is still in school, I will suggest doing as many internships as possible, attend workshops and do some training and participate in projects and also learn a second language if possible before entering the job market.

Is there a particular person who helped get you to where you are today?

There has not been only one person that helped me get to where I am today and I could spend a whole day sharing stories about them.

My family, especially my mom and dad have always supported me and made everything possible for me to get an education even though they did not get a chance to have one.
My friends from both my country or here have also played a role by supporting and encouraging me as much as they could.
Also, faculty and staff from both my schools, the Borough of Manhattan Community College and City College of New York have played a significant role by providing me with learning material and opportunities from both in school and outside school for my professional growth and personal development.
Members from the NFBPWC have also helped by not only mentoring me but also providing me the tools necessary for my future career. I am so grateful and feel blessed to have crossed paths with all these amazing people.

How did you find BPW? What is one memorable experience you've had with the Club so far?

I found out about BPW through the City College Edward I. Koch Fellowship in Public Service for Summer 2021. Deborah Cheng, the Director of Fellowships and Public Service Partnerships introduced me to the Club which was in their partner list for the summer internship which I was more than happy to join after learning about what the NFBPWC/NYC does.

Every day spent with this Club and its members, especially Nermin Ahmad the President of the Club and Voyka Soto the Secretary, who I have been working closely with during my internship is a memorable experience for me. I am so amazed about those women's dedication and passion about what they are doing and also about the knowledge and experience they have.

Another experience is tied to our Afghan Women Project. Even though our internships have come to an end, my friend Emily VanVleck, another hard-working person who I have come to have a strong relation with and have continued as student members of the Club and have been instrumental in developing the Afghan Women Project. Our President fully supports us, and the National President, Megan Shellman-Rickard has made it a priority project for the national organization. This project aims to assist displaced Afghan women and girls arriving as they adapt to life in the US.

We aim to make the transition smoother and reduce some of the shell shocks that come with sudden migrating to a new country. We have a multi-dimensional project for assisting these women. This includes

a guidebook for ease of adaptation to ‘American life’,
a robust mentoring program,
an advocacy campaign, and
resource gathering.

Many of the fleeing refugees could only bring with them what they were wearing. We have found that there is an urgent need to assist them with new goods such as undergarments and gently used clothing, particularly head coverings such as large scarves. Our organization has already started a restrictive clothing drive for these items which are delivered to the women on the military base where they are being processed. Emily and I have also reached out to our school for assistance in this project which was very welcome and supported by dean Andrew Rich and his staff who are doing their best to assist us.

I can not express enough how happy and grateful to be part of this amazing project. I have always wanted to work on such a big project and now I am part of it, I will do my best for its success. This is an experience I am not going to forget.

How can the BPW Club and its members help you on your career path? What do you wish we knew about you and your pursuits?

BPW is already equipping me with practical skills, experiences and knowledge which will increase my self-confidence. I joined the Club in the Grant Development and Management position. I was tasked to:

Identify suitable grant opportunities for the Club and those to engage in for advocacy
Assist with relevant topic research
Assist with grant applications and grant writing
Coordinate and follow-up with grant partners and participants
Generate and analyze reports and make general presentations of information.

I did not know much about grants before joining the Club but I have learned so much about it now and am still continuing learning. I know for sure this will set me up for jobs in development and fundraising which all nonprofits have to engage in.

I am more than happy with this internship as I am not only learning more about non-profits work but also help the Club fulfill its mission to “develop the professional, business and leadership potential of women at all levels, advocate and to strive toward equal participation of women and men in power and decision-making roles.”

This is also exposing me to a broader professional network where I can get to know people who may be or have been in similar situations as me or have continued to advance in their career and can help me take that next step toward where I want to be. I truly believe that I will fulfill my potential by working with the Club.

Would you like to share how you have evolved since Covid-19 disrupted 'normal' business life?

