2 minute read
She Talks (Empowerment
How did She Talks get started? “ Well I remember someone telling me one time I was not big enough for celebrities to be on stage andthat since I hadn’t made a ton of money at that time in my life why would anyone listen to me.” I remember thinking wow I get paid by a college to be an expert in a subject and teach people but I don’t have anything to contribute because I haven’t made millions yet in my life. That can’t be right. I thought, well if you won’t give me a platform I’ll make one.
And that is how She Talks happened. We created a speaking platform and tour where any woman could apply to tell their story and you didn’t have to be famous, or a multi-millionaire to qualify. Now 5 years later we have been in 8 different states, trained over 40 women on how to public speak and donated several thousands of dollars to women veterans from our event earnings. As my colleague Dr. Karen Walker says “We are not your competitor but your biggest supporter.”
Combat Boots to Heels
How are you Empowering Vets?
About 8 years ago my very good friend and colleague Dr. Karen Walker retired from the military. She talked to me about how she was so skilled with a Ph.D. and still struggled to transition after 20 years in the military and she mentioned there were not a lot of programs that help focus just on women transitioning. So we worked together to create a transition course to help women focus on the mentality to transition from military service to civilian life. We also helped with resumes, interview training and even interview clothing if needed, and we partnered with several other orgs to support in other areas. We also help them find the right path to transition to not just go work another government job which is what people often push vets to do.
We have seen some great successes. One of our women Kelly Crouse who did the picture above “The Transition”, we helped her focus her art skills, another woman we helped her focus on what education she needed to get her to the job she wanted. Another woman is a partner in a winery. All things they would have never thought about if we hadn’t explored their skills, wants, passions and needs. Essentially, we take them out of the box that everyone put them in and give them options they never thought they had.
www.Courage2Call.org
