Women2Women Fall 2022

Contents

CONNECTGROW LEAD

Kirsten P. Haas, Managing Editor Rachael Romig, Editor-in-Chief 606 Court Street

Reading, PA 19601 berkswomen2women.com

610.376.6766

Women2Women Council: Alison Snyder, Chairwoman

Rosa Arroyo, Kelly Beaver, Michelle Conway, Heather Evans, Carissa Johnson, Katie Johnsen, Mary Ann Moffitt, Sarah McDaniel, Tracy Parmer, Jes Prutzman, Alyssa Redding, Donna Reed, Regina Rinehimer, Rachael Romig, Brenda Rosado, Adelle Schade, Trish Shermot, Emma Rose Strohl

Women2Women is Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s catalyst for developing women leaders and connecting women from diverse backgrounds to learn, share ideas, and mentor each other. W2W offers a forum for women to create connections, gain knowledge, and build strategic alliances to foster their personal potential and career advancement. Joining the network is open to all who support women and Women2Women Magazine is a publication of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance.

To join: W2W@greaterreading.org Stay connected: BerksWomen2Women.com

BerksWomen2Women berks_w2w

Berks Women2Women

SPONSORS

Title Investors

Penn State Health St. Joseph UGI Energy Services, LLC UGI Utilities, Inc.

Wells Fargo Platinum Investors Alvernia University East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc.

First National Bank Penske Truck Leasing Gold Investors Berks Community Television Berks County Living Customers Bank Ethosource Fulton Bank

Herbein + Company, Inc. Highmark Blue Shield Masano Bradley Palo Magazine RKL LLP Tompkins VIST Bank

Women In Business Berks Encore GAGE Personnel Iron Roots Salon MJ Reider Associates Sweet Street VA Productions

De Mujer a Mujer HGSK Lawyers Giant Food Stores

The opinions expressed in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Meet the W2Writers!

Women2Women

Evening of Empowerment with Marissa Orr

Lean Out with Marissa Orr

The Lean In Movement at 10: Evolution & Relevance

Join a Women2Women Lean In Circles

ReadingFilm: Game-Changer! Cammie Harris

STAR: Youth