Before Covid-19, I hated online classes, remote learning or virtual meetings and was always avoiding them. I like human interaction, so, I tend to be bored, lose focus and concentration virtually. However, this has changed in some way since I started taking remote classes due to the pandemic. It was either I took those classes remotely or wait until school started in person which was not clear. I did not want to waste my time, so I tried.

At the beginning, I really struggled, especially with classes with longer hours. But, education is something I have learned to value since I was young. I know and believe in the importance of earning a college degree through hard work and dedication. I finally got used to it and even found that it has some advantages for me. I was able to:

Save money for my monthly MetroCard for transportation,
Cook more often than to buy food outside which I did not even like,
Finish my classes and go to my work without leaving my room since my job also moved remotely,
Intern with organizations and companies, attend workshops and other programs which would have required me to travel long distances and in other cities,
Learn more about computer skills and be familiar with many computer programs and software.

I am happy to have experienced it as I learned a lot and saved money and time. However, as I said, I like interacting with people. So, I can not wait for things to get back to how it was.

Connect with Djenabou!

Anything else you'd like to share?

In regard to the Afghan Women Project, we are looking for immigrants to interview for our guidebook, all names will remain anonymous.

If you want to share your Experience Settling into the American Way of Life: click here for a Google Doc.
If you are interested in assisting with this project, please fill out this quick survey.
Contribute to our direct fundraising campaign for displaced Afghan women in the United States. We will be purchasing and providing new undergarments (panties, bras, socks) that are modest. DONATE HERE
Email the leaders of this Special Committee at AfghanWomen@nfbpwc.org. Let us know how you can support us with these goals in mind.

Meet Young BPW member - Lisette Torres

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 14:36:03 GMT

Meet Lisette Torres

Lisette is a SoCal native. She loves nature especially going on hiking trails by the ocean and being with her rescue German Shepherd, Mia. When she’s not studying for school or the LSAT, she enjoys physical activities which include weight-lifting or figure skating.

What is the name of your BPW club?

BPW Hollywood, California

Where do you attend school?

I'm currently enrolled in California State University, Los Angeles pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in Global Politics.

What are your career aspirations?

My current career aspirations revolve around helping others. I'm actively pursuing higher education to obtain my Juris Doctorate after I receive my Bachelor's Degree. I do wish to partake in law as an attorney for a few years then transitioning to work alongside non-profit organizations such as UNICEF.

What brought you to this career path?

As a child, I wanted to choose many different career paths such as a writer, geologist, scientist, teacher, etc. My career goals weren't given by the Oracle of Delphi, but rather something that came to me naturally. I knew I wanted to give a voice to others. I wanted others to know that they can come to me with concerns and we would be able to find solutions.

Can you tell us about an important lesson you've learned in your career so far?

An important lesson that I've learned in my career and semi-short life is: manage your expectations on yourself and on others. Often times, people give 110% every day they step outside the door which cause others to place overwhelmingly high expectations on them. We're human - we make mistakes. Don't beat yourself up for it and do not allow others to do the same.

Is there a particular person who helped get you to where you are today?

My dad has been my best friend since the moment I took a breath of air in this world. My dad has been my angel and my light. There was a stressful time in my final year of community college, and I could not understand the material, my dad took notice and had gone to the market for groceries. When he returned, he placed my favorite flowers on the table and said, "Things take time to grow, don't rush the process."

How did you find BPW?

I was introduced to BPW Hollywood through an established member. A memorable experience with the club has been when I was able to finally meet President of BPW Hollywood Marjory Hopper at a Sunset Valley District Meeting in Burbank!

Meet Young BPW member - Carmen Vincent!

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 21:12:34 GMT

Carmen Vincent -- a member of BPW Virtual, Chesterton, IN

Carmen Vincent is a passionate freelance editor and documentary filmmaker from Northwest Indiana. She produces and edits all kinds of content including documentary and narrative films, commercial videos, promotional videos, educational content, compilations, fundraising campaign videos, social media videos, and more.

