The Young Women’s Leadership Schools
Jumpstart to College
January 9, 2008: “Dollar Divas: Gaining Financial Independence”
January 23, 2008: “College Survival Skills”
The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem, New York City’s first all-girls public school to open in more than 30 years, serves talented inner-city girls in grades 7-12. Their annual Jumpstart to College mentoring series brought professional women from the Financial Services industry together to help students create a personal budget, review their college essays, and preparing for college.
FUNDay Partners
Children's Museum of Manhattan
January 24, 2008
FUNDay Partners kicked-off the New Year with a visit to the Children¹s Museum of Manhattan. We participated in a program entitled An Ancient Odyssey with 3rd & 4th grade students from PS 316. A guide led us through the Gods, Myths and Mortals exhibition to explore the achievements of the ancient Greeks and experience chapters of the epic story of The Odyssey. Then, we participated in an art workshop to create our own models of a Trojan Horse. After the event, we all grabbed something to eat .
FUNDay Partners
Museum of Television & Radio
February 7, 2008
“Thank you for taking me to the book store. I had so much fun with you. You made me happy.” – Nina, after her visit to McNally Robinson Bookstore for December’s FUNDay
What is advertising? What is its goal? What are its methods? How do images and sounds combine to make a point or sell a product? How have these changed over time? At the Museum of Television & Radio, 10 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from IS 296 and their High Water Women partners practiced their active observation and critical thinking skills while participating in an interactive workshop entitled The Fine Art of Persuasion: Television & Advertising. Through careful analysis, pairs discovered the persuasive techniques developed to capture a viewer's attention in order to promote a product or idea. After the workshop, both kids and members grabbed a quick bite to eat before the students returned home to the South Bronx.
Iris House
Valentine's Day HIV/AIDS Awareness
Thursday, February 14, 2008
On Valentine’s Day, Iris House provided free rapid HIV testing and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) screening to anyone from 10 am - 3 pm. A High Water Women member greeted guests, assisted them with completing forms and distributing incentives.
The After-School Corporation (TASC)
Entrepreneurship Workshop
February 27, 2008
Four High Water Women members and nine teenagers gathered at the offices of The After-School Corporation for the first session of Go GET ‘Em, a crash course designed to introduce high school-aged girls to the world of business, entrepreneurship, and high finance. Members discussed examples of successful women who have overcome obstacles to get where they are today and told their own personal stories of how they reached their current positions working in the business world. In addition, participants had the opportunity to discuss with the members who are entrepreneurs about their experiences of starting their own businesses.
FUNDay Partners
The Drawing Center
March 5, 2008
Seven members of High Water Women and ten 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students from PS 46., went on a visual discovery of the magic of drawing at the Drawing Center located on Wooster Street. After a guided tour of the Drawing Center’s exhibitions, a museum educator led a detailed discussion of specific works and facilitated a hands-on art-making project with everyone. Students were able to incorporate some of what they observed and learned in their own brief art activities throughout the “tour”. The program allowed students and adults to practice sustained observation and produce personal and thoughtful responses to art. After the workshop, both High Water Women members and the students went to a local pizza parlor before students returned to Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
Bottomless Closet - March Volunteer Night
January 14th and March 10th
Separates Nights
High Water Women Volunteers put their fashion sense to work by assisting Bottomless Closet’s clients in picking out clothing and accessories in the organization’s showroom. Several times a year, clients are able to redeem points that they have earned by attending the organization’s on-going workshops for clothing and accessories. This provides clients with a wonderful incentive to continue their personal development, stay involved with Bottomless Closet, and build their wardrobes.
The After-School Corporation (TASC)
What is Wall Street?
Wednesday, March 19th
The After-School Corporation hosted the second session of Go GET ‘Em in which six High Water Women members and six teenage participants gathered to facilitate a discussion about Wall Street and the stock market. Members from finance firms such as C. Bridges, AIG, UBS and BNY Convergex Group provided an overview of their careers as seasoned traders and fielded questions from the students. The Members also guided participants in a stock market game that engaged the kids in learning about and purchasing their own stocks.
