Why Women Working Across Race Together Is a Compelling Necessity

I have been observing for a long time that our shared gender does not assume we share perspectives or similar life experiences. And I spent time studying this to understand the nuances of how our respective races experience different realities. But now I see this is much less an academic interest and a compelling need for action. The recent analysis of the voting patterns for Roy Moore told me we are not there yet. Our political order is in peril now, and history warns us that the expansion of global trade produces expectations of progress but also the apparent helplessness of democracies to address inequalities and fascism. It is time for us to learn from our experiences, act together, and preserve the ideals of our democratic society.

Here are some ways White women can work to create a unified political force with women of Color. There is more complete coverage in an article I co-wrote with a colleague of Color (Geiger & Jordan, 2014). As a White woman I am imperfectly working on everything written here, and have chosen to only focus on those of us who live in “the bubble of privilege” because I think we have the most work to do. I hope this stimulates cross-race conversations including reactions and challenges for you.

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Charlotte Center City Partners Sponsors Garinger Mentee Career Visit

On December 7th, thirteen Garinger mentees and a group of mentors made a trip to downtown Charlotte to view the city and hear more about careers in law, banking/finance and urban planning.  Among the sites visited was the office of Robinson Bradshaw where WIE member, Diane Chipps Bailey, spoke to the group about careers in law.  They made a trip through Romare Beardon Park and visited Ally Bank where Ann Cummings and Jennifer Flynn discussed careers in banking and finance.  The group then visited Charlotte Center City Partners for lunch where Cheryl Myers, SVP Planning and Development (architect and designer) and Alysia Osborne, Director of West End Planning discussed city planning careers and answered many questions.  After lunch the tour continued through the Wells Fargo Atrium, Overstreet Mall and Bank of America Founder's Hall.

The outing was planned by Moira Quinn and the staff of Charlotte Center City Partners.

“Today, I glimpsed our future and, rest assured, we are in the very good hands of strong, hardworking and exceptionally capable leaders! Many thanks to Women’ Intercultural Exchange for inviting Robinson Bradshaw to host the top sophomore girls from Garinger High School and share our personal stories and journeys to careers in the law.  Girls, the world awaits your vision and passion and we are here to support every step of the way.” — Dianne Chipps Bailey, MAD mentor

Digging Deeper into White Privilege and Race. How Do We Go Forward?

To understand where we go next, we must understand how we got here

Toussaint Romaine, J.D. serves as an Assistant Public Defender representing indigent clients charged as Habitual Felons.  He also teaches as an adjunct at UNC-Charlotte where he leads students in Constitutional Law and Mass Incarceration courses.  He is actively involved in his community by serving on numerous committees, to name a few, Charlotte Human Trafficking Task Force, Chair of the Young Lawyer’s Division for the NC Advocates for Justice, and Board of Trustee for Trinity Pawling – a private All-Boys high school in New York.  He hosts monthly leadership training programs at a federal prison, a local youth detention center and is creating a similar program at Turning Point Academy, CMS’ Alternative School.   Toussaint is married with three children and a beagle named Caicos.

Brigadier General Charles Collier, USAF, (Ret.) has over 39 years of national security experience in both the public and private sectors building business, creating enterprise-level change and developing and implementing national-level policy.  He served 38 years in the U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard where he held multiple leadership roles.  He currently serves as Senior Consultant for The Spectrum Group supporting corporate, government and non-profit clients with the right tools and counsel for sustained success.  General Collier received his B.S. in Psychology from Memphis State University.

Session Facilitators

Gwendolyn Garnett COO Women’s Intercultural Exchange Co-Founder/CEO TAPESTRY Owner Mamalu Travel

Nancy Litton Deputy Executive Director Community Free Clinic Member Chair, Concord-Afton Sunset Rotary Club

WIE Expands Mentoring Program At Garinger High School

In 2017, WIE received generous support from Fifth Third Bank and the Carolinas Healthcare System (now Atrium Health) to expand the MAD program to include high school students at Garinger High School, in addition to the college mentoing program. We are grateful to Fifth Third Bank for their continued support of the 2018-2019 GMAD program, which has allow WIE to add 10 additional mentees and 10 mentors to the program.”

The GMAD program was also awarded a grant from the Foundation for the Carolinas to fund the professional evaluation of the high school pilot program.  Dr. Amy Hawn Nelson conducted the comprehensive evaluation which included a review of relevant literature, best practices, and confirmed the need and impact of the program with recommendations to expand the number of mentees and to focus the program on leadership and career development as well as college preparation.

The goal of the expansion is to offer 15 mentees via the collaboration between WIE and GHS. The students will be given the tools needed to build trust across generation, race, culture and socio-economics, leading them on a path of success in the global economy. Cultivated and mentored graduates are more-likely to have a greater positive impact economically, socially and financially as they continue their education via universities, technical schools (career readiness) and become successful community members.

Mentors commit to the program for one academic year. The program includes orientations, goal-setting and intensive interaction between the pairs through a series of one-on-one meetings, group settings and electronic communications.

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Welcome New WIE CEO - Sandra James

The Board of Directors of the Women's Inter-Cultural Exchange (WIE) has named Sandra James as Interim CEO replacing Roberta "Bert" Harper who has served in this capacity since 2014.

Sandra brings a wealth of experience in non-profit administration and fund development in Charlotte and across the nation. She has been a devoted WIE member since 2014 launching the Fides (Latin for Trust) Giving Society serving as a 10th Anniversary Co-chair and as 2017 Co-chair of the Board of Directors.

Sandra will begin this role on August 1, 2017.  To see more about Sandra, CLICK HERE.