Along with freelance video editing, Carmen directs, produces, shoots, and edits documentary films that tell raw, often misunderstood stories to amplify and validate people’s experiences because she believes we all deserve to feel understood in our own skin. She uses her personal experience with invisible disability to help inform her storytelling.

Currently, Carmen is in the production phase of a documentary titled “Teacher of Patience,” about a small-town Indiana family’s effort to educate their community, especially first responders, about how to interact with individuals with Down syndrome. You can learn more at www.teacherofpatience.com.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media from Valparaiso University and participates in numerous professional organizations such as FWD-Doc, D-Word, Women in Media, IDA, and others. Carmen is a Nikon Storytellers Scholar, a participant in Adobe's Creator Camp, and a proud recipient of the Best International Director award at the Georgia Documentary Film Festival.

You can view her work at www.carmenvincent.com.

Where did you attend school?

I graduated from Valparaiso University in May 2020 with a B.A. in Digital Media.

What are your career aspirations? What are you doing today to make them happen?

My ultimate goal is to own and run a documentary production company and employ fellow artists with disabilities to help me tell stories about individuals and topics that are often misunderstood.

Right now, I'm focused on learning as much as I can about my craft and my industry, fostering meaningful connections, and making content that I'm proud of so I can lay foundations for that company down the line.

While I always thought I'd head to Los Angeles right away, I've found great joy in helping cultivate the filmmaking community here in Northwest Indiana. It's definitely a challenge, but I see great value in planting roots here so someday I can help create opportunities for other filmmakers from the Midwest who can't afford to live in New York, Los Angeles, or even Chicago. There are stories in Indiana that need to be told, too! Yes, even in the midst of cornfields. :)

What brought you to this career path?

I originally wanted to write for sitcoms, as I'm a lover of comedy (and I secretly harbor a dream to one day be a comedian, but that will probably stay a distant dream). I also wanted to direct narrative films that include underrepresented voices in front of and behind the camera.

I decided to get a degree in Digital Media so I could learn all aspects of the content creation process and be able to do my own website, design my own graphics and marketing materials, and film and edit my own videos and short films. Essentially, I wanted to learn a little bit of everything so I could be a better director and writer.

During my freshman year, I earned a spot on a two-week video internship that took place in Bethlehem, Palestine. There, I witnessed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with my own eyes, untouched by media bias, and I was so deeply moved. I had a breakthrough moment where I realized that there were real stories that needed to be told. As soon as I got back to the States, I made my first short documentary about a young man's gender transition story and, since then, I've found my purpose in documentary filmmaking.

To me, there's nothing more empowering than capturing someone's real story and shaping it to impact an audience. I love every part of it, from filming, to directing, to producing, to editing. I love how flexible it is – you can make a documentary anywhere. I love how collaborative it is – you can craft a crew that has just as much passion for the subject as you do. Finally, I love the impact it can have, on the audience, on the subject, and on me. I can't tell you how much I've changed as a human being because of each film I've made and seeing the look on people's faces when they watch themselves on screen telling their story is priceless. And the process never ends when the film is "done," there are impact campaigns, screenings, discussions, and more for years later. I really appreciate that opportunity to immortalize a story by enriching our communities with it.

Can you tell us about an important lesson you've learned in your career so far?

I learned that it's NORMAL to feel imposter syndrome. Like, completely normal. And people decades into their careers feel it, too. Like, what??? This blew me away and, the more I asked people about it, the more I was met with mutual feelings and experiences of questioning oneself and one’s own abilities. It's kind of amazing that most of us feel this way at one point or another.

For someone with OCD, it's hard to accept that I can't be perfect all the time (or ever, for that matter). However, knowing that we all feel like an imposter at some point in our lives has taught me to acknowledge those feelings as valid, but not let them overpower the ambition I have.

Is there a particular person who helped get you to where you are today?

