Let’s Be Part of the Change!
A message from WPF President, Ashley Madden
Dear WPF Sisters,
As I write to you, the May flowers are blooming in earnest all around us, the kids are getting out of (virtual) school, summer vacation plans are shaping up and restrictions are lifted to allow us to once again meet in person. We are continuing to work on logistics behind the scenes to prepare for in person meetings, including considerations for a hybrid/virtual format. More to come on that as the plan develops!
Our June meeting will feature Kathy Manning, the U.S. Representative from our local North Carolina’s 6th district. With that presentation in mind, I want to address the gender disparity we continue to see with women represented in politics. According to “Represent Women”, a political gender parity organization, women make up 51% of the U.S. population but only 24% of the U.S. Senate and 27% of the U.S. House. Women of color, Republican women, young women, and low-income women have even less representation in government. In North Carolina, statistics demonstrate that while women of North Carolina are voting more than they used to, the number of elected female politicians in our state has declined in recent years. And North Carolina ranked 35th across all 50 states on the Political Participation Composite Index (including a ranking of 43rd of 50 for women in elected office).
So, what can we do about this? Well, the first and most obvious action is to VOTE! Our voices count only when we actively participate in the electoral process. Secondly, we can continue to support girls and women in positions in leadership in many ways (including through the WPF Foundation!). Third, we can be aware of and try to minimize inherent gender disparity in the political system due to childcare, employment, transportation, and other barriers.
Please join us in June when we learn more about Representative Kathy Manning and her life in politics. Hopefully, you also now feel more inspired to be a strong female voice to advocate within our governmental process. As the incomparable Margaret Thatcher said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman”.
Represent Women: https://www.representwomen.org/current-women-representation#us_overview
North Carolina Status of Women Report: https://ncadmin.nc.gov/advocacy/women/status-women-north-carolina/status-women-north-carolina-political-participation#
JUNE MEETING … June 9, 2021 on ZOOM
Kathy Manning, United States Congresswoman for NC 6th District
Kathy Manning represents North Carolina’s Sixth Congressional District which includes all of Guilford County and parts of Forsyth County — an area known as the Triad. Kathy graduated from Harvard University and the University of Michigan Law School before moving to Greensboro, NC in 1987, where she and her husband raised their three children. After serving as a partner at a major law firm for 15 years, she left to start her own immigration law firm.
Before her election to Congress, Kathy worked to expand access to early childhood education, college scholarships, workforce development, and assistance to those in need through nonprofit organizations including the United Way, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, the National Conference for Community and Justice, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has also worked tirelessly on major projects to revitalize downtown Greensboro and spur economic development. Kathy was the first woman to chair the Board of the Jewish Federations of North America, one of the largest charitable, faith-based organizations in the world, which provides assistance to communities in need around the world.
In Congress, Kathy is a proud member of the Education and Labor and the Foreign Affairs Committees. In North Carolina, Kathy is a strong advocate for affordable health care and prescription drug prices, a quality education for every student, economic opportunity and equal justice for all.
A Note from Jean Pudlo, WPF Foundation President
Thank you! We are so grateful for the support of member donors over 37 years that has built a foundation of a half a million dollars to support girls and women for many years. Congratulations!
If you attended May’s meeting, you heard directly from the programs we funded last year. You heard how resilient they were in a year of COVID-related challenges and some specifics of how they continued their work towards their mission. Click here to watch the video on our WPF website.
We also announced 2021 grantees. For the first time, we granted $24,000!
• Center for New North Carolinians at UNCG: Women’s Opportunity for Mentorship and Empowerment Network (The WOMEN Initiative) ($10,000) 35 refugee women will receive technology tools, tutorials and leadership development training. This will include a tablet, and monthly workshops for a year on English language, digital literacy, navigating health and education systems. There will also be a train-the-trainer program so those who complete the program can support and train others.
• Communities in Schools of Greater Greensboro ($5,600) who will conduct a 15-week series for 9th and 10th grade girls to address the trauma in their lives and how to respond and adapt. This will include focus on relationship building, and learning about successful women about the trauma in their lives and how they survived and thrived.
• Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship ($2,400) provides scholarship funds for women business owners participating in their three-month Cash Management and Financial Modeling mentorship.
• New Arrivals Institute ($6,000) will educate and empower 25 refugee and immigrant young women (age 15-21) through and educational program and support group that will encourage them to continue their education and reach their full potential. It will be led by immigrant women who themselves overcame and are currently living successful and productive lives in our community.
If you haven’t yet done so, we invite you to support the foundation with an online gift here: https://wpforum.org/donate/ or by mailing your donation to WPFF PO Box 38594, Greensboro, NC 27438.
Thank you for working together to empower women and girls!
Jean
Special Interest Group Upcoming Events
ANYTHING GOES
Wild Women in the Mountains … In Greensboro!
WPF Wild Women gathered at the home of Mebane Ham on 5/28/2021 to enjoy some quality time together!
FINANCIAL DIVAS
Planning for our next meeting is in the works!
Many thanks to Sue Hunt for her very informative lunch ‘n learn meeting about estate planning! If you’d like to be included in future meetings, or if you or someone you know would like the opportunity to present at one of our meetings, please contact Cecelia Anderson at canderson@investdavenport.com. The purpose of the Financial Divas SIG is to provide the opportunity for education and discussion of financial matters.
BOOKS & ARTS
Dunleath Porchfest on Saturday, June 12 from Noon to 5pm
in the Dunleath Neighborhood
Please join us for Dunleath Porchfest! No surprise, our own Mebane Ham is one of the organizers of this event where neighbors offer their porches as performance venues and performers share their talents. Admission is free. Guests stroll from house to house to enjoy music and community. There will be food vendors, event t-shirts, and a canned goods collection for the Triad Health Project food pantry. A final performance at Sternberger Park will conclude the event.
Mebane has offered her home at 675 Percy Street as a “landing pad” or “meet up” place for those who want to catch up with WPF friends to tour the neighborhood. Suggested time for gathering at Mebane’s is 12:00 – 12:15 pm. Otherwise, it’s catch as catch can as you enjoy the afternoon. The group performing at Mebane’s is Blind Dog Gatewood. For information and a map, go to Dunleath Porchfest — Dunleath Historic District
ANYTHING GOES
June 12 Kickoff @ 9am
Virtually on Facebook
Join us for the virtual kickoff of this year’s Women Build (CLICK HERE). Thank you all for your support which will be a blessing to Tameika and her boys when they move into their new home. Together, our WPF team raised $7,134, helping Habitat to raise a total of $95,938. A big thank you to all that have supported our team!
WORKING MOMS
Tuesday, June 15 @ 12:15pm, Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen
Working Moms SIG is excited to be meeting in person again! At our next meeting we will be talking about staycation activities in our area to keep our kids busy and for making the most of our time with the kiddos this Summer. RSVP to Marlee Foster at marlee.foster@coneheatlh.com.
SIPPIN’ SISTERS
Tuesday, June 22 @ 6:00pm
Susan Russell’s Home
819 Meade Drive, Greensboro
Come cruise the Caribbean with the Sippin’ Sisters! Enjoy our rum rollers, painkillers and Tropical breezes! Susan Russell is our hostess. $15 cover. RSVP to Kim Trone, 336 707-2136. 
DINING OUT
Wednesday, June 30 @ 6:30pm
Undercurrent
327 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro
Join us for Dining Out this month, hosted by Jody Susong and Dede Potter. Contact Amy Meinecke to be added to the monthly distribution list and to RSVP at diningout@wpforum.org.
WOMEN OF WALL STREET (WOW)
Quarterly Business Meeting
Thursday, August 26, 2021 @ 6:00pm via Zoom
The WOW investment club will not meet in June or July as many members are vacationing. We’ll meet again in August for our regular business meeting to review the companies in our portfolio. On September 16, our meeting topic will be “Downsizing/Decluttering and the Impact on Finances.” Mark your calendars to join us! Please contact Peggy Ward at peggy.ward8@icloud.com if you would like more information.