http://thewomensfoundation.org/2006/constructing-futures-one-woman-at-a-time/ Washington Area Women's Foundation Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:03:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://thewomensfoundation.org/2006/constructing-futures-one-woman-at-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-108 WAWF » Blog Archive » Pursuing Happyness: If Chris were Christine… Mon, 08 Jan 2007 14:59:25 +0000 http://thewomensfoundation.org/2006/constructing-futures-one-woman-at-a-time/#comment-108 [...] Pursuing Happyness: If Chris were Christine… I love Will Smith. And I loved his new movie, Pursuit of Happyness.    Like Blood Diamond, it falls into a new category of movies I’ve developed, called Amazingly Important and Well Made, But Really, Really Hard to Watch.    Because they’re true, and feature the needless suffering and struggle that result in unjust systems, and it’s painful to keep watching as things get worse and worse for people trying to live honest lives and care for their families.   Chris Gardner’s story in Pursuit of Happyness shows how easily people can fall through the cracks when they’re living paycheck to paycheck and barely making it, even when they’re working and doing their best to care for their children.    How divorce can mean a sudden, unexpected loss of crucial income, or a car necessary to earn a living can be impounded or sudden illness or theft can mean the difference between living in a home and fighting to get into a shelter.    And how sometimes doing what needs to be done to make a step up, to change a life and make professional progress can be more of a short-term setback than taking a long-term, low-wage job.  Because sometimes the internships and trainings are unpaid, so, without support, the six month training that could bring a family out of poverty and into progress becomes unattainable and impossible.   So I couldn’t help but appreciate Chris Gardner for telling his story, and Will Smith for bringing it to life. It’s an important story, and one that we should see and understand visually, because it’s happening all the time, every day, in every city we live in.   But I must admit that while I found it very moving that Chris was such a powerful father figure for his son, I did still find myself wishing that Chris had been a Christine.   That this story could have been seen through a woman’s eyes, since in the majority of cases, these stories are those of women. Nationally, 85 percent of custodial parents are women, who, on average, earn $24,000 annually.  In Washington, D.C., 30 percent of women-headed families live in poverty.  Nationally, it’s 27 percent. [...] [...] Pursuing Happyness: If Chris were Christine… I love Will Smith. And I loved his new movie, Pursuit of Happyness.    Like Blood Diamond, it falls into a new category of movies I’ve developed, called Amazingly Important and Well Made, But Really, Really Hard to Watch.    Because they’re true, and feature the needless suffering and struggle that result in unjust systems, and it’s painful to keep watching as things get worse and worse for people trying to live honest lives and care for their families.   Chris Gardner’s story in Pursuit of Happyness shows how easily people can fall through the cracks when they’re living paycheck to paycheck and barely making it, even when they’re working and doing their best to care for their children.    How divorce can mean a sudden, unexpected loss of crucial income, or a car necessary to earn a living can be impounded or sudden illness or theft can mean the difference between living in a home and fighting to get into a shelter.    And how sometimes doing what needs to be done to make a step up, to change a life and make professional progress can be more of a short-term setback than taking a long-term, low-wage job.  Because sometimes the internships and trainings are unpaid, so, without support, the six month training that could bring a family out of poverty and into progress becomes unattainable and impossible.   So I couldn’t help but appreciate Chris Gardner for telling his story, and Will Smith for bringing it to life. It’s an important story, and one that we should see and understand visually, because it’s happening all the time, every day, in every city we live in.   But I must admit that while I found it very moving that Chris was such a powerful father figure for his son, I did still find myself wishing that Chris had been a Christine.   That this story could have been seen through a woman’s eyes, since in the majority of cases, these stories are those of women. Nationally, 85 percent of custodial parents are women, who, on average, earn $24,000 annually.  In Washington, D.C., 30 percent of women-headed families live in poverty.  Nationally, it’s 27 percent. [...]

]]> http://thewomensfoundation.org/2006/constructing-futures-one-woman-at-a-time/comment-page-1/#comment-31 WAWF » Blog Archive » 2007: Your Year for Helping Women and Girls! Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:40:35 +0000 http://thewomensfoundation.org/2006/constructing-futures-one-woman-at-a-time/#comment-31 [...] Half of the world’s women continue to give birth without skilled care. So, since much remains to be done to ensure that countries, communities, schools and families are safe, equitable and empowering for women and girls, Washington Area Women’s Foundation presents you with…   Your Calendar for Helping Women and Girls in 2007   January: Click to prevent!  While setting up your annual doctor’s exams, check-ups and monthly reminders to do breast exams, take a moment to visit The Breast Cancer Site and sign up for daily reminders to click to provide a free mammogram to a low-income woman!    February: Teach a girl the power of the purse!  When reviewing your W-2s and savings strategy with your financial planner, take some time to teach a young woman in your life—a daughter, cousin, niece or neighbor—about the value of saving, investing wisely and planning for her financial future! For resources, click here!        March: Turn celebration into action!  Celebrate Women’s History Month with your book club by celebrating a female author and turning your collective reading into giving by starting a Giving Circle and investing together in women in your local community!  Read about Giving Circles and then learn how here!     April: Spring clean someone to success!  Clean out that closet and set up another woman for success through Dress for Success!   May: A meaningful Mother’s Day!    Celebrate the Mom who has it all by supporting a woman who can become it all! Give a gift honoring your mom to the women’s foundation serving your community. Goodsearch your way to it, and catalyze a donation every time you click!    June: Put your money where your values are!    Invest in or support a woman-owned business! Need to find a new doctor or dentist this year? Narrow your search by supporting women’s practices. For other ways to show off your pro-woman purchasing power, use directory’s like this one showcasing women-owned businesses!   July: Patriots practice philanthropy!    Show your patriotism through the American tradition of generosity! Give a gift on behalf of an important woman in your life—a mentor, teacher, mother, friend, colleague or sister—to your local women’s foundation, a domestic violence shelter or another organization that benefits women.            August: Beat the heat, be a mentor!    