So. Many. People! It's hard to name just one, but this seems like an appropriate time to highlight a particular BPW member who has impacted my career. Ashley Maria originally inspired me with her film, Pioneers in Skirts. Pioneers in Skirts inspired me to stop questioning myself and finally believe in my abilities, my work ethic, and my dreams. Since then, Ashley has served as a mentor for me, providing me with opportunities to sharpen my craft, introducing me to a valuable network, and encouraging me to just do it!

How did you find BPW? What is one memorable experience you've had with the club so far?

I found BPW through the wonderful Ashley Maria! She was kind enough to bring me to help out with the BPW NGO CSW65 Pioneers in Skirts event for the United Nations. There, I got to meet BPW trailblazers who graciously invited me into the BPW community! That United Nations event was definitely a memorable experience. It was so cool seeing people engage with the film and collaborate to create real change in our communities.

How can the BPW club and its members help you on your career path? What do you wish we knew?

I'm so grateful for the BPW club network and all the resources it offers. I'm currently working on a documentary called “Teacher of Patience” about a small-town Indiana family's effort to educate first responders and the wider community about Down syndrome and disability at large. While I am 95% done with production and heading into post-production, I am still raising money to make it all happen.

I'm looking to foster some mutually beneficial sponsorship relationships among businesses, foundations, and organizations. Sponsors would help us finish the film and execute the impact campaign and, in return, we would offer meaningful exposure and other perks. It would be an honor to include BPW club businesses, foundations, and organizations in that pursuit. Please reach out to me if you'd like to get involved!

Learn more about the film and view a six-minute sample: www.teacherofpatience.com

Reach out: carmenvincentfilms@gmail.com

Would you like to share contact information?

View my work and collaborate with me: www.carmenvincent.com, Check out my latest documentary-in-progress: www.teacherofpatience.com!

My Dream World: Through My Eyes as an NFBPWC Intern

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 17:41:05 GMT

My "dream world" can exist. It must. I want to live in a world where being a woman doesn’t create threats and where I don’t have to prove I have the same rights as my male peers. Interning at NFBPWC has helped me discover the ways in which the world I dream of is possible and the dedicated women of NFBPWC are working to make it happen. I’m right in the middle of it, working with the leadership team of the organization advocating for women. I hope to use my voice in the issues surrounding violence against women and the Equal Rights Amendment.

Women in this country face violence every day.

One out of every five women in the US will be raped in their lifetime (NCADV), one out of every three women have faced some form of physical violence from their partners (this includes slapping, shoving, etc.) (NCADV), and every year 2,000 women are killed by men (Davidson, 2021). I don’t share those statistics to scare you, I share them to illustrate the threat of violence that women face every day.

The oppression that violence against women creates is felt by many women in our country. I felt it when my mom bought me pepper spray before starting college. I feel it when I get worried about my roommates when they’ve been gone on a date for too long. We all shared our locations with each other on our phones just in case something happens. I feel it when I notice that someone has been following me around the store for a little longer than could be considered a coincidence. This discomfort is heightened when news stories about women being targeted for assault and crime are shared. It is felt by every woman when another “here are the latest tactics that are being used to harm women” post makes rounds on the internet.

None of this is to say I live my life in fear, just in a heightened state of awareness my male peers don’t. All women know the consequences of being a woman, especially those in violent relationships. We can never be too careful because it seems like every day there is another tragic story about a woman who was beaten or killed by their partner. This kind of violence, both the threat and acts of violence, is something that I want to see changed. I want to live in a world where my womanhood doesn’t put a target on my back.

In addition to wanting to be free from the threat of violence, I want to live in a world where the ERA is an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Because there is currently no Constitutional backing for the rights that women currently have, a lot of our rights could be overturned with a simple majority vote in Congress or judges that rule against precedent (Equal Rights Amendment). The ongoing efforts to ban abortion show how fragile our rights really are. I shouldn’t have to prove that I have the same rights as men.

Having a Constitutional amendment affirming that men and women are equal is long overdue and would help continue our fight for equality by providing an unquestionable legal backing to our efforts. I want the ERA to be ratified so that there are legal protections for every woman. Until every woman in this country is equal with men and has legal protections there is still work to do.

