The list of things I have learned during this experience would go on and on! But something in particular that I certainly did not know before is that there are so many different ways to be involved in a nonprofit. A career with a nonprofit organization can

encompass so many different skills and goals - something I grew to realize after our office hours with WE staff and career exploration sessions. Policy, development, community engagement, event planning, all are areas essential to the success of a non-profit.

- Sr ut hi This program has shown me the importance of being intentional with advocacy, whatever your particular cause. Also, I have met seven really wonderful young ladies, of varying backgrounds. Listening to their viewpoints has helped me to think in a broader sense.

- TIna

August 2015

Through the Summer Leadership Program at Women Employed I have

learned so many very important skills, more than I can summarize here. However, one of the main takeaways is to challenge myself

each and every day either by doing or learning something new. It is the

very moments in which we come outside of our comfort zones that we grow, we reach new heights we never

knew was a possibility. To face the fear of the unknown, never letting it get in the way of my ultimate goal

which is to succeed despite the odds.

As a returning adult student, single mother of four and a first time

grandparent the very fact that I have had this amazing opportunity to be a

part of the 2015 WE Summer Leaders, is proof that everything is possible. The past 8 weeks working with other inspiring summer leaders from all walks of life has really given me the inspiration to dream big. The sky is truly the limit as long as we do

not limit ourselves.  

- Susan

Summer Leaders 2015

What have you learned from the program?

In this program, I have been exposed to the real issues that working women deal with on a daily basis. Surveying and interviewing women who work in retail and food service taught me the severity of unstable scheduling and low pay in this industry. The Summer Leadership Program opened my eyes to that reality.

- Maya

By researching volatile scheduling and speaking with the women who are affected by the poor business practices of many national corporations, I 've realized how interconnected the issue of fair schedules (and, more broadly, workplace equality) is to many of the other issues I care deeply about. Unstable scheduling has effects on health, family, and education, and it 's interesting to me to see the connections between so many systems of oppression and learn how to approach problems holistically to arrive at the best solution.

-Madison

Tina's Butter Rum Cake RecipeIngredientsFOR THE CAKE2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened2 cups sugar1/2 cup brown sugar6 eggs, plus 6 egg yolks, room temperature1 tablespoon vanilla1/4 cup dark rum1 teaspoon salt3 cups cake f lour1 cup chopped walnuts, optional

FOR THE GLAZE1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter1 cup sugar1/4 cup water1/4 teaspoon vanilla1/2 cup dark rum

To make the cake: Grease and flour one large Bundt pan. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

In a large bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the butter on medium high speed for a few seconds until smooth and shiny. With the mixer stil l running, very slowly add both the white and the brown sugars. Continue mixing on medium high speed until the mixture is l ight and f luffy, and almost white in color, about f ive minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice, as needed.

While the butter is mixing, combine the eggs, vanilla, and rum in a medium bowl, or large measuring cup, and mix together lightly. When the butter mixture is ready, reduce speed to low and slowly add the egg mixture in a thin stream, then beat in the salt.

Sif t one cup of the f lour on top of the batter and gently fold it in with a spatula. Repeat this process twice more, until all of the f lour is used and the batter is mixed completely.

Quote from Scheduling Project

The woman with whom I did my long interview told me, "I feel like women do need some type of empowerment, some type of motivation, because it really does get hard, and you?ll never know what a person experiences unless you?re doing the same thing, have the same life, same shoes, whatever? you?ll never know? A lot of men feel like women can?t do what

they do." It strikes me because, while our work helps all workers, it is especially beneficial to those who face additional discrimination because of their gender identity.

Favorite thing about the Summer Leader Program

The opportunity to work in a team! In my experience, other internships do not necessarily have such an integrated experience. By integrated, I mean particularly the chance to work with other strong, unique women, as well as the feeling that we are really part of the organization. -Sr ut hi

I loved working with 7 other women who all have our own passions and causes that we care about. We're a very energetic group, and I think we're all on our own paths to make effective change. It was also great to meet women from other organizations as examples of ways we can funnel our passions into a career.

- Madison

My favorite thing about working with SLP has been working in a team oriented internship. It is different from other internships where you only work alone with the employees of the company. I loved it because it took me out of my comfort zone. I really appreciated the exposure to different methods, styles and personalities.

- shaj aya

My favorite thing about the SLP is being surrounded by hard-working and successful women that were able to give us incredible advice based on their experience.

- Chl oe

Story from our long-form interviews

I spoke to a young woman who worked almost 24/7 in her retail job. She is a Nigerian immigrant, and has a degree in business administration and accounting from a Nigerian university. But she found that her degree was not valued in the US, at least the way that the same degree from an American university would be. Hence, she is working in retail with the hope that she can eventually afford to continue her education.

READING RECOMMENDATIONS

Dreams Of Trespass by Moroccan feminist Fat ima Mernissi. I spent a semester studying abroad in Morocco where I discovered Mernissi 's writ ings. She seamlessly l inks issues of gender, colonial ism, and rel igion into a beaut iful , st riking narrat ive

Choosing the Margin as a Space of Radical Openness by Bel l Hooks. I personal ly do not ident ify as a feminist , as I am learning more I ident ify as a womanist . One of the things bel l hooks talks about in his reading that resonates with me is let t ing your own voice speak for you, not let t ing someone else tel l your story.  I think that is very important .

Servants of Globalization by Rhacel Parreñas. This book helped me understand the f ield of domest ic work and how working women's issues are a global st ruggle.

The Purity Myth by Jessica Valent i, because I grew up in an environment that placed undue emphasis on the idea of virginity, a concept used to constrain girls and women of al l backgrounds and cul tures, and to reduce women to a singularity based on their sexual ity.

Race, Gender and Culture Politics by Bel l Hooks , this book because addresses the chal lenges within feminism. And t ies race, gender and cul ture pol it ics to feminism and its importance.

We want to say thank you to all Women Employed Staff for the support!

Thank you Sarah and Dana for all the love!