We are pleased to share the following female-owned and operated organizations that exhibited at the Welcome Reception on Thursday, June 7.
AWE (Academy for Women's Empowerment) is a social business created by entrepreneur/storyteller/sojourner Kristi Hemmer. Through programs, workshops, and experiences like POWERshop, eBook, MOXIEgear, POWERtalk, and MOXIEbox, AWE seeks to inspire girls and women to be confident, own their power, and unleash their possibility. Research shows that boys are raised to be brave, and girls to be perfect. AWE's Brave not Perfect campaign turns that stereotype on its head.
Kristi lives and breathes “all lives have equal value.” Her muse is planting good, nurturing it, making it AWEsome, and seeing it bloom around the world. As an educator for more than 20 years, she saw firsthand how girls and women tend to shrink in the classroom or boardroom. It made her mad enough to quit her six-figure job, travel the world learning about social entrepreneurship and the GIRLeffect, and start AWE.
ESME (Empowering Solo Moms Everywhere) is a social platform dedicated to Solo Moms who face the challenge of solo parenting in a society that provides little help or guidance. Moving beyond stereotypes, ESME offers Solo Moms inspiration, resources, allies, opportunities for creative expression, and some laughs along the way. ESME empowers a broad demographic of women who, despite differences in age, race, culture, and the route to single motherhood, are bound together in a conscious coalition that is strong, proud and dedicated to their children.
Having experienced life as a Solo Mom after a divorce left her parenting her two children on her own and, later, when her new spouse’s work required him to be away for weeks at a time, founder Marika Lindholm became aware of the myriad challenges Solo Moms face everyday. A trained sociologist and former professor, she taught classes focused on issues of inequality, diversity, and gender at Northwestern University. Marika brings that passion, focus, and analytical approach to refining the ESME.com platform and growing the ESME Sisters community.
Kidolences boxes are care packages filled with psychologist-selected keepsakes and goodies to help kids and caregivers cope with change. Adults experiencing loss are frequently comforted in many ways, but children are often marginalized. The Kidolences boxes are carefully curated according to psychological research and are designed to meet the unique needs of children in times of loss and grief.
Creator Dr. McClatchey is a psychologist and mother of three young children in Cambridge, MA. She has spent many years working with kids in schools, in the Peace Corps, through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and as a child and family therapist. She served on the founding executive committee of the Trauma Division of the American Psychological Association. Her research focuses on child trauma, coping, and recovery.
Yogaway Retreats is an extended family of traveling yogis, adventuring spirits, and warm hearts. They partner with retreat venues and hosts in locations around the world–including Alaska, Maine, Panama, Hawaii, and Vermont–and each retreat is led by a caring, experienced teacher. The Yogaway philosophy embraces new landscapes and daily routines in order to remind participants that they are free to grow, adventure, and be themselves.
Checka Antifonario (E-RYT, RCYT) is the founder of Yogaway Retreats. Ten years ago, she left the corporate world to teach yoga full-time, and hasn't looked back since. She led her first of many retreats in 2011, and knew immediately that she had found her calling. A shared adventure, a new perspective, the gifts of nature and culture, true connections on and off the mat – this is the good stuff!