Interning at NFBPWC is helping me make the world I dream of a reality.

I'm learning the ins and outs of running a non-profit that advocates for women through my work with the executive committee. I’m developing my voice in ways that I never knew were possible. The connections that I am building and the skills I am gaining will allow me to become an even better advocate for women’s rights and empower the women around me to the best of my ability. My BPW internship is helping me make my dream world with equal rights for women and freedom from violence a reality.

About the Author: Bryn Norrie

Bryn Norrie is a student at the University of Colorado Boulder pursuing a degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology and a certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. She has been on the Dean’s List at CU Boulder for the past four semesters and has a cumulative GPA of 3.93. She will be graduating in May of 2023. Outside of academics, she is an active member of the CU Swim and Dive Club, the Socioeconomic Justice Society Club. In her free time, she also volunteers at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and the CU Restorative Justice Center. She is currently living in Boulder, CO but comes from an Army family so home changes most summers. Being outside and with her friends are her favorite things to do, most weekends she can be found hiking, skiing, or playing volleyball in her backyard.

Works Cited

Davidson, Caroline. “Now Should We Speak Femicide?” Ms. Magazine, 15 June 2021,

msmagazine.com/2021/06/15/femicide-women-murder-usa-biden-violence-against-women/.

NCADV. “NCADV: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.” The Nation's Leading Grassroots Voice on Domestic Violence, www.ncadv.org/statistics.

Equal Rights Amendment. “Why We Need the Equal Rights Amendment.” Equal Rights Amendment, www.equalrightsamendment.org/why.

The Making of an Activist: What My NFBPWC Internship Taught Me

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:29:48 GMT

It’s Summer 2021 and I’m interning at the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs with their Advocacy Committee. I’ve been tasked with finding relevant content for NFBPWC social media channels; content that speaks to the membership and to an audience who is versed in the challenges of being a woman. The organization is historic. Founded in 1919, NFBPWC represents women in professional roles. I’m working hard to find my place here.

I sit in the darkness of my room, with only the glow of my laptop, searching for content, scrolling through an endless column of articles, blogs, and news sites looking for news. I find multitudes of feeds broadcasting the same things around women’s rights, diversity, equity, inclusion, unequal pay, unequal treatment in the workplace, LGBTQ+ women’s struggles, etc.

The truth is, as both a woman and a minority, I feel like I should have been already well-versed in these topics.

Through my internship at the NFBPWC, I’ve become more aware of my surroundings and more importantly, how I am represented and perceived in our society as a woman.

The ideas of unconscious bias and the disproportionate amount of sexual violence that women experience resonates with me most of all. I first heard of unconscious bias in a psychology class in high school. It was only until the last few years that I realized my gender would also be held under the same scrutiny as my race. Some may know this as intersectionality.

Unconscious gender bias in a professional environment places a “double bind” (or two irreconcilable demands of bias) bias on women.

Under societal standards, women are expected to be demure, non-confrontational, a follower -- none of which are qualities of a leader. If I conform to these standards, that puts me at a disadvantage when seeking leadership roles. On the other hand, if I break out of these stereotypes and am assertive and confident, I will be deemed too “bossy” to be effective, or too “emotional” to contribute positively as a leader.

This bias begins to foster in childhood, when boys playing rowdily have the excuse, “boys will be boys,” while girls are supposed to “mature faster than boys,” and thus, are held to a higher standard when their behavior is under judgement. Ironically, I have never heard anyone finish the latter, saying, “girls mature faster than boys, so boys should look to girls as examples of leadership and maturity.”

Personally, whenever I had a leadership position in high school, regardless of my expertise, in every meeting, game, race, group chat, or general conversation, my male peers would always be approached first to speak. Sometimes, my male teammates were assumed to be the team captain by default.

These biases are deep-rooted, but they must be addressed, because there is no gender in the way one acts - there’s no “male” confidence and “female” meekness - there are only people, and every person should be viewed an individual.

