Item of the Week: All things PINK in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Empowered Women International’s online store is featuring a beautiful assortment of Pink items on our storefront!  Visit to view stunning decorated Ecuadorian crochet pink beaded necklaces; pink and white hand painted silk scarves, and decorated Moroccan floral soaps!

Sandy Lynam Clough, a breast cancer survivor said:

“Hope is one of the greatest gifts we have been given. It carries no price tag but its value is priceless. We cling to it when the future looks uncertain and praise it when things turn out better than we could have even imagined. Hope is the foundation on which we build our dreams and aspirations. It has been the cornerstone upon which people have accomplishes extraordinary things.”

This month lets support those who have questions, need encouragement and want to share their stories and make them feel like they are able to fight cancer because that is the biggest step on the road to wellness.  Donating even the smallest amount can help save a life and increases awareness through education and provides mammograms for those in need of help today and have hope for tomorrow.

Whether you are a patient, caregiver, loved one or just someone wanting to better understand the disease that affects so many women world wide, the National Breast Cancer Foundation has a program called “beyond the shock,” which has so much to offer.

Another way to get involved is the Pink Ribbon Challenge is an annual NBCF event that occurs every October, which combines the efforts of radio stations, programs nationwide, and the support of top-name music celebrities and most importantly listeners to raise funds and provide free treatments for underserved women.  The campaign started in 1985 by Susan G. Komen and ever since raised billions of dollars and today you can hardly turn your head in a supermarket aisle without bumping into something with the pink ribbon symbol for the cure foundation and that is an extraordinary feeling to come across. Lets help empower both men and women about the dangers of breast cancer and the precautions women can take by catching it early with yearly screenings for example.

Through technology, digital cameras, Facebook, Twitter, support websites and buying products that will donate funds to the breast cancer research rounds up some ways that will benefit and assist. We have come a long way in terms of awareness and treatments over the last century. Lets help spread more awareness!

Start your Holiday Shopping Early this Saturday with EWI!

EWI will be hosting an open house this Saturday, October 29, from 3- 5pm!  Find handmade jewelry, note-cards, hand-painted silk-scarves, and one-of-a-kind designer aprons for family, friends, or yourself!

All EWI product is made by local low income, immigrant, and refugee women artist-entrepreneurs, students and graduates of the Entrepreneur Training for Success program.  Have a chance to speak with the artist’s themselves in an artist studio, and learn more about their inspiring journeys and work.

Give a Gift that Gives Back this Holiday Season, Shop EWI.

Join EWI after shopping from 5-7pm for Keeper of the Flame I Flory Jagoda and Friends Concert Benefit, an evening of Storytelling, Sephardic Music and Songs from around the world.

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

-Flory Jagoda

 

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Reserve Your Tickets Now!

Become a Sustaining Donor by contributing $25 a month or more and Receive Four Complimentary Tickets!

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

This program was made possible in part with support from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.

This Saturday: Flory Jagoda and Friends Concert

Join us this Saturday 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. Reserve your tickets now!

Event Program

EWI Open House & EWI Artisans Marketplace 3:00 – 5:00 pm

Flory Jagoda and Friends Concert – 5:15 pm

Meet the Artists Reception – 6:15 – 7:00 pm

Complimentary light refreshments

Free Parking

Buy your tickets here.

Help Future Entrepreneurs! Join EWI’s Interview Committee.

Former ETS student, Kudzai (right) working with a mentor.

Are you an Entrepreneur Training for Success graduate, current mentor, or volunteer interested in becoming more involved? Would you enjoy meeting with the women we serve to access their skills and provide feedback?  Then apply to become a member of the Entrepreneur Training for Success Interview Committee.

Empowered Women International (EWI) Interview Committee will be charged to evaluate incoming Entrepreneur Training for Success (ETS) applicants. Based on the feedback from the committee, EWI will make decisions regarding ETS admissions.

The Interview Committee will consist of four to six members who are familiar with the training, as well as the criteria and dedication required. The Interview Committee will be formed by ETS alumni, ETS mentors, staff or volunteers.

EWI staff members, Erin and Shannon meeting with Velma (left).

Committee Guidelines:

• Committee members are required to participate in a one hour conference call/webinar
• Two committee members should be present at each interview.
• Interviews will be recorded and submitted to EWI staff within 48 hours of the interviews
• Appointments can be scheduled when it is most convenient for committee members and applicants.
• Committee members will work with EWI to schedule interviews.
• Interviews last approximately one hour each but should not exceed one hour.
• Committee members can schedule back-to-back interviews (Example: Committee members may decided to hold 4 interviews on a Saturday afternoon.)

Ten Ways to Get Involved Now!

Looking for an easy, yet meaningful way to support EWI?  Look no further than our ten steps listed below!   “Like” EWI on Facebook and share with your network of friends Follow EWI on Twitter and Re-Tweet interesting EWI news! (EmpowerWomenInt) Follow EWI’s Blog and comment on posts! Ask a friend to Sign up to receive EWI’s newsletter! Become a Razoo Supporter and raise funding for an EWI ETS Scholarship! Create an ETSY Treasury featuring EWI products! Promote an EWI Event throughout your social media network! Host an EWI home or office party! Become an EWI Event Volunteer! Edit an ETS student’s Business Plan!