School’s about to be back in session, so get away from the heat by surfing your way to a local mentoring program! Young women everywhere are inspired and encouraged by role models who show them the value of education, encourage their interests and help them build the skills that will make them great students and citizens. Just look at what’s happening in Silver Spring, Maryland!     For resources on mentoring programs in your area, consult Mentor, visit Dollar Philanthropy for an inspirational word on the value of mentoring or check in with your local women’s foundation—which most likely supports excellent mentoring programs for young women in your area!    And remember, mentoring isn’t just for the young!  As women move into non-traditional careers or from low-wage jobs to professional careers—which is happening daily thanks to local women’s foundations—they need mentors and support!  Check in to learn how you can be a part of transforming lives and building futures!     September: Become a political maven!    School is back in session! Keep learning by studying policy initiatives that empower women and girls, whether on a national or state level. In 2007, likely policy areas to watch are living wage (90 percent of all long-term, minimum wage earners are women!), mandatory paid sick and maternity leave (We are the only country in the world without mandatory paid maternity leave!), the Earned Income Tax Credit, subsidized child care and affordable college education. Choose three issue areas, track them, and be sure to e-mail or call your representatives to let them know where you stand!    October:  Trick or trivia! Don’t get tricked on your trivia…know your facts!  Check out these little known census facts about women in the U.S.!   November: Put the giving in Thanksgiving!   Bring the three T’s to the season of Thanksgiving: time, treasure and talent! Create a year-long plan for volunteering time at an organization whose mission you believe in, set up automatic monthly contributions to your local women’s foundation contribute your talents by helping other women file their tax returns, providing financial training and education, teaching English to recent immigrants or providing career development courses! Get in touch with your local women’s foundation to learn how you can get involved!         December: Create a legacy!    It’s never too soon to plan for your legacy. Meet with your attorney about providing for organizations that assist women through a bequest in your will.           [...] [...] Half of the world’s women continue to give birth without skilled care. So, since much remains to be done to ensure that countries, communities, schools and families are safe, equitable and empowering for women and girls, Washington Area Women’s Foundation presents you with…   Your Calendar for Helping Women and Girls in 2007   January: Click to prevent!  While setting up your annual doctor’s exams, check-ups and monthly reminders to do breast exams, take a moment to visit The Breast Cancer Site and sign up for daily reminders to click to provide a free mammogram to a low-income woman!    February: Teach a girl the power of the purse!  When reviewing your W-2s and savings strategy with your financial planner, take some time to teach a young woman in your life—a daughter, cousin, niece or neighbor—about the value of saving, investing wisely and planning for her financial future! For resources, click here!        March: Turn celebration into action!  Celebrate Women’s History Month with your book club by celebrating a female author and turning your collective reading into giving by starting a Giving Circle and investing together in women in your local community!  Read about Giving Circles and then learn how here!     April: Spring clean someone to success!  Clean out that closet and set up another woman for success through Dress for Success!   May: A meaningful Mother’s Day!    Celebrate the Mom who has it all by supporting a woman who can become it all! Give a gift honoring your mom to the women’s foundation serving your community. Goodsearch your way to it, and catalyze a donation every time you click!    June: Put your money where your values are!    Invest in or support a woman-owned business! Need to find a new doctor or dentist this year? Narrow your search by supporting women’s practices. For other ways to show off your pro-woman purchasing power, use directory’s like this one showcasing women-owned businesses!   July: Patriots practice philanthropy!    Show your patriotism through the American tradition of generosity! Give a gift on behalf of an important woman in your life—a mentor, teacher, mother, friend, colleague or sister—to your local women’s foundation, a domestic violence shelter or another organization that benefits women.            August: Beat the heat, be a mentor!    School’s about to be back in session, so get away from the heat by surfing your way to a local mentoring program! Young women everywhere are inspired and encouraged by role models who show them the value of education, encourage their interests and help them build the skills that will make them great students and citizens. Just look at what’s happening in Silver Spring, Maryland!     For resources on mentoring programs in your area, consult Mentor, visit Dollar Philanthropy for an inspirational word on the value of mentoring or check in with your local women’s foundation—which most likely supports excellent mentoring programs for young women in your area!    And remember, mentoring isn’t just for the young!  As women move into non-traditional careers or from low-wage jobs to professional careers—which is happening daily thanks to local women’s foundations—they need mentors and support!  Check in to learn how you can be a part of transforming lives and building futures!     September: Become a political maven!    School is back in session! Keep learning by studying policy initiatives that empower women and girls, whether on a national or state level. In 2007, likely policy areas to watch are living wage (90 percent of all long-term, minimum wage earners are women!), mandatory paid sick and maternity leave (We are the only country in the world without mandatory paid maternity leave!), the Earned Income Tax Credit, subsidized child care and affordable college education. Choose three issue areas, track them, and be sure to e-mail or call your representatives to let them know where you stand!    October:  Trick or trivia! Don’t get tricked on your trivia…know your facts!  Check out these little known census facts about women in the U.S.!   November: Put the giving in Thanksgiving!   Bring the three T’s to the season of Thanksgiving: time, treasure and talent! Create a year-long plan for volunteering time at an organization whose mission you believe in, set up automatic monthly contributions to your local women’s foundation contribute your talents by helping other women file their tax returns, providing financial training and education, teaching English to recent immigrants or providing career development courses! Get in touch with your local women’s foundation to learn how you can get involved!         December: Create a legacy!    It’s never too soon to plan for your legacy. Meet with your attorney about providing for organizations that assist women through a bequest in your will.           [...]

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