In addition to gender bias, the sheer amount of sexual violence on the daily news is enough to make me walk home at night with my keys pointing out of my closed fist for protection. Many mothers tell their daughters to dress modestly, so as to not “ask for it.”

As a child, my mother would tell me to never walk alone at night, to wear shapeless clothing, and to not trust strange men -- “more often than not, they will try to hurt you,” she said, “and there’s nothing you can do about it.” I’ve learned about rape culture: an environment where social attitudes underplay, and sometimes even encourage, sexual violence.

The way society struggles to perceive women as both sexual and respected is a dichotomy. Victim blaming stems from our cultural views of female sexuality. “What were you wearing?” is a common question asked to victims of sexual violence once they choose to speak out.

Our culture’s taboo on women wearing revealing clothing forces them to take partial blame when they are sexually assaulted -- a woman who dares to transgress the boundaries of societal expectations is deserving of violence, it seems. Thus, many, many women who have experienced sexual violence are reluctant to speak out.

I read an article about a college student who polled her campus to gauge the amount of people who were either a victim of sexual violence, or knew someone who was. Nearly every one said yes -- a shocking 11,500 respondents, at that.

The issue of sexual violence is more than an issue of sex -- it poses the question of what our society values, how we treat and perceive women and sex, and what we can do to prevent future crimes against women.

This NFBPWC internship has been providing me with the knowledge and awareness of the world around me, and I hope to use it in both advocating for change and helping women speak up with their stories. As much as representing allows me to tell others’ stories and spark change, I believe that encouraging others to tell their own stories is a thousand times more impactful. I would like to do more than advocate for women who are victims of our societal issues -- I want to be part of the solution by working to prevent these issues from continuously occurring and creating more harm.

I aspire to push from the back, rather than pulling from the front -- as both an activist, feminist, and an advocate.

About the Author - Anissa Yip

Anissa Yip is a student majoring in Political Science at the University of Colorado at Denver. She plans to become a criminal justice lawyer. Anissa is excited to be an intern for the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, as she has been interested in advocacy and activism since elementary school. She wants to continue these efforts throughout her life.

Currently, she is working on filming and directing an advocacy video on the topic of Immigration and the Immigrant Experience. She is a person from an immigrant household, and is highly passionate about the topics of inclusion and diversity in all aspects of life.

Outside of advocacy work and school, she enjoys drawing, painting, crocheting, and walking her dog. Her favorite things to draw are animals, and she frequently does commissions for peoples’ pets and other things they love.

Anissa volunteers at an Adaptive Swim Program in Littleton, where she swims every Saturday with many unique children with disabilities. On campus, she works as a Wellness Associate who stocks and helps students in the Food Pantry. There, she also gives presentations on alcohol remediation and cannabis awareness to educate students on risk management for both.

She plays ultimate frisbee and was a captain of her team in high school, and hopes to find a similar leadership role in college. Theater and the arts are also some of her passions -- one of her goals is to attend a Broadway musical someday.

Anissa has a cumulative GPA of 3.762 and is minoring in Leadership Studies.

Meet Young BPW Member - Lusine Aleksanian

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 16:37:00 GMT

NFBPWC Young BPW turns the spotlight on members who are making an impact in their profession. Featured members exemplify the mission of the BPW of uniting and advocating for women everywhere.

Located in Hollywood, California, Lusine is a member of the BPW Hollywood Chapter. Lusine is currently applying to medical school in pursuit of a career in medicine while working at an integrative mental health outpatient center. She also loves to journal and sketch in her spare time, and she advocates for ending animal cruelty and saving the environment.

Tell us about yourself!

Born and raised in Los Angeles, I come from a family of two ethnic backgrounds; my father is from Armenia and my mother is from Guatemala. I am the middle child of 3 siblings and have 2 beautiful dogs. I have been working at an integrative mental health outpatient center, as a Neurofeedback Technician and have currently been part of the team for 3 years. My commitment to the team is fueled by the passionate individuals I work with who collectively prioritize trust, care and compassion. I love to journal and sketch during my spare time. I am also an advocate for ending animal cruelty and saving the environment.

