WISE Empowers Girls Grades 6–12

Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment

League of Catholic Women Foundation — July 2021

$6,000 grant to Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE) for general operating expenses.

WISE Executive Director Pamela Zeller writes,

“This funding allowed us to have a robust summer program for our Girls Getting Ahead in Leadership program that serves immigrant/refugee girls in grades 6-12. This was our first programming in-person since the pandemic began.

“Our summer program focuses on the arts and self-expression, field trips, and college prep. The arts for this past summer’s program were culinary arts using the grill (since we did everything at the park due to the pandemic) that was taught by Hmong Chef Along Peter, yoga and mediation which are very helpful for survivors of trauma, and spoken word which helps the girls use their English language skills.

“Keeping the girls engaged via Zoom during the academic year was very challenging, so having the opportunity to do an in-person summer program helped us recruit some new girls and keep the momentum going over the summer.”

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