African Leaders to Arrive in Chicago

Hello Editor, From July 24th to July 28th, 13 women leaders from sub-Saharan Africa will arrive in Chicago, Illinois as part of the U.S. Department of State’s African Women Entrepreneurship Program. Now in its ninth year, this International Visitor Leadership Program has created thousands of jobs and over 20 women’s business associations in sub-Saharan Africa.

The women arrived in the United States on July 7th and are traveling to different cities across the United States to meet with their counterparts at private companies, business incubators, schools, and more. These collaborations will drive further social and economic progress while accelerating women’s leadership in both the United States and sub-Saharan Africa.

Examples of participants in this year’s AWEP cohort include Ms. Anick Natacha Kouadio from Cote d’Ivoire, who leads a local network of rice distributors and coordinates the work of over 400 rice and food cooperatives employing women and youth in rural areas. And Ms. Nafissa Hamadou Yeya from Niger, the Founder of Design by N, an enterprise that promotes handcrafted goods, basketry, jewelry, and print.

You can find all of the women’s bios attached, and our press release is pasted below my signature line. If you are interested in learning more about AWEP and/or scheduling interviews with the women, please let us know.

Thank You, BryAna Stearns Official – Transitory UNCLASSIFIED

 

We’re Looking for Young Leaders!

We are recruiting young leaders with and without disabilities for our National Leadership Program! RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for people with disabilities. We have a fully accessible and warm office, and are located on the metro line just outside of Washington, D.C. There is a lot of intern housing options in the area.

We will accept up to 15 outstanding and diverse young leaders from around the country who want to advance disability issues and who want careers in advocacy, communications, government, journalism, media, nonprofit management, philanthropy, pubic policy and related fields. Graduates of the program have gone on to work at the White House, run for office, work for top advocacy organizations and think tanks and attend leading graduate schools. This is a fantastic opportunity for young leaders to get the skills and contacts they need to succeed.

This fall, Fellows will work to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Hollywood, educational and employment opportunities for youth with disabilities, inclusive philanthropy initiatives to help philanthropists fight implicit bias and failed systems and more. Fellows will meet elected officials, experts, celebrities and do hands-on work that will really move the needle!

The National Leadership Program has three cohorts of Fellows – fall, spring and summer. DEADLINE for Fall 2018 applications is August 1, 2018 and we are accepting applications on a rolling basis until then. Fall 2018 Fellowships will take place September 4 to December 6 with some flexibility. We have a limited number of paid Fellowships that pay $15 an hour. We also have Fellowships that offer stipends. Learn more, share with your networks and apply today.

Please help us spread the word. If you have any questions, please email the director of the program, Ben Spangenberg at BenS@ RespectAbility.org.