Where did you attend school?

I attended an Armenian Christian school for my primary and secondary school years, during which I grew a deep connection with my Armenian heritage. I furthered my education and earned my bachelors degree in Psychology from UC, Irvine. With each psychology course, my interest in the relationship between one’s body, brain, and mind immensely grew, therefore I decided to pursue a career in medicine. I am currently applying to medical school to pursue a medical degree.

What are your career aspirations?

My goal is to pursue a career in neuropsychiatry by practicing the disciplines of psychiatry and neurology. On a larger scale, I'd like to be an effective health advocate by integrating social factors of health into patient care. I strive to educate, empower, and provide individuals a mechanism for coming out of a state of despair and dependency.

What brought you to this career path?

The unpredictability of my ethnic background coincides with unpredictability of my choice to pursue a career as a medical doctor. I am a non-traditional prospective medical student, and this basically means that I did not always want to be a medical doctor. Actually, when I was 10, I really wanted to be a biologist. However, my experiences and a specific neuroscience course I took as an undergraduate was truly why I have a strong passion to study medicine. So far, my education has provided me with the fundamentals of psychology and I've learned the importance of the body & brain relationship. However, this same experience has motivated me to further my education and expand my knowledge in understanding the scientific roots of the human brain. I believe choosing a career path in the field of medicine allows an individual to use the most complex organ in the universe, our brain, to its fullest potential with the benefit of significantly improving the quality of human life.

Can you tell us about an important lesson you've learned in your career so far?

By nature, I always aim to increase my knowledge and skills through opportunities. The clinical experience I've gained so far has helped me acquire valuable life skills and lessons. I've learned that with grit, humility & trust you can succeed in all aspects of your personal and professional life. I still have more to learn as I embark on my journey to medical school, but the skills that I've acquired so far has helped me achieve and move closer to my own goals every day.

Is there a particular person who helped get you to where you are today?

Both of my parents gave me the opportunity and freedom to choose my own career path. For this I am very blessed and grateful. I specifically remember a moment during my undergraduate years when I felt lost because students around me already chose their career path while I was still undecided. I spoke with my father about my thoughts and concerns with precious time being waste and being unsure of my future career choices. His response to me was - "It is never a waste of time, when you are deciding on what you want to do for the rest of your life." It was then when I realized that my goal was not to choose a career, but instead my goal was to become a medical doctor, and this meant no amount of time I put into achieving this goal should be considered a waste. These words were very comforting and continue to motivate me to pursue my passion.

How did you find BPW?

I first discovered BPW from an established BPW member. From the moment I joined this organization, I have met the most inspiring group of women that have empowered me in all aspects of my life both professional and personal. They've really expanded my knowledge in understanding the mission to achieve equity for all women in the workforce through advocacy, education, and information. There have been several memorable experiences however if I had to choose, it would be celebrating Hollywood BPW's 100th anniversary via zoom. It was an honor to gather with fellow BPW members via zoom and spend an evening recognizing the achievements and accomplishments of past and current members throughout the years. I find it especially rewarding to hear the one-of-a-kind stories in each member’s life, because each person’s unique qualities intrigue me.

How can the BPW club and its members help you on your career path? What do you wish we knew?

To continue to empower one another and to always remember that TOGETHER we can achieve more.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

During the pandemic I joined LA COVID-19 Volunteers at UCLA assisting in Personal Protective Equipment assembly and constructing Face Shields for doctors all across the country during time of shortage.

You can connect with Lusine on

Meet BPW Member - Keri Hess

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 12:49:07 GMT

NFBPWC Young BPW turns the spotlight on members who are making an impact in their profession. Featured members exemplify the mission of the BPW of uniting and advocating for women everywhere.