Item of the Week: “Take a Load of Sally” Bath and Body Set

This natural luxurious bath and body set contains one 2 oz. jar of “take a load of sally” rosemary and lavender body butter, one 2.75 x 1.75 ” natural lavender goats milk bar of soap and a colorful exfoliating body scrubber pouf, is just what your dry skin ordered. This soothing rosemary and lavender scent is crafted from a blend of essential oils that includes but is not limited to rosemary, lavender, sweet almond oil and shea butter, was hand created by EWI artist member Brigitta Kral from her line of natural beauty products, Briggy’s Bath & Beauty.

Member Spotlight: Lezlie

Lezlie, one our current Entrepreneur Training for Success students, is an artist and painter who came to EWI to learn how to market her art and turn her love of painting into a business.

Lezlie sharing her vision board with the class.

Originally from California, Lezlie started her training as an artist early by coloring on the blank pages her Mother provided instead of coloring books. What seemed to her like pure torture at the time, because all of her friends were coloring inside the lines, later sparked in her an imagination and her love for drawing and painting.

Having two parents with artistic ability, Lezlie was destined to paint. Her father, thought by some, to be the doppelganger of Salvador Dali, taught her to paint in oils at the age of 8. After becoming involved in theatre in her home town of Simi Valley, California at the age of 11, she learned to paint large sets as well as create murals, design costumes and apply stage make-up

Later on in life, Lezlie had the idea to paint homes on slate.  She would often paint Victorian homes she found beautiful and would give these “Homes on Stones” as gifts, even if the homeowner was a stranger to her.

As a self-taught artist, Lezlie’s talents have evolved and expanded over the years to include the use of oils, acrylics, watercolors, and textiles as well as the use of stones as a canvas.

Pet Portrait by Lezlie

A few years ago, Lezlie moved to Virginia to be closer to her brother.  She got a job as bus driver but due to an injury and surgery she was forced was to stop working for a while. In order to stay sane, she found herself painting again.  She gave her paintings to friends and family as Christmas gifts and after seeing her work, one of Lezlie’s friends commissioned her to paint a portrait of their pet. When several of her friends found out about her pet portraits, they too wanted a portrait of their pet. Lezlie then realized that there was an entire market for her and she began painting a few pet portraits on commission.

When we first met Lezlie, we were blown away by portraits, her passion and drive to succeed. Right after

Pet Portrait by Lezlie

that first meeting, we received an email from her friend who referred Lezlie to EWI:

Listening to Lezlie last night after she had met with you all truly put a smile on my face as she was so invigorated and excited to have the opportunity to be a part of EWI. I do not know if you realize this but you ladies really have a gift in helping women not only reach their business dreams but also give hope to people who sometimes do not see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Lezlie continue to amaze us with her talents and over the last four weeks she has made tremendous progress in launching her business. We can’t wait to see her business take off!

You’ll have the opportunity meet Lezlie and all of our other current students on December 17th at the Fall Entrepreneur Training for Success graduation. So save the date and prepare to be inspired.

October is Domestic Violence Awarness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s a time to raise awareness about this epidemic that continues to plague countless women in children in the U.S. and around the world.

Although we have made a lot of progress with legislation like the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), we still have a long way to go before domestic violence is no longer a problem and it’s going to take major changes on many levels.

Facts about Domestic Violence

1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime

1 in 5 young women will be a victim of sexual assault while in college.

1 in 6 women have experienced an attempted or completed rape.

Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partner and children in adulthood.

One in five teens in a serious relationship reports having been hit, slapped, or pushed by a partner.

Sadly, EWI has seen firsthand the negative impact domestic violence has on women.  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.

In honor of Diana and all those affected by Domestic Violence, this Friday we we are hosting Beads of Courage 2011 – A Storytelling and Jewelry Making Workshop.  At the workshop you will learn about local domestic violence resources, have the opportunity to share with others, and create inspiring jewelery.

Details:
When: October 14^th from 6pm to 8:30pm
Where: 1801 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA
Who: Women and Young Girls
Cost: FREE*

*Beading Supplies will be available for purchase. (Earring supplies $5 and necklace and bracelet supplies will be $10)

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.

Join us this Friday for Beads of Courage, an evening of Storytelling and Jewelry Making

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.

Item of the Week: Free EWI Earrings with Every Online Order!

Redeem Your Free Earrings Today!

For the Month of October, EWI is including a free pair of EWI crafted earrings with each online order!  To redeem your free pair, go to the EWI Online Store and select the items you would like to buy. Click the green Checkout button. Enter the CODE: FALLEARRINGS into Message to Seller Box. Your earrings will be included in your purchase.  Earrings will vary and are not guaranteed to be earrings shown in pictured example.