Event: Keeper of the Flame: Flory Jagoda and Friends Concert Benefit

An evening of Storytelling, Sephardic Music and Songs from around the world

October 29, 2011 from 4:30-7:00pm

Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302

Tickets $25 (in advance); $30 (at the door)

Special early offer!

Tickets for Two $45! (in advance)

Reserve Your Ticket Now!

“Every Song is a Story. Every Song is a Memory.”

-Flory Jagoda

Join us for an evening of amazing stories and Sephardic music, one of Judaism’s richest cultural traditions with Flory Jagoda, an international singer and composer, and her internationally acclaimed artists, Tiffani Ferrantelli, Margie Jervis, Joana Stefanick and Zhenya Tochenaya.

Through stories and music, Flory, 88, will share her immigration journey from Bosnia to the United States, and the stories of the Sephardic people she grew up with and met along her journey.

Member Spotlight: Shahnaz

Shahnaz, a self-taught painter from Iraq is one of the eleven women currently enrolled in our Entrepreneur Training for Success program.  She moved to the U.S. two years ago after her husband passed and lives with her daughters in Maryland.

One of Shahnaz's paintings.

Shahnaz’s paintings,  based on her cultural heritage, illustrate stories from her country and often include historical Iraqi ruins.  When asked about painting, she tells us, “Painting is part of me. I painted a lot in elementary school and high school but never took art classes.”  Shahnaz’s art is truly unique in the way that she integrates names, numbers, and letters as symbols of luck.  She explained, “The purpose of many of my pieces is to bring good luck to the owner.”

Shahnaz sharing one of her paintings with the class.

In addition to her paintings, Shahnaz creates traditional Iraqi folklore items.

“These are traditional pieces that are found in villages and farms. They serve as pieces of good luck to ward off evil. I use beads and coins to decorate them, and mirrors to keep evil spirits away.”

Shahnaz learned how to create these as a young girl in Baghdad.

“In Iraq if you hang these on your wall, your life grows and gets better.”

By attending EWI’s Entrepreneur Training for Success, Shahnaz hopes to grow and improve her own life.

Shahnaz working with Sarah (an EWI mentor) on identifying target markets.

Some of her goals are to learn how to exhibit her work in the U.S., develop a business, price her pieces, build a website, and learn how to market herself.  In Iraq, Shahnaz was a kindergarten teacher so in addition to turning her art into a career, she dreams of returning to teaching and would love to teach art to children as well as write and illustrate children’s books based on her rich cultural heritage.

After our initial meeting, Shahnaz told us, “I am so glad I found my way to the U.S. I just want to share my work with the world.”

Item of the Week: Utility Apron

This beautiful hand sewn red and black floral apron is one size fits all. Wearing this apron will make you want to cook! A wonderful gift for any special woman in your life. Created from black and red floral fabric with a red terry cloth panel layer with two pockets. Makes cleaning up easy as you cook! The two pockets have a red gingham detail. This gorgeous apron is sure to impress!

VELMA CRAWFORD
Velma Crawford is the founder and creator of Veez Ties That Bind. She designs and creates aprons that are not your typical grandmother’s aprons. In the Spring of 2008, Velma founded Veez Ties That Bind, inspired by the love and strength of her grandmother Mattie and her grandmother’s seven daughters, whose bond of family proved unbreakable. Velma’s aprons are uniquely designed and are very functional. Most are reversible and can be designed to fit any occasion. Velma has developed a passion for making these beautiful works of art and confesses that each one speaks to her spirit.

Learn more about Velma.

Visit our Etsy shop today to view or purchase one of Velma’s beautiful aprons!

 

 

 

 

 

Event: Beads of Courage – An evening of hope and domestic violence awareness for women and girls

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, EWI is hosting, Beads of Courage 2011 – A Storytelling and Jewelry Making Workshop.

Join us for a special evening of storytelling, jewelry making and strength sharing, in honor of all the women who are affected by domestic violence at home and around the world.  During the event we’ll be also providing information about domestic violence resources in the DC Metro Area. If you’ve ever had the desire to learn how to make jewelry or want to improve your skill, join us to make inspiring jewelry as a symbolic reminder of the personal strength and courage of domestic violence survivors.

The Inspiration for Beads of Courage:

In March 2005, Empowered Women International lost an amazing woman artist and friend. Diana was only 33 and a mother of four, when she became a victim of domestic violence.