A member of BPW/Downtown Sacramento and BPW/California, Keri grew up in Massachusetts, 26.2 mi from Boston, the start of the Boston Marathon! She moved back to California when she was 17, went to Sacramento State University and received a B.S. in Health Science, minoring in Biology.

Keri’s first job after undergrad was with a county health department where she worked on tobacco and smoke-free policies for local jurisdictions and on motor vehicle and car seat safety. She became certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician and went on to start the first Car Seat Recycling Program in Northern California (yes, car seats expire!).

This program is still operating today even after Keri left the county upon receiving her Master's in Public Health from University of New England and moving on. At present, she works for a non-profit, Health Education Council, where they seek to cultivate health and wellbeing in underserved communities.

Keri continues to work on tobacco and smoke-free policy at a regional level, serving Latino Communities in 14 counties in Northern California, and she volunteers with her local Safe Kids Coalition to continue to keep kiddos in our community safe in their car seats.

Where did you attend school?

Sacramento State University, B.S. Health Sciences, Minor Biology, University of New England, Master's in Public Health

What are your career aspirations?

I want to continue to create a healthier environment for communities as a whole.

What brought you to this career path?

I started out majoring in Biology when I "found" public health. What I like about public health is that we are trying to improve the community’s health as a whole – instead of working with individuals, we tackle problems that are affecting many.

Keri Hess at the American Public Health Association (APHA) conference in Denver, CO, presenting her work on forming the first Car Seat Recycling program in Northern California.

Can you tell us about an important lesson you've learned in your career so far?

Working on policy is not for the faint of heart. I have been called names, yelled at, and treated differently for being a young woman in this field. I came face to face with a tobacco company representative for the first time early in my career. I couldn't stop thinking about how this man could go home at the end of the day and feel good about the work he did. Some days are hard, but at the end of the day, I know that I'm fighting the good fight.

Is there a particular person who helped get you to where you are today?

I was a collegiate athlete for a short period of time before getting injured beyond repair. We had a counselor that would recommend classes for us that were taught by professors that were lenient on athletes. I did not like the choices of classes that were recommended to me, so I picked out a class that sounded interesting based on the description It was a biology class on diseases and plagues. The textbook was a short paperback-novel sized book called "Man and Microbes." I read it cover to cover and never missed a class. This professor held my interest and ultimately started shifting my thinking towards public health.

How did you find BPW?

The director of my organization recommended that I join. Being recommended as Health Chair has been the most memorable moment thus far.

Would you like to share how you have evolved since Covid-19 disrupted 'normal' business life?

It was an adjustment to reach the general community at first. I do enjoy working from home, and since I don't have a printer, I've cut back on the paper I use, so it's better for the environment, too!

Endorsement for Pioneers in Skirts

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 19:35:36 GMT

While screening Pioneers in Skirts at a recent international BPW conference, I was excited to hear the message of “it’s time for us ALL to take action!” The story shows the inequities and setbacks women have experienced in the workplace, even after decades of advocacy, still perpetuate today.

It certainly is time to take action...for ALL of us to work towards an equitable culture.

The National Federation of Business and Professional Women Clubs has been advocating for women for 100 years, starting with an ambitious goal of achieving equality for women in the workplace. Over the years we’ve fought and won many battles, but after a century of lobbying for policy changes within governments and companies, and developing the leadership potential of women – the numbers of women in leadership positions are still dismal.

Although they hold almost 52 percent of all management and professional-level jobs, American women lag substantially behind men in terms of their representation in upper-management positions. Less than 30% are executives, and, of the companies that make up the 2019 Fortune 500 list, 33 have female CEOs. And, American women’s representation in politics is just as paltry!

The filmmakers also dig into what can happen when ambitious girls experience #bias as they grow up, how negative consequences of that bias can be prevented, and, how it’s never too late for a girl to find her ambition again.

Pioneers in Skirts is a film that makes you think and feel like you must, as an individual, take action. Reaching across aisles and instigating conversation, this film is a truly enjoyable documentary that, in my opinion, will change minds and move hearts.

Sandra Thompson, President

National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.