Maggio + Kattar Founder’s Day Benefit a Success!

A huge thank you to Alix Mattingly, James Alexander and John Nahajzer of Maggio + Kattar for hosting a benefit to celebrate Empowered Women International and showcase our women micro-entrepreneurs.

James Alexander & John Nahajzer

The event marks a milestone in our pursuit of building a community of givers and our mission to turn immigrant, refugee and low-income women into self-sustaining and thriving entrepreneurs.

Marga & Steve Pattison of Maggio + Kattar

As firm believers in EWI’s mission and women’s potential to be the next business leaders, Maggio + Kattar , a prominent immigration law firm in Washington, DC, stood by our side promoting our work and supporting our women as they shared their  success stories.

Our entrepreneur graduates Velma, Aida, Mariam, Paulette, Nadia and Tacha were there to showcase their art and businesses, while Tacha and her band performed for all in the audience.

Tacha, Mariam, Velama and Marga

The whole event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our donors, board members and volunteers. We are here because of your relentless support and contribution. We received many positive comments and also heard that many of you had ideas of communities, foundations and businesses we can partner with, and we welcome your referrals and introductions.

Last but not least a huge shout out to Pepco Edison Gallery for offering the beautiful gallery space and for tirelessly supporting us to host one of our many events.

ETS graduates, volunteers and staff

We thank everyone who made it possible!

Maggio+Kattar Founder’s Day Benefit Honoring EWI

The benefit will highlight the work of

EWI graduates in the fields of the culinary arts,

fine arts, and music including:

Egyptian cuisine catered by Aida Mady

Fine art by Nadia Janjua

Music by Tacha Coleman Parr

A global artisan marketplace

Chithra Jeyaram Selected with her Film Mijo to enter in PBS Online Film Festival

Chithra Jeyaram is the founder and creative director of Real Talkies, and a graduate of our Entrepreneur Training for Success, Class 2012. She is an award winning documentary filmmaker who communicates the realities of life as it unfolds, focusing on nuances that cannot be dwelled upon or deliberated in mass media. Through her films she breaks societal barriers, builds bridges, changes attitudes and takes risks.

  

MIJO TRAILER from Real Talkies on Vimeo.

One of her amazing films, Mijo, an evocative portrayal of a mother and child’s intimate relationship in the midst of life altering medical events, was selected in the PBS Online Film Festival. Watch and vote for her film from March 4 through March 22; the film with the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award. Congratulations, Chithra!!!

Velma Crawford – Featured EWI Entrepreneur at the Micro-Business Lending Conference!

You may have heard her story before; in fact it’s tucked into every one of Velma’s aprons. With Velma, when you buy an apron you don’t simply receive an apron but the creator’s narrative as well. In “The Ties That Bind” Velma allows us to accompany her on a journey through her learning experiences with her grandmother, the poor daughter of an ex-slave who taught Velma the skills she uses to create her aprons, and her personal illness which was the catalyst to her apron creating.

This past Fall Velma took on another role alongside entrepreneur, and it was mentor. Velma joined EWI’s dedicated mentoring team and worked with two students in our Fall ETS course. Velma was able to share her own entrepreneurial spirit, lessons, and successes with her mentees who were excited to start a business of their own.

At the Micro-Business Lending: Landscape for the New Economy conference, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond, VA on February 26th, you’ll also have the chance to learn about Velma’s passion and experiences as a businesswoman and how she has grown and flourished since the creation of Vee’s Ties that Bind.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to meet our dedicated graduate and EWI member, Velma Crawford, at the Micro-Business Lending conference, and be sure to register now!

Anyone interested to learn more about micro-business lending should attend, including representatives of micro lenders; small business support organizations; community and economic development and other public agencies; state and local officials.

Please click this link to learn more about the conference and register to attend. We hope to see you there!

This event is the result of a planning partnership with the Virginia Microenterprise Network, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Empowered Women International, Virginia Community Capital and On Point Services.

You’re Invited! Micro Business Lending Conference featuring Marga Fripp & EWI Graduates!

EWI Founder and President Marga Fripp

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond will be hosting Micro Business Lending: Landscape for the New Economy, a conference on micro development and micro business lending on February 25th and 26th and we want YOU to attend!

Empowered Women International’s founder and president, Marga Fripp, will be among a panel of speakers discussing  marketplaces for artists and she will host a panel discussion about Kickstarter.