A talented artist and passionate cultural explorer, Diana started to create jewelry as a hobby combining old beads with fresh ideas and creative design, which resulted in amazing new art pieces. A mother of four young children, Diana searched for a way to engage her time in a creative endeavor and also to express her passion for arts, history and culture. Her striking designs and jewelry collection were featured at Empowered Women International and The Bead Museum in Washington, DC.

Details:
When: October 14^th from 6pm to 8:30pm
Where: 1801 North Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302
Who: Women and Young Girls
Cost: Free of Charge

***Beading Supplies will be available for purchase

Profit from beading supply sales will benefit EWI’s Entrepreneurship Fund for Women to provide business start-up scholarship and support services for women experiencing domestic violence.

Register here.

This program was supported in part by the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.

Upcoming Events!

CANCELLED: Invest in Women’s Future with Oikocredit USA and EWI

Empowered Women International and Oikocredit USA have had to cancel the Invest in Women’s Future Event on October 15th.  The event will be postponed to a later date.

Oikocredit USA and Empowered Women International are teaming up to present their work to empower women and expand their participation in the marketplace and the public sphere through micro-finance and entrepreneurship.

Cancelled:October 15, 2011
5:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302

Join in for a conversation about the power of small loans and micro-enterprise development to fight poverty and empower women.

Featured Speakers:
Sharlene Brown, National Director
OikoCredit USA
Marga Fripp, EWI Founder and Executive Director
Location: Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302

The event is free of charge and open to the public. RSVP here.

Light refreshments will be served including Divine Chocolate, an Oikocredit fair trade project partner supporting cooperative farmers in Ghana.

Flory Jagoda and Friends in Concert at EWI

Flory Jagoda and Friends perform traditional Sephardic music from the former Yugoslavia and other parts of the world.

All proceeds from the concert benefit EWI’s entrepreneurial programs for immigrant, refugee and low-income women.

October 29, 2011
5:00-7:00pm
Location: Convergence, 1801 N. Quaker lane, Alexandria, VA 22303

Concert starts 5pm followed by reception
Tickets $25 (in advance); $30 (at the door)
Special early offer:Tickets for Two only $45!

Flory Jagoda and Friends perform traditional Sephardic music from the former Yugoslavia and other parts of the world.

All proceeds from the concert benefit EWI’s entrepreneurial programs for immigrant, refugee and low-income women.

Buy your tickets here.

Introducing Our New Students!

ETS students hard at work.

Last week we welcomed a new group of women into the Fall semester of our Entrepreneur Training for Success program.  This semester, we have eleven amazing women who dream of building a business based on their passion, skills, and talents. Throughout the next three months, they will learn what it takes to be a successful business owner and will walk away with the resources and skills necessary to build their dream business.

Each week we will be introducing you to a new student and keeping you updated on their progress throughout the semester.

We’ll also be sharing resources and clips from our training. So tune in each week and get ready to be inspired!

Save Your Seat Today!

Empowered Women International will be honored as the Women Ambassadors for Business   featured non-profit at a reception and luncheon this Thursday, September 22nd from 11:00 am- 1:30 pm.  EWI’s founder and executive director, Marga Fripp, will be speaking at the event, followed by a marketplace featuring EWI products and EWI graduates, including, apron artist, Velma Crawford, KG Spotless cleaning company owner, Kudzai Gombakomba and “Africa Memory Game” designer, Paulette Mpouma.  Empowered Women International will be presented with a donation of $1000 as the featured non-profit chosen by the Women Ambassadors for Business.

Join EWI this Thursday for a delicious luncheon, an inspiring speech by Marga Fripp, an exciting marketplace filled with beautiful EWI artisan products and the chance to meet some of the talented women who created them!

 

Schedule

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon –  Networking and Shopping!

12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. - Lunch, Speaker, Doorprizes!

 A portion of the cost of each ticket is tax deductible as a charitable contribution to Women Ambassadors for Business, Inc.

Register to attend the Women Ambassadors for Business luncheon

Member Spotlight: Samantha Fraelich

Samantha Fraelich is a member of Empowered Women International’s advisory board as well as EWI’s course trainer for the Center for Financial Empowerment.  Samantha is a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner with Bernard R. Wolfe & Associates in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Teaching at the Center for Financial Empowerment

Samantha has over a decade of experience in Wealth Management with previous positions at UBS Financial and National Wealth Advisors in Naples, Florida before joining Bernard R. Wolfe & Associates.  She earned her bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  Samantha is a native of Munroe Falls, a suburb of Cleveland, OH.

She is a Registered Representative of National Financial Partners and resides in Bethesda, MD.  Samantha is very involved in female networking organizations throughout Montgomery County and is a Co-Director of Women Ambassadors for Business-Montgomery County, and member of Women Business Owners of Montgomery County and the American Association of University Women.

Students of the Center for Financial Empowerment

Through the recommendation of Samantha, EWI will be the featured non-profit at the Women Ambassadors for Business luncheon this Thursday, September 22nd from 11:00 am- 1:30 pm.  EWI’s founder and executive director, Marga Fripp, will be speaking at the event, followed by a marketplace featuring EWI products and EWI graduates, including, apron artist, Velma Crawford, KG Spotless cleaning company owner, Kudzai Gombakomba and “Africa Memory Game” designer, Paulette Mpouma.  Empowered Women International will be presented with a donation of $1000 as the featured non-profit chosen by the Women Ambassadors for Business.

Join EWI this Thursday for a delicious luncheon, an inspiring speech by Marga Fripp, an exciting marketplace filled with beautiful EWI artisan products and the chance to meet some of the talented women who created them!

Register to attend the Women Ambassadors for Business luncheon

Register for the next session of the Center for Financial Empowerment

Item of the Week: Decorative Moroccan Vanity Tray

This week’s item of the week is a Moroccan Vanity tray with quilted rich brown fabric and bright blue glitter ruffle, created by EWI artist Kamar Derder. The tray measures 14 inches by 11 inches. Perfect for displaying jewelry, beauty products, and housewares.

KAMAR DERDER
In her home country of Morocco Kamar was a talented interior designer with a passion for sewing. She can create anything from fabric for your home decor; from window treatments, to pillows to gift baskets for special events. She worked with her many clients in their homes and created exquisite designs. Kamar is currently a student enrolled in EWI’s Entrepreneur Training for Success program, launching her US based custom design business called Designs by Kamar. In addition to her interior designs Kamar is debuting her decorative soap line, Zahra Sabon, a line of beautifully hand decorated soaps with EWI’s Online shop.

Vist EWI’s Online Store Today!

Member Spotlight: Sarah Jawaid

 ”My paintings are the blasts of color that resonate from a place that I often do not tap into otherwise. They are a manifestation of my inner spatial landscape and what I like to think of as a direct route to my Creator.”

Sarah Jawaid recently graduated from Empowered Women International’s Entrepreneur Training for Success program’s Spring 2011 class.  Sarah was born in Southern California and transplanted to Washington, D.C. a few years ago. She received a B.S. from the University of Southern California in Public Policy and an MA in Urban Planning from the University of California, Irvine.  As an urban planner Sarah finds herself constantly thinking about how spaces affect people and the environment, and this motivated her to begin exploring through art.

"Untitled" 18 x 30, canvas/ acrylic

Sarah is interested in how spaces effect the psyche, reflecting  on how the external world impacts the internal.  She explores how the world we inhabit is a reflection of the values we hold dear and the thoughts that regularly cross our minds.  She stated that “synergy exists between the external world and the world within me”.  Noting that  often “it can be difficult to listen to the external world when our internal landscape is relentlessly inundated with the dissonance of idle and self-defeating thoughts.”

"Heart Within" 12 x 16, canvas/ acrylic

In her professional and personal pursuits, Sarah has tried to explore this interaction. Her background in urban planning and public policy led her to begin questioning the reasons why our cities were built the way that they are. Asking questions such as; “Where is the connection of the built environmental with the natural environment? Who is in power?  Who is left out of the equation?  Why is the environment not a priority to many of our leaders?  How can we mitigate disproportionate environmental degradation in the most vulnerable populations?  How can we ensure that children are growing up in affordable, healthy and sustainable housing?”

"What You Left Me With" 18 x 14 canvas/ acrylic/ wax

These conversations and questions ultimately led Sarah to begin exploring on canvas through the process of creation.  For Sarah, her painting and the act of creating is a direct path to spirituality. She stated that, “Despite how vulnerable it makes me feel, I do it because in those moments on the canvas I am exploring the space within myself that I would not otherwise tap into. I am in a state of flow where each brush stroke comes from empowered intuition. There is no judgment and the movements that seem like mistakes are easily integrated into the rest of the piece.”  Each one of Sarah’s works is truly an extension of herself and a glimpse into her internal world. It is the external spaces and the spaces within herself that move her to action.

Visit Sarah’s website to learn about upcoming  exhibits featuring her artwork in galleries around the DC area.

Learn more about Sarah and her work at her Website

Contact Sarah by email: art.sarahjawaid@gmail.com