Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely—and the right to be heard.

HILLARY CLINTON

WoW invites you to attend our Celebration of Success event upcoming on December 9th. At this event, we recognize the women who reach their goals of becoming independent, the event is free of charge and open to the public. As success looks different for everyone, we believe it is motivating for the community to see women celebrated and awarded for even the smallest step on the path toward self-reliance. Members of the local government and businesses help us to recognize our ladies, ensuring further ties between our new neighbors and their new home! If you would like to help volunteer at this event, please email candice@womenofworld.org.

WoW is eagerly looking for a Development Director to join our team! Please see the job description below and share the posting. If you or anyone you know may be interested, please email a resume and cover letter to candice@womenofworld.org.

The Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity extends heartfelt congratulations to Women of the World for their exceptional achievement in being chosen as a member of the prestigious Utah's 100 Companies Championing Women 2024 cohort. This recognition underscores their unwavering commitment to our mission to empower women from all nations - no matter their status - to achieve independence, economic success, and a voice in their community.

October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence encompasses a pattern of behaviors within an intimate relationship aimed at exerting power and control. These behaviors encompass coercion, physical abuse, manipulation, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and intimidating actions. Importantly, domestic violence affects individuals irrespective of their background, race, socioeconomic status, gender, or sexual orientation. It can also extend to violence against children, parents, or the elderly.

Disturbingly, Utah witnessed an increase in domestic violence-related deaths during the first half of 2023, surpassing the numbers of the preceding five years during the same period. Shockingly, statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reveal that one in three Utah women has experienced some form of domestic violence. In Utah, a staggering 22.7% of homicides are related to domestic violence, with 85.9% of the victims being women.

The significance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month cannot be overstated. It serves to raise awareness, support survivors, encourage accountability, foster a culture that denounces domestic violence, and establish safe spaces for survivors.

To engage and educate our clients about this critical issue, WoW organized a series of Healthy Relationship Awareness workshops in our office. We were fortunate to partner with various community organizations, including South Valley Services, The Rape Recovery Center, and The International Rescue Committee. They provided invaluable insights into identifying domestic violence, staying safe in such situations, setting healthy boundaries, and building support networks. We are grateful for the abundance of community resources available to assist our clients, and we urge everyone to join us in the effort to end domestic violence.

Town Hall Meeting

Together with the Mighty Penguin Strategy Consulting Firm, WoW hosted a town hall that brought together clients as part of our ongoing strategic planning process. Its aim was to help us prepare for the future and ensure that our clients' voices play a pivotal role in our decision-making and growth.

During this event, our clients shared their experiences with our services, both positive and challenging. These stories provided invaluable feedback that helped us to reflect on how we can improve our services to better meet their needs and expectations. It was an atmosphere of collaboration and open dialogue, where attendees could freely express their thoughts and suggestions. This event was a platform for constructive discussions, where our team engaged with clients, answered their questions, and gathered important insights.

Clients are active participants in shaping the future of WoW and their presence was not only welcomed but essential in our journey to providing better services and solutions.

H.E.A.T. Clinic

The HEAT Program Registration Clinic was a Success!

We are happy to share that the Home Energy Assistance Target (HEAT) program recently conducted a registration clinic in our office, and it was a resounding success! The HEAT program provides critical support to eligible individuals and families to cover heating and cooling costs. Many WoW clients attended to take advantage of this opportunity and were able to submit their applications during the clinic. The HEAT program team was incredibly helpful and made the process smooth and efficient.

Save the Date: November 8, 2023

We're excited to announce that HEAT will once again be visiting our office to assist more of our clients with their program applications.

Last month Laura, one of our case managers, had the opportunity to attend Utah Domestic Violence Coalition's annual conference for domestic violence solutions. At this conference she received 18 hours of training in topics such as post-trauma parenting strategies, building emotional resilience, and safety-planning for victims who choose to stay in abusive environments. Staying updated on the best practices in this field is so important to Women of the World's mission: so far this year we have opened 17 domestic violence advocacy cases and worked with 23 identified survivors. Laura was excited to share the highlights of what she learned in an internal staff training this month! As a team, we discussed the added complexity of language and cultural barriers that our clients face. Forcibly displaced women are among the highest-risk categories for domestic violence, but there is so much hope to be found in the community ties and inter-agency collaborations Women of the World is building.