Also in attendance will be several of EWI’s successful Entrepreneur Training for Success graduates and members of EWI’s Artist Marketplace program: Azeb Yilma, Velma Crawford, Mariam Mohammed, Clementine Simmons, and Lisa Jacenich. Marga will introduce and highlight these women entrepreneurs during the micro business reception on February 25th.

The conference will also feature a keynote presentation by author Michael Shuman, Fellow at Cutting Edge Capital; learning tracks on sustainability, funding, and technical assistance.

Who should attend?
Representatives of micro lenders; small business support organizations; community and economic development and other public agencies; state and local officials.

For more information about the event and to register, visit the registration page found here.
Please note there is a $65 registration fee.

The event will be located at:
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
701 East Byrd Street, Richmond, VA 23219

This event is the result of a planning partnership with the Virginia Microenterprise Network, Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Empowered Women International, Virginia Community Capital and On Point Services.

Sunday Plans?

Sunday looks to be a lovely day, a beautiful 70 degree day in our nation’s capitol.  And with the Washington Redskins on bye week, there really is no excuse to be sitting at home all day.

I just wish there was something fun to do…. Something the whole family could enjoy…. Something interesting, interactive, and intellectually stimulating…

OH WAIT!

I just remembered…

This Sunday, Sushmita Muzumdar will be holding her first solo show and workshop featuring her lovely artisan-handmade-books, Chai, Stories, & Art!  A place where one can appreciate intricate art, the beauty of old-fashioned story-telling, and walk away with something one created all on their own.

Either way, I know where I’ll be this Sunday from 2-4 pm…

Popcorn Gallery at Glen Echo Park 

7300 MacArthur Boulevard
Glen Echo, MD 20812

Care to join? We’d love to see ya! So please let us know if you’re coming with an RSVP HERE

Sushmita received her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts from Bombay University in India and then worked as an art director in the advertising industry in Mumbai! She volunteers as a docent with the Smithsonian’s Freer & Sackler Galleries of Art in Washington DC where she was trained in Asian art history. She is a graduate of EWI’s Training for Success program and lives in Arlington with her son, daughter, and husband. For more about her interesting life, view her website at Handmade Storybooks.

Sushmita Muzumdar: Chai, Stories & Art

Sushmita Muzumdar, 2007 ETS Graduate and artist, has her first solo show entitled, Let’s Tell Our Tales: Everyday Stories as Artists’ Books & Collages.

Sushmita is a book artist and writer, she specializes in writing stories with handmade books.  She believes in the power of storytelling, and seeks to create art through each wonderful tale.  Her pieces are beautifully intricate and articulate, combining literature and fine art.

Sushmita’s show will be held from Nov 3rd to the 18th at the

Popcorn Gallery at Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Boulevard
Glen Echo, MD 20812

In honor of EWI’s 10th Anniversary, she is holding a special Chai, Stories, and Art Tour for EWI friends and supporters!

Join us for the free event on Sunday November 11th,
from 2-4pm

Click here to RSVP!

Learn more about Sushmita’s bookarts and her special invite to you:

Sushmita received her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts from Bombay University in India and subsequently worked as an art director in the advertising industry in Mumbai. Sushmita volunteers as a docent with the Smithsonian’s Freer & Sackler Galleries of Art (National Museum of Asian Art) in Washington DC where she was trained in Asian art history. She is a graduate of EWI’s Training for Success program and lives in Arlington with her son, daughter, and husband. For more, view her website at Handmade Storybooks.

Steel Magnolias Show to Benefit EWI, this Thurs/Fri/Sat!

Just a reminder, this weekend only, Group Therapy Productions presents Robert Harling’s comedy-drama STEEL MAGNOLIAS, at the Convergence Sanctuary.

In honor of the 10 year anniversary, all proceeds from the show will benefit
Empowered Women International!   

STEEL MAGNOLIAS focuses on the camaraderie of six southern women who talk, gossip, and harangue each other through the best of times and comfort and repair one another through the worst. The play is alternately hilarious and touching with six female characters that are delicate as magnolias yet as strong as steel.

Performances will be:

Thursday, October 25th at 7:30 pm
Friday, October 26th at 7:30 pm
Saturday, October 27th at 5:00 pm
Saturday, October 27th at 8:00 pm

at

The Convergence Sanctuary
1801 N. Quaker Lane
Alexandria, VA

Tickets are a suggested $20 donation, but no one will be turned away, please pay what you can to support EWI.

