New Pink Power

Do you think you are too old to go after your dreams?

This thought has crossed my mind at some points in my life.  At 44, I now find myself working on my second master degree and although I did wonder for a while if I was too old to go back to school with 3 kids at home under the age of 12, a husband, a small business to run, and well.. did I mention I am 44? I have to say that this is the best decision I have made in a long time. It has been a breath of fresh air. It has given me an opportunity to learn a whole new field, to re-activate my brain, and basically to start planning the next 40 years of my life.

It wasn't until recently however, that I realized that our understanding of "age" has changed a lot. Look at Frances Hesselbein for example.  She is 96 years old. Yes! 96! and she is the CEO of the Peter Drucker Foundation. Now called the Leader to Leader Institute and soon to be renamed "The Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute".  So if France can be CEO at 96, I think the sky is the limit and those of us who question whether we can go after our dreams at 40 or 50 or 90 for that matter, should stop and realize that the whole definition of "age" has forever changed. Women like Frances are an inspiration.  Read Frances hesselbein's story. Buy her book at Amazon.

Miss Representation - A film exposing how the media erodes female self-worth!

A documentary revealing the damage mainstream media does to women! In a film directed by Jennifer Siebel Newson, she exposes how American media erodes female self-worth. How TV, Film, and Web content teach us that our worth is based on our desirability. How women leaders are trivialized, and how Hollywood green-lights few female protagonists especially if the role does not involve landing a man.

Watch Miss representation's official trailer below. And then look for a screening near you.

Helping Women Survivors of War Rebuild their Lives

Women for Women International intends to change the world one woman at a time.  It provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies.

Women for Women International works with socially excluded women in eight countries where war and conflict have devastated lives and communities. They enroll women in a one-year program, and provide them with job skills and business training so they can earn a living. They come to understand their rights and how to fight for those rights in their homes, their communities and their nations and become leaders.

Get Involved. Help a woman survivor of war rebuild her life. To make a donation go to https://mywomenforwomen.org/donation/donate-now.php?wfw=webgen

 

 

Climb Wyoming - Providing Free Training and Job Placement to Singe Mothers

Did you know that In Wyoming:

• Nearly half of the families living in poverty are headed by single mothers
• Almost half of the babies are born to mothers on medicaid
• Women earn an average of 60 cents for every dollar earned by men creating the largest wage disparity in the nation

An Non-Profit organization is trying to change that.  The uniquely comprehensive CLIMB program model was developed in 1986 to help move single mothers out of poverty - permanently. The program has helped over 1000 families reach self-sufficiency to date, the effects of which will be felt for generations.

To meet Wyoming's workforce needs, the CLIMB programs are helping women enter construction and energy trades as well health care, office careers and more.

The basis of the model is a job training and placement program – but there is more to permanent life change than finding a job. Other skills are needed – skills that ensure successful relationships on the job and in the home. Core to the model are mental health services that address personal barriers that have impeded success in the past.

They operate through grants and donations. We can all help.  To make a donation, go to http://climbwyoming.org/support.html.

 

 

Here is to the Nerd Girls!!

WOW!  I haven't been so excited to read an article on a magazine in a very long time... The article is called "Revenge of the Nerdette" and it's on the June16 th,2008 issue of Newsweek magazine.  See the whole article at  http://www.newsweek.com/id/140457.

Here we have a whole new generation of girls being proud to call themselves "Nerds" but also claiming their femininity. Until very recently, girls were not allowed to be smart and pretty at the same time.  You were either "smart" or "geeky" and then of course that also meant you were ugly!  or you were a sexy kitten but your brain left a lot to be desired.  Women of my generation (born in the 60s) have had to deal with that stereotype.  So, if you were smart and pretty, people just did not know how to handle it.  Well.... here is to the new generations of girls engineers, and nerd girls, who are enjoying their "smartness" while also why not say it? enjoying their "sexiness".  My hat is off to you girls!!! you will write your own paradigms, and you will change culture!! you will let the world know that this time "literally" you will be able to do "whatever you want" and be "whatever you want to be".

I read the article to my 6-year old girl and my 8-year old son and you would not believe their faces.  First, because they could not understand what was the big deal. After all, they are being raised in a world where they get to see girls in many roles my generation did not get to see.  But then, when my daughter looked at the picture of the girls pictured on the magazine, she said "those girls don't look like nerds" which gave me a great opportunity to go into the "you can be smart and pretty at the same time" conversation. And then, my 8-year old son said he thought some girls did not like to be smart, and preferred to be seen as just "pretty" and that really got me!! of course that gave me a great opportunity to go into the "you are surrounded by smart and pretty girls so don't act so shocked!! conversation

So, my hat goes to the girls of this generation that keep striving to "own" their space in the world!!  and to be who they are.... smart!!  strong!! and why not?  also beautiful and "feminine"!!

A company that has figured out how to keep women in the workforce

One of the "model companies" worth highlighting when thinking about companies that put the right policies in place to keep women in the workforce, is PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP.  Click here to go to their site.

It has great perks such as flexible schedules, gyms, and an early-education center.  This is definitely one of the most female friendly comapnies in the country: nearly 2/3 of the employees are women.  Women hold 50% of the most senior positions, and 35% of directors are female (their industry average is 16%).

See full article at Fortune Magazine - Best Companies to work for.

Wouldn't the world be a better place if more companies were ensuring they had a better work environment for all employees, and not just for their "White boy club"?