This time of the year serves as an exciting time for WFA and its many events and programs emerging on our horizon. These events will bring together people from our community to challenge the issues that women and girls face today in hopes to generate sustainable ideas and solutions.
These programs help to achieve our mission and vision to create an avenue so women and girls can achieve their full potential. Programs such as the following encourage women and girls to get involved in their community in ways that they otherwise might not have resources to do so. WFA envisions a state that allows equal opportunities to women and girls, and with your help and participation, we can ultimately achieve our goal.
WFA-ESSE SERIES “Stories of Empowerment: Our Generations, Our Progress”
The first of our inaugural series, Stories of Empowerment is to kick off this Thursday, June 9th at 5p.m. at the ESSE Purse Museum and will continue again in September, December, and March. While WFA’s mission is to advance the future status of women, ESSE Purse Museum commemorates the history of women of the 20th century through the bags they carried and their contents. This program series is part of a larger effort to educate and engage more community stakeholders in the status of women in Arkansas and to bring together women of all generations in fellowship and thought-provoking conversations.
GIRLS OF PROMISE CODING SUMMIT
The Girls of Promise Coding Summit will be held July 21st hosted in partnership with the UALR College of Engineering and Information Technology and WFA. This summit is part of the Girls of Promise initiative where alumnae and future participants of Girls of Promise® can attend. These girls will be encouraged to explore careers in technological fields and learn actual coding skills to carry with them into their future. The first coding summit was held in December of last year, and will continue in July and December of this year. The hope of this program is to nurture girls’ interest in coding skills and educational and professional pursuits in which women are highly underrepresented. Following the Coding Summit Initiative will be the Girls of Promise® 2-day conference April 13-14, 2017. This conference will host 8th grade girls from around the state, introducing them to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
While these educational programs are for women, we want to acknowledge that men, businesses, and organizations also play a vital role in this conversation. It is important that women and men collaborate as leaders in our community by bringing substantial change into the lives of girls and women. In that vein Women’s Foundation of Arkansas is seeking partnerships and collaborations with individuals, businesses, and entities that share our values and vision. In our upcoming event portfolio we have the following opportunities that engage our larger community.
DINE OUT FOR A DIFFERENCE
Support your locally owned restaurants & the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas simply by dining out! On August 6, 2016 a number of restaurants around Little Rock will collaborate with WFA to help promote our mission and vision by donating a portion of their proceeds to our cause. Please continue to check our website for participating restaurants.
POWER OF THE PURSE
Our signature fundraiser is our 18th annual Power of the Purse luncheon Co-Chaired this year by powerhouse couple Jessica and Warwick Sabin. This event brings in professional women, men, community leaders and activists, philanthropists, and more from around the state to show how one small donation can make a lasting impact in our community. This event will take place on September 23, 2016 from 11a.m. until 1p.m. at the Marriott hotel in downtown Little Rock. Tables and Reservations available now by contacting our office.
Join us in our effort to change the status of Women in Arkansas. Stronger Women, Stronger Arkansas.