Girl Talk

Our third Power of 10 Group is young women, 16-18 years of age. This group consists of 14 girls that range in diversity, experience, education (high school and college), and family life.

Initially, trying to get these girls to talk was somewhat like pulling teeth. However, as I’m sure you can guess, once a couple of people decided to participate, as girls tend to do, the flood gates opened, and they were quite open about the issues and problems they face. Interestingly, they were also quite vocal about what problems they do NOT face – which sure fooled us!

The myriad of what teenage girls face today is vastly different from the experiences most of the committee experienced years before – everything from anxiety/depression, grades/expectations, difficult family situations to the forever common – money, peer pressure, boys and self-esteem. And this is just to name a few!

We began the discussion by trying to draw out what some goals of these girls were and then moved the discussion to what barriers may hinder the reaching of those goals. Eventually we moved to what the Power of 10 project could do to address those barriers. The central focus appeared to be the need to have someone to talk to about 'stuff.'

What became obvious to the committee was that this group was voicing the need to be listened to, without judgment or prejudice. The teenage world does not provide a comfortable venue to 'just talk' – be it about everyday life or about really difficult situations that girls are experiencing.

But the ultimate question remains – "what to do with this $10,000?" What will reach the most girls and best address the most issues? Not an easy task when you have 14 girls, who by now have formed bonds and have no problem sharing their opinions! The Power of 10 can not be a 'Best Friend Forever' (or BFF as the girls would say) – but it may provide an outlet for open discussion, where girls feel trustful, accepted, respected, understood, and above all – heard.

Submitted by: Victoria Beltran, Women's Fund Communications Committee

Strong Moms, Strong Communities

Our second Power of 10 group, Working Moms, brought everything to the table—from the challenges of achieving professional growth and finding personal time, to dealing with parental guilt. Dozens of innovative ideas were tossed around to help alleviate the day-to-day pressures on today's working mothers.

Could we create a mom-to-mom bartering site?

Could we offer sick-child care?

Could we add an extra hour to the day?

At first it seemed like a daunting task, but soon a single "theme" began to surface.

Our group discovered that many working mothers today lack a sense of community. They may be seperated from their extended families, or unable to find a support network of their peers. They often feel isolated or alone, and don't always have the time or energy to seek out the resources they need. They need a place to connect with other moms, discuss parenting issues, and find support. They need a community of people who understand what they're going through.

In November, the group awarded $10,000 to the Oshkosh Community YMCA to create an entirely new program for mothers in our community. The 'Strong Moms' program will debut in January 2009, and cover issues ranging from healthy meal planning, stress management, kids and technology, age-appropriate discipline and more.

Mothers interested in the 'Strong Moms' program can contact YMCA staffer Shauna Coleman at (920) 230-8449 x106 or shaunacoleman@oshkoshymca.org.

Submitted by: Samantha Zinth, Women's Fund staff

You Area Not Alone: Senior Women Support Senior Friends Program

She is easy to picture: a frail, isolated woman, living alone or taking care of a spouse, homebound and lonely.

Senior Women taking part in the Women’s Fund Power of 10 initiative want to help women like this, by connecting her with a friend, an advocate and the resources of the outside world.

In September, the group awarded a $10,000 grant to the Senior Friends Program of the American Red Cross of East Central Wisconsin. The program works something like Big Brothers Big Sisters for seniors. Participating women are matched with a volunteer, who makes home visits, offering friendship and a connection to the outside world.

The selection was not immediate. Over the course of three late summer meetings, a group of 8 senior women discussed and debated a variety of issues. But, they kept coming back to the need to help those who are isolated and alone, providing friendship and resources.

The $10,000 gift will help the Winnebago County Senior Friends Program ramp up its volunteer recruitment efforts. Currently, elderly women are waiting to be matched with a volunteer visitor who can provide needed companionship. The program target: help twice as many seniors by the end of 2009.

And, that, is exactly what the senior women had in mind.

Submitted by: Brenda Haines, Women's Fund Board of Directors

Working Moms Get To It

The second Power of 10 focus group, Working Moms, had their first meeting on August 25 to begin the process of identifying the needs of this group and what type of programs could help and support these woman.

The group consisted of 6 working mothers, ages ranging from early 30’s to late 50’s, with children at home and children attending college.

There was a dynamic exchange of thoughts, experiences, concerns, and ideas. At times being a viewer was difficult. I had found myself wanting to participate in the discussion, as the comments were situations I have dealt with and will still deal with as a working mom.

To get the group started they were asked “What are the challenges working women face”.

The list was comprehensive. Women take a huge responsibility for the family, from financial responsibility, to transportation of children to events, to health needs. And with that responsibility is an underlying emotion that they (we) live with called guilt. They feel guilty if they haven’t spent enough time with their jobs, with their kids, with their spouses/partners, with their family, with their friends.

A comment made during the meeting summed it all up: “You know even if we were each given a $1000 to spend on ourselves for pampering, we probably wouldn’t spend it, we’d feel too guilty!” The room was filled with head nodding.

And the comments continued... we feel guilty if we missed an event that the family would enjoy or the kids should be involved in. Every time we are doing one thing, we feel guilty about something we are not doing.

So what could this group support to help relieve those challenges we face:

• connecting working mom’s in the community to groups and organizations that keep them informed on upcoming events, needs, and activities to benefit the family;
• finding a program to support working mom’s when their children are sick and they can’t go to daycare and plan B isn’t available;
• finding “a mom” to support them, giving them a break;
• developing a program that creates real neighborhoods versus virtual neighborhoods, a neighborhood that supports the family, which in-turn supports the working mom.

By the second meeting on September 8th all of this was discussed with passion, energy and hope. I’m confident that whatever program this group decides to support it will help create the social changes needed for working mom’s.

Submitted by: Kelly Laux, Women's Fund Board of Directors

Senior Women Target Outreach Effort

This group works fast!

After just two meetings, the group of senior women participating in the Women’s Fund ‘Power of 10’ initiative has identified the top need it wants to use $10,000 to address.

The target: Identify women in need and establish a personal contact to get them to the resources they need.

This on-going outreach will be targeted to help senior women, who are:

• 65 or older
• home-bound/shouldn't drive
• lives alone or is a care-giver
• proud
• private/introverted/scared
• beginning to find life a bit confusing
• has lost communication systems

The group believes these women need someone they can trust and turn to for help.

Listening to their discussion, it sounded somewhat like what Big Brothers Big Sisters does for students – but this time for senior women. It is part friendship, part problem-solving, part resource identification.

How did the women get to this?

Looking back, the idea came out early in the first session. One of the women shared that she is an advocate for breast cancer patients. She helps them navigate the health care system, finding the specialists, support groups and treatments that they need. Her job is to make the diagnosis and treatment experience less overwhelming. Because she herself is a breast cancer survivor and she knows the resources available, she is able to just that.

As the group talked more about legal services, hunger and health insurance—the Big 3 issues identified in the first meeting—it became clear that services for all are available. The trick is in knowing where to find them – and trusting someone enough to ask for help.

That’s where the gap is.

Now, the group is asking the Women’s Fund of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation to bring together agencies that serve seniors and find a way to help seniors and their families navigate the complex web of services available. We’ll report back to them on what we’ve found later this month.

What an exciting idea! We’ll keep you posted…

Submitted by: Brenda Haines, Women's Fund Board of Directors

Senior Women Hold First Power of 10 Meeting

It’s amazing how much you can learn in 90 minutes.

Wednesday afternoon, the first Women’s Fund Power of 10 group got underway. Nine senior women (10 were expected, one forgot) met to talk about issues senior women face. In the next month, the group will decide how to give away $10,000 to help senior women in Winnebago County.

The group is part of the ‘count ME in’ project, in honor of the Women’s Fund 10th anniversary. Groups like this will give away $100,000 to change the community.

Meet these Senior Women
While the women are all seniors, their life experiences are different. They range in age from 61 to 73. Some are widowed, others divorced. Others are married. Many have children and grandchildren. A few have great-grandchildren. Most are retired, but a few still work full-time.

In the course of the conversation, they shared stories of survival over breast cancer, domestic violence and poverty.

“The problem is that women in our generation were raised to look out for everyone else before you take care of yourself,” one woman said.

Issues
When facilitator Terry Matousek opened the discussion to issues senior women face, the women could hardly contain themselves. Among the issues that they discussed:

• Transportation
• Home maintenance help
• Hunger/food
• Heating/utilities
• Prescription drug/hearing aid/eyeglasses costs
• Navigating the health care system
• Access to exercise equipment (costs)
• Adult abuse
• Loneliness/mental health issues/depression for those living alone or without family in the area
• Education
• Self-concept (What happens when you can’t afford a perm? Make-up? Hair color? A dress for your grand-daughters’ wedding?)
• Counseling on when to move out of your home
• Hoarding/pets

After discussing these and many other issues, the women agreed to discuss three issues in-depth at their next meeting on July 1st:

1. Food/hunger issues facing senior women
2. Health issues/health insurance gap (between retirement + Medicare)
3. Legal issues facing senior women

Women’s Fund Board and Committee members and donors will bring in information about resources available in the community on these issues.

Share Your Ideas
Have you seen one of these issues affect senior women? What was the issue? How did you address it? Or, were you unable to find help? If so, please share your story by submitting a comment below.

Submitted by: Brenda Haines, Women's Fund Board of Directors

200 and counting

The Power of 10 is certainly generating a lot of buzz! We received over 200 nominations so far, and we're really excited to kick off our first group (Senior Women) next month. Stay tuned for updates on how these 10 women will use their $10,000 to help other senior women in our community.

Though the "official" application deadline has passed, we've decided to leave the nomination form on the Web site. We'd like to see more applicants for specific groups, including:

Young Women (16-18)
Young Women (18-21)
Fathers of Daughers
Law Enforcement/Health Care Providers
Women Surviving Poverty

If you know anyone who would be a good participant for these groups, please encourage them to fill out an application, or take 5 minutes to nominate them yourself!

Can we count you in?

Submitted by: Samantha Zinth, Women's Fund Staff

Be a part of it

Wow! We've received an incredible response so far for the 'Power of 10.' We're thrilled that so many of you want to participate in one of our 10 groups giving away $10,000. We're really excited about this project, and we want you to be a part of it!

If you haven't already, please take 5 minutes to fill our our quick questionnaire before May 15, 2008. Nominate yourself or someone you know. Our first group meets in just 5 weeks, so we need to hear from you!

Can we count you in?

Submitted by: Samantha Zinth, Women's Fund Staff

Introducing the Power of 10

In the last 10 years, the Women's Fund has worked with donors, partnered with agencies and guaranteed improvement in the lives of women of all ages, but we have never directly asked women to sound off on the issues and everyday challenges they face.

Throughout the next year, the Women's Fund will work with 100 men and women from Oshkosh and the NEW North to address the needs of women in our community. In celebration of our 10th anniversary, the Women's Fund is giving 10 groups $10,000 each to make an impact in the lives of our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.

• 10 Senior Women
• 10 Working Mothers
• 10 Single Mothers
• 10 Young Women (16-18)
• 10 Young Women (18-21)
• 10 Fathers of Daughters
• 10 Educators
• 10 Law Enforcement/Health Care Providers
• 10 Women Surviving Poverty
• 10 Women of the NEW North

To be part of the Power of 10, complete our quick questionnaire before May 15, 2008. Nominate a neighbor, friend, co-worker or family member.

Or, join the dialog online. Throughout the year, we'll give you the opportunity to offer your opinions on the problems facing each month's group of 10 (more details and discussion questions to follow).

10 groups. $10,000. 10th anniverary.

Can we count you in?

Submitted by: Samantha Zinth, Women's Fund Staff