Prime Time Women

About a month ago (yes, I know I've been blog absent for a few weeks) I read a blog that talked about Prime Time Women. This was the phrase the writer used to describe women 50+ with plenty of resources, strong convictions and who make up a large part of the present economic market. These are women to whom attention must be paid!

Prime Time Women. I like the sound of that and I know many of them. When they adopt a project they commit to it fully. Read on.

Last week I was involved in a pilot program called YouAreYou, an all day session held for 10th grade girls focused on improving self-esteem. The girls attended sessions called Uniquely You, Circuits and Static (internet bullying), Money Talks, Knowledge is Power (legal issues), There's A Better Way (self-defense) and Healthy Relationships. The afternoon sessions had them listening to Rabbi Kaplan on Happiness and watching RYOT (Rally Youth Organized Together) socio-dramas. It was a full day and there was definite "girl power" in the room. Our hope is they discovered something about themselves and discovered some tools they can use everyday.

Will these girls become Prime Time Women? That is the hope of Rose Tucker who wrote down the idea for this event one night when she couldn't sleep. She'd been thinking about the obstacles young women face and how much harder it is than ever for young women to feel good about themselves, especially in the tough teen/high school years. A trailblazer and mentor herself she approached her fellow Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber Athena winners and laid out her plan. The Athena women immediately jumped on board. Knowing their small group of 21 women wouldn't be enough to manage a project with 400 girls, Rose also approached the Circle 200 women CEO's and they, too, became part of the project.

Talk about Prime Time Women. This group used their resources to find the best presenters, locate a site, and raise the dollars needed to get this pilot program off the ground. They established The Athena Fund at the Luzerne Foundation so that donors could make a charitable contribution. The have agreed to be mentors (big sisters) to any of the girls who ask. Many volunteered their day to help greet the girls and shepherd them to sessions. These are women with careers, families, other volunteer responsibilities - it just proved the old adage. "When you want to get something done, ask a busy woman."

This group is already planning for next year.