Sarah Alsahyem graduation

We are excited to share a success story of one of our clients this month:

"When I met Samira, she encouraged me to take some English classes as a first step and she promised to help me get out of my powerless situation. I completed the Intensive English class at WoW. Then I applied to SLCC to improve my language, adapt to the community, and learn about the educational system in the US as I came from a different country and different educational system. On the other hand, the reason beyond my choice of studying Business is the challenge that the thing that broke me one day will rebuild me again.

At the time my husband was working so hard to pay back our loan and provide basic life needs to my kids, I didn’t dare to burden him with the tuition fees. Otherwise, the Financial Aid program at SLCC offered me a student loan because I have a bachelor's degree. Which means for me increasing our LOAN. With these difficult moments and a feeling of loneliness and confusion, I found who extended his hand to me with personal and financial support to take my first action toward my dream. I can’t describe my feelings when WOW gave me a scholarship for my first semester. Can you imagine what this scholarship means to me? Simply it means Hope, and power to advance the whole family not just a person. With my insistence, persistence, and passion to learn, I completed my first semester as one of the students with high grades and this continued to the next semester. Now I’m working in Real Estate as a part-time job from home to build my knowledge and get some experience. I’m so happy about my achievements even if it’s so small but I know skyscrapers are built from small bricks."  

Changemaker Symposium

Yael, one of our Employment Specialist case managers, attended a thought-provoking "Changemaker Symposium" titled "Welcome to Utah: An Immigrant's Story." This event featured remarkable individuals dedicated to advocating for and supporting education and employment opportunities for immigrant communities in Utah. The panel discussion offered unique insights into the immigrant journey in the state, with panelists sharing their personal and professional experiences and perspectives. It was a valuable opportunity to celebrate diversity, engage in meaningful dialogue, come up with solutions on societal, corporate, and legislative levels and learn more about the contributions of Utah's immigrant community. Whether you're an immigrant, an advocate, or just curious, this event was an inspiring celebration of inclusivity in Utah.

Outreach Mobile

Outreach Mobile came to the WoW office and worked with some of our clients. Outreach Mobile is a leading provider of affordable mobile devices and services designed to bridge the digital divide. At WoW we believe that access to technology is a fundamental right in today's connected world. We want to provide our clients with the opportunity to have the tools they need to stay connected, informed, and engaged.

College, Career, & Community Night

Women of the World attended Granite Peak's College, Career, & Community Night on October 26th. We connected with several other community leaders and organizations that are working to support the diverse populations we serve. We were able to learn more about these organization's programs as well as meet several future clients and share the various ways we support the Women in our community.

Happy Halloween from the WoW staff!

Dream of Peace for People Everywhere

The Israel-Palestine conflict is longstanding and has caused immense suffering for people on both sides. It is essential to recognize the human toll of this conflict and offer support for the individuals and communities affected by it. WoW stands for promoting peace, dialogue, and understanding between all parties. It is crucial to ensure the rights, security, and dignity of all humanity.

Health Literacy Workshops

Your Health is Our Priority

November 3 - Navigating Healthcare

November 11 - Medicaid

November 17 - Art Therapy

December 1 - Nutrition

December 8 - Prevention

December 15 - Holistic Care

2024 Fashion Show Save the Date

By sponsoring Women of the World's Fashion Show & Gala Event, you are making a direct contribution to supporting forcibly displaced women in Salt Lake City, Utah. Every year we rely on the generosity of our local community members (individual, corporate, and foundation) to support us in this vital work. If you or your company is interested in becoming a sponsor for the upcoming show, please email Candice, at candice@womenofworld.org.

Our Scholarship is still open until November 15th! This scholarship is designed to help forcibly displaced women achieve their educational goals by assisting in the removal of one of the biggest barriers to a degree or certificate--tuition. If you know anyone who fits the below qualifications, please let them know about this incredible opportunity. We are grateful for our generous donors that make this scholarship possible!