Tickets may be purchased from any cast member or email us at mailto:gt.productions9@gmail.com

About “Group Therapy Productions”

What do you get when you cross a group of sensitive actresses, a director, producer, little money but an abundance of inspiration and energy, and a burning desire to help others?  Group Therapy Productions.

The roots of “Group Therapy” can be traced to Charles Dickens.  In December of 2011, the members of “Group Therapy” were all involved in a production of A Christmas Carol at the Little Theatre of Alexandria.  Whether it was the show, the holiday, shared values, or just love of theatre, this group of women formed a strong bond that they refused to break.    The women began meeting to discuss and share their new acting ventures, classes, and life experiences.  One member jokingly called it “Group Therapy”, and the title stuck.  It was in April’s “Group Therapy” session that it dawned on them that they had the perfect cast for Steel Magnolias, and the idea took off.  In keeping with shared feelings to provide an uplifting environment of support for each other, they want to continue that objective, the fostering of women supporting women, and all proceeds from the production will go to Empowered Women International.

CAST:   STEEL MAGNOLIAS is produced by Kendall Hermsdorf and Hannah Wolf, directed by Robin Parker and showcases Janette Moman (Truvy), Rachel Gray (Annelle), Suzanne Martin (M’Lynn), Maria Ciarrocchi (Shelby), Tricia O’Neill-Politte  (Clairee), and Mary Lou Bruno (Ousier).

We are so appreciative of your generosity, thank you Group Therapy Productions!

Evelyn’s VIP Reception and Jewelry Show

Former Entrepreneur Training for Success graduate, Evelyn Brooks, has found great success since her time in the program.

Her jewelry design has brought her recognition internationally, with designs featured in the National Building Museum, The Women’s Museum for the Arts, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Art & Design in New York, among other places.  She recently has been awarded with the Fashion Chamber Choice Award, the Young Entrepreneur Award, the Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Funds Award, and was labelled one of the most notable peruvian artists in Washington DC by Washington Life magazine.

In honor of her enormous success, the always humble Evelyn will be hosting her annual VIP reception to thank her wonderful clients.  The event will feature an in-house Peruvian chef, and a collection of Evelyn’s latest jewelry designs.

The reception will be on:

November 11th, 2012
from 2-5pm
at the Hawthorn Suites,

420 N. Van Dorn st
Alexandria, VA 22304

And in honor of the 10th anniversary, Evelyn will be generously donating 10% of all jewelry sold to EWI!

Evelyn was born and raised in Peru.  Her father was a jeweler since the age of 14, and her mother ran a successful fashion boutique.  At the age of 21, Evelyn graduated from a business school in Peru and began a career in the travel industry.  Luckily enough, her travels brought her to the DC area, where she found her passion in jewelry, while taking classes at the Torpedo Factory, the Gemological Institute of America, and Empowered Women International.  And as they say, the rest is history….

Best of luck to you, Evelyn, and thank you for your generous gift of donating a portion of your jewelry show sales in honor of EWI’s 10 Year Anniversary!

Sandra’s Art Selected in Durant Center Exhibit

Congratulations to Sandra!

Sandra, an ETS student and recent EWI scholarship recipient, has had 2 pieces selected to be presented in the Young at Art exhibit in the Durant Art center of Alexandria.

Sandra comes from a family of very strong women dating back to 1861, in Washington DC. Her introduction to art has been through nature, by watching and appreciating the different ways that nature reveals itself artistically. Her multi-media talents are in metal-smithing, enameling, fabric art, beading and papermaking, to name a few.

Unable to pass up something discarded that could have another life, she’s been picking up things for years, thinking of how she can use it and make a difference. It all comes together in her gorgeous creations of reclaimed, up-cycled, and recycled dolls and hand bags. These are truly object of art, and objects that she uses to spread the word about the life-cycle of materials and the importance of re-using items. “This should not be a fad, but the norm for the average person and available to anyone,” she insists.

To hear more from Sandra and see her lovely pieces, please join us for the Young at Art exhibit opening reception this

Thursday September 20th, from 5pm-7pm
at the Durant Art Center
1605 Cameron st
Alexandria, VA 22314