Spring 2019

WIL News & Updates

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A Message from the President Welcome spring! We started off 2019 with Educational and Service Programs, the careful analysis and fund distribution for Empowerment Grants, and continued work on our new strategic plan to guide the future of WIL. We hope you enjoy reading about these activities in this spring newsletter. Our Educational Programs this spring included a presentation by The Chain Collaborative: a nonprofit committed to changing the paradigm of development in the coffee sector with training, programmatic and infrastructure support to shift power back to the local communities. This was followed by a presentation by Heifer International and their mission to provide livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle for reliable sources of food and income. Our next program, on April 25th, is "Identifying and Cultivating Women in Leadership," and details are included in this newsletter. Our most important initiative of 2019 to date, however, if our Annual Fund drive. As you know, we are not planning a major event this year. Instead, we are asking each of you to support this drive and help us reach our goal. We are 80% towards reaching our goal and we need you to participate and put us over the top! We must reach this goal in order to provide microfinance banks, empowerment grants, service and the educational programming that defines WIL in Philadelphia and beyond. Thank you, Nancy Alter

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APRIL EDUCATION PROGRAM: Identifying and Cultivating Women in Leadership Rev. Dr. Bruce Main, from UrbanPromise International, will present a program focusing on the development of global leaders for women's empowerment. He will highlight UrbanPromise International's work in identifying and aiding women leaders in their global pursuits. Joining Dr. Main will be two UrbanPromise scholars, Vanessa Mwangala and Mercy Anih. You can read more about UrbanPromise International at http://www.urbanpromiseusa.org/. Program Details: Thursday, April 25, 2019 Logan One Conference Center 130 N. 18th St., 26th Floor (between Cherry and Race Sts.) Philadelphia, PA 19103 Agenda: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Networking and Registration 6:00 - 6:15 p.m.WIL News and Updates 6:15 - 8:00 p.m. WIL Program Cost: WIL members and guests attending for the first time since June, 2018 attend free. Returning Guests: $35. Student Guests: $15. Guests are welcome! Pre-registration is required here . Photo ID is required for entry to program.

Rev. Dr. Bruce Main Vanessa Mwangala Mercy Anih

AN EXCITING START TO 2019 FOR SERVICE COMMITTEE Submitted by Chris Stanley for Service Committee We have had 12 proposals from organizations for service, and have formally accepted 5 proposals. Read about them here.

EMPOWERMENT GRANTS

2017 Empowerment Grant Recipient: Economic Empowerment workshop and event to help women in Sudan become self-sufficient through the “Knowledge Workshop” grant, Manshiya, Khartoum, Sudan. 2017 Empowerment Grant Recipient: Enrichment program for small children and their mothers, “Pequeños Soñadores, or Little Dreamers,” at Asociación Sueños in Antigua Guatemala

The Empowerment Grants committee vetted 52 proposals and then read, presented, and discussed 31 for possible grants. It was a challenge to choose from so many worthy causes. On International Women’s Day we announced 2019 grants. Read about the grant recipients here.                                                         Read about prior grant recipients here.

WIL AT NGO COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN NEW YORK Submitted by Mary Kahn WIL had a great NYC experience! We traveled by car, train and bus to each arrive at the NGO 63rd Commission on the Status of Women Forum and Parallel Events on March 12th. NGO CSW/NY is an untiring advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across the globe in support of the work of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and UN Women. The priority theme for the conference this year was Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Read about the trip.

WIL members attending the NGO Commission Status of Women Forum

Travel: Kenya Trip – One Space Left!

Custom Kenya Safari with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and WIL February 14-23, 2020   ONE space left to participate in this amazing opportunity to visit LEWA Wildlife Conservancy and meet the Maasai women that our WIL village bank is helping to empower. There will be game drives, community & village visits as well as behind the scenes activities at LEWA, which will include learning about their education programs, anti-poaching demonstrations, conservation and research and community health visits. For more information, call Caroline Wischmann at 215-985-1032 or email at [email protected] .