There is an Oasis Right in the Middle of Paterson
We are proud that our Garden State Woman Education Foundation (GSWEF) and Oasis, a haven for women and children in Paterson, have been developing a solid working relationship and friendship.
Executive Director Jen Brady recently noted to GSWEF Founder Judy Chapman (photographed in front of the Oasis Food Kitchen) “we are looking forward to great things ahead with you by our sides.”
Oasis is dedicated to feeding and clothing needy women and children and to offering them educational resources and skills to obtain meaningful employment and to break the cycle of poverty. Oasis offers these services in a safe, compassionate, nurturing environment. Oasis is committed to fostering healthy family relationships and seeks to preserve the dignity of people and their cultures.
As part of the Oasis after school Teen Program, Program Director Shikha Shah arranged for Oasis to send some teen age girls to our 2nd Annual Business & Leadership Summit held earlier this year at Rutgers Business School, Newark. They followed up by inviting us to visit, learn about Oasis and share some of our thinking and guidance on enhancing the lives and futures of some of the women and teen age girls benefiting from the various Oasis resources.
On September 19th the GSWEF and Oasis are hosting the 1st Annual Teen Girls Leadership and Success Summit. The program begins at 8:30 and runs until mid afternoon. It will be held on the Oasis campus at 59 Mill Street, Paterson. The program is free but preregistration is required. You can register online here.
Judy Chapman noted: “The Oasis program for teenage girls and the commitment of the staff is awe inspiring. We are grateful for the opportunity to support the Oasis staff and honored to be a part of their important service.”
Highlighting the Summit will be a number of interesting, motivated, accomplished, diverse leading women and college students sharing their experiences and guidance with the young women attending the Summit.
Topics being discussed with plenty of time for Q&A include taking charge of personal:
- Health
- Finance
- Education
- Career
- Relationships
- Branding
Participating panelists and speakers include “graduates” of the Garden State Woman Education Foundation college scholarship and mentoring program, i.e.
- Mahmuda Choudhury, originally from Bangladesh and raised in Paterson, graduated from Rutgers and is pursuing a Masters degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University while working full time with BASF.
- Ailicec Urrego graduated from JFK High School in Paterson and Rutgers University and is pursuing a career in supply chain management.
Others lending their support are friends of our Foundation including long-time financial supporter and trustee Isobel Wayrick, VP of Mars International; Jack Killion, Partner, Bluestone+Killion.
Oasis supporters also contributing their knowledge and guidance include: Executive Director of Oasis, Jennifer Brady; COO & Director of Social Services/Youth Development Programs, Jim Walsh; Director of Grant Development, Doreen Merkovsky.
The Garden State Woman Education Foundation is changing the lives of young women attending our various Leadership Summits by introducing them to new environments, important connections, life changing information.
Future Educational Events Organized by Garden State Woman Education Foundation
In addition to this joint program with Oasis, Garden State Woman Education Foundation is planning:
- 3rd Annual Business & Leadership Summit at Rutgers Business School, Newark February 2016.
- 1st Annual STEM and Leadership Summit on the Newark campus of NJIT April 2016
Plus we are really excited to be planning with another major New Jersey University our 1st Annual Entrepreneurial and Leadership Summit which will be held in the Spring ’16.
How you can get involved
- Contribute financially to our 8 year old 501c3 Garden State Woman Education Foundation
- Become a corporate sponsor of one of our upcoming events
- Speak at future events
- Suggest possible other volunteer speakers for future events
If interested email me at
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