WOC has enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to communicate with our audience and community through a variety of social media platforms this year. We would like to take this moment to spotlight one post each month of the year that received high levels of engagement from our followers. We hope you enjoy reading this special year-in-review as much as we enjoyed putting it together!
January 2022
Women of Colors has an exciting update! As you may know, WOC received a $200,000 discovery grant from Michigan State Endowment in 2021. The grant award will allow WOC to discover whether and how African Americans are receiving follow-up healthcare for behavioral health needs! Behavioral health includes both substance use and mental health disorders. Check out our website to learn more about this project.
February 2022
Collaboration is the key! “Each agency has their own expertise,” says Evelyn McGovern, WOC President and Cofounder. “Sometimes we aren’t sure how best to move forward when solving a community problem, and our partnerships are a great resource to help us answer a lot of questions.” Visit our website to learn how WOC is discovering barriers to behavioral health services through an award from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
March 2022
We asked some of our members, “What does Women of Colors mean to YOU?” Here’s what Kelcei Schultz, Mentor for Students and Future Technology, had to share! “I was one of the fastest to complete [WOC’s science and technology] programs. I love it. They told me that I can do whatever I want to do. Now I am planning bigger and better things for the future. I want to go into computer science or engineering because I love technology. [The Students and Future Technology program] has opened my eyes. Not many girls know about this or do it. It improves your chances for scholarships and getting into colleges and other opportunities.”
April 2022
Each of us can change ourselves, our community, and our world in powerful ways! Even if you’re not sure where or how to start, Women of Colors wants you to know that YOU can make a difference TODAY.
Try this: Join a club or community organization. Boost your productivity and happiness by bonding with like-minded people over a shared passion or cause!
May 2022
We asked some of our members, “What does Women of Colors mean to YOU?” Here’s what Leslie Eschenbacher, Prevention Specialist for the WOC Prevention Team, had to share! “We will train a class of two or three if they are interested and could benefit from the program. Even being able to help one person is better than helping none. I hope that after [participants] leave the trainings, they take everything they have learned and use it to benefit themselves. I hope they look for other resources that will help them become a productive part of their family and community.”
June 2022
Each of us can change ourselves, our community, and our world in powerful ways! Even if you’re not sure where or how to start, Women of Colors wants you to know that YOU can make a difference TODAY.
Try this: Help a senior citizen. Assist a senior citizen in your community with chores in their home or yard that are difficult for them to do. If they are a long-time resident of your community, ask them to share their memories of what your city was like in the past!
July 2022
Each of us can change ourselves, our community, and our world in powerful ways! Even if you’re not sure where or how to start, Women of Colors wants you to know that YOU can make a difference TODAY.
Try this: Take good care of your physical and mental health so that you can take better care of others! Build a life where you can thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
August 2022
At Women of Colors …
We celebrate the strength of diversity.
We develop relationships to overcome barriers.
We foster community through storytelling.
We teach skills for wellness and a healthy, happy lifestyle.
We give kids and teens a voice.
We help students develop skills and confidence.
We build a better community.
We acknowledge that it takes community to make a difference.
We are here for our community.
Read the full story here: https://womenofcolors.org/2022/08/11/at-woc/
September 2022
Did you know that WOC has a prevention program that encourages individuals to make low-risk choices? Our prevention specialists have made a positive difference in the lives of many people and have worked with a wide variety of organizations, from churches to middle and high schools to homeless shelters. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for a special series of social media posts highlighting the efforts and accomplishments of the WOC Prevention Team!
October 2022
Lynn Brummell-Presley is an active member of the WOC Prevention Team. Ever since her parents and siblings migrated to Saginaw, Michigan, from Guyana, South America, Lynn immediately began her involvement with working, volunteering, and knowing the community in which she was about to live. “I love serving and helping the people of my community,” she says. “[WOC Prevention] is reaching thousands of viewers of all types through virtual and face-to-face programming.”
November 2022
WOC is all about helping people and addressing barriers in the community!
“At WOC, we’re always reaching out to individuals who are hurting, who have barriers that need to be addressed in the community – and we’re trying to find out the answers of why we have systemic problems that cause all the disparities of homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse. We try to address every issue that we can, and if we can’t figure it out, we try to find out who does have the answers so that this person or organization can help us help people.” —Evelyn McGovern, President and Cofounder
December 2022
Service is central to the reason that WOC was founded, and to this day, our values have centered around helping others. From putting together after-school programs to engage youth in positive and productive learning experiences, to administering substance abuse prevention programs, to holding listening sessions to receive input from people who are impacted by disparities, over the years we have served many sectors of our community and are always looking for opportunities to serve more people, more effectively.
Note: WOC currently has an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn in addition to our posts here on the WOC website. If you are not yet following us, we welcome you to do so to stay informed about events in our organization and to follow along with our journey!