The Young Women’s Leadership Schools
"Cool Women, Hot Jobs"
TYWLS, Astoria: March 27, 2008
TYWLS, Bronx: April 3, 2008
TYWLS, East Harlem: April 9, 2008
The Young Women's Leadership Schools, all-girls public schools serving talented inner-city girls in grades 7-12, held another highly-successful Career Day this year with the help of professional women from the Financial Services industry. Women from all areas of Finance educated and inspired girls about their job responsibilities and opened students’ eyes to new career possibilities.
FUNDay Partners
Museum of Jewish Heritage
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Four High Water Women members joined ten 6th, 7th and 8th graders from JHS 123 as they visited New York’s premier institution of public education about modern Jewish history and the Holocaust. They participated in a workshop entitled Meeting Hate with Humanity: Life During the Holocaust, which examines the impact of World War II and the Nazi genocide on Jewish lives and communities in Europe. Participants explored issues of continuity of cultural identity, responsibility to community, and decision-making. After the workshop, everyone headed to local pizza parlor before students returned to the Bronx.
Information Session & Cocktail Reception for The Children's Storefront
April 8
Twenty-five friends and colleagues of High Water Women joined together at the offices of Smith Barney to learn about The Children’s Storefront a non-profit, tuition-free school in Harlem that serves 170 preschool through eighth grade students. Now in its 42nd year, it is strongly committed to helping children who face tremendous obstacles in pursuit of their education. The Children’s Storefront Trustee and High Water Women member, Cherie Alcoff, from Avenue Capital, welcomed attendees and introduced the Head of School, Kathy Egmont. Ms. Egmont will speak about the Storefront and how the members of the High Water Women can volunteer to help affect the lives of their students.
You can read more about the Storefront at: http://www.cstorefront.org.
Bottomless Closet – Semi Annual Sale
Saturday, April 12th
Eight of High Water Women members volunteered for the Semi-Annual Sale at Bottomless Closet. Volunteers assisted nearly 50 clients in picking out clothing and accessories in the organization’s showroom and raised close to $2,000, not including the clothing points that were redeemed by clients. Twice a year, as Bottomless Closet turns over its inventory, clients are invited to shop for both clothing and accessories.
Information Session for Bottomless Closet
April 17
Twenty-seven friends and colleagues of High Water Women enjoyed meeting one another at Té Casan while learning more about the work being done by Bottomless Closet. A presentation was be made about the mission and programs of Bottomless Closet from Executive Director Kendall Farrell as well as the volunteerism efforts of High Water Women from member Nicole Belmont, from Far Hills Group. Women also took the opportunity to bring several bags of accessories including handbags, jewelry, scarves or shoes to support women in their transition to work.
FUNDay Partners
South Street Seaport
May 7, 2008
Four members from High Water Women volunteered to partner with nine children in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade from PS 111 and visited the the South Street Seaport Museum and participated in the Taste of the Sea program. In Taste of the Sea, young greenhorns become sailors-in-training aboard the tall ship Peking. Through hands-on activities and guided exploration of the
1911 bark, the students discovered the conditions, responsibilities, and regimen of a sailor, and considered the value of community and teamwork on a sail across the Atlantic Ocean. After the group disembarked, everyone headed to a local pizza parlor before students returned to Long Island City, Queens.
Bottomless Closet - May Volunteer Night
May 12th Separates Nights
Seven High Water Women Volunteers put their fashion sense to work by assisting Bottomless Closet¹s clients in picking out clothing and accessories in the organization¹s showroom. Several times a year, clients are able to redeem points that they have earned by attending the organization¹s on-going workshops for clothing and accessories. This provides clients with a wonderful incentive to continue their personal development, stay involved with Bottomless Closet, and build their wardrobes.
The Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem
Teenage Girls Learned the Art of Bragging and All About the Importance of Soft Skills
May 19, 2008
Eight High Water Women members participated in the Young Women's Leadership
School of East Harlem¹s 4th annual "Brag Party" for students with a "Soft
Serve" twist. Author and Communications guru Peggy Klaus taught the class
of 11th graders and women in the audience about the important soft skills
necessary to succeed in life, which includes your ability to toot your own
horn, brag and promote yourself. Volunteers were paired up with girls in
this interactive, high energy workshop where emphasis was placed on
negotiating, making a good impression, goal-setting and not procrastinating.
Count Me In
May 8 - 24, 2008
In 2005, Count Me In ("CMI") introduced its Make Mine a $Million Business
program to help women entrepreneurs grow and build sustainable enterprises,
create jobs and develop innovative products and services. On June 3 in
Newark, NJ and on June 11 in Seattle, WA, CMI will select award winners at
the Make Mine a $Million Business Event ("M3") in each city. Nine High
Water Women volunteered as part of the Loan Review Committee to review
applications for the M3 events in Newark and Seattle to select Finalists.
Finalists are pre-approved for financing, so committee participation
involves reviewing financial statements and personal credit reports.
Volunteers also so assess the company¹s potential to scale to a $1million
(or more) in revenues and its marketing, financial and management plans.
DreamYard: Bronx Writes Poetry Slam
Tuesday, May 27th - Friday, May 30th
Two High Water Women volunteered to be judges for poetry slam competitions. DreamYard's Bronx Writes poetry project places professional poets in K-12 grade schools for yearlong residencies. Students analyze the work of outstanding poets and learn essential creative writing and literacy skills. Twice per year, the residencies culminate in a Bronx-wide poetry slam competition. Poetry slam is a competitive form of poetry that emphasizes both writing and performance skills. Each school is represented by a slam team, and the entire competition is facilitated through videoconferencing. The teams are scored by a live panel of student and adult judges. DeamYard sought volunteers to help judge these exciting competitions! The winning teams were honored at an awards ceremony and open mic slam at Lehman College's Lovinger Theater in June.
The After-School Corporation (TASC)
Writing a Resume and Interviewing Tips to Landing the Right Summer Job
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
At the closing session of Go GET ‘Em, three High Water Women volunteers and eight high school youth gathered at the offices of TASC to go over the steps to finding a summer job, such as how to build a resume and whom to ask for references. In addition, HWW volunteers helped the youth strengthen their interview techniques by conducting mock interviews with them and demonstrating the “dos and don’ts” of interviewing. Finally, the youth shared with the volunteers the most valuable things they had learned during the course of the Go GET ‘Em sessions over the past several months.
Iris House: 'Saturdays at the House'
June 7th, 2008
Two High Water Women Volunteers assisted with programs for the day, and helped educate youth of Iris House clients and their peers on food & nutrition, cooking healthy meals, college planning, career options, financial management and other areas including psycho-drama.
Partnership with Children FUNDay: International Center for Photography
June 10th, 2008
Three High Water Women members volunteered and partnered with ten 6th - 8th graders and a teacher from JHS 265 and visited the International Center of Photography and participated in a Polaroid Workshop (the last chance to use Polaroid film, as it is no longer being manufactured!). Afterwards, they went to Bryant Park to take photographs and then went to a local pizza parlor before students returned to Brooklyn.
Bottomless Closet – Separates Nights
July 14, 2008
Seven High Water Women Volunteers put their fashion sense to work by assisting Bottomless Closet’s clients in picking out clothing and accessories in the organization’s showroom. Several times a year, clients are able to redeem points that they have earned by attending the organization’s on-going workshops for clothing and accessories. This provides clients with a wonderful incentive to continue their personal development, stay involved with Bottomless Closet, and build their wardrobes.
Good Shepherd Services: Gardening Project and Summer BBQ
August 2, 2008
Good Shepherd Services is a leading youth development, education and family service agency that serves over 20,000 young people in NYC a year. Four High Water Women volunteers participated in a gardening project at the East 17th street residence for young women. We planted flowers and spruced up its rooftop garden. The days' event was followed by a rooftop BBQ with 15 residents. This was our first event with Good Shepherds Services, and we very much enjoyed transforming their rooftop into an enjoyable supper space. $200 was raised to make the gardening project and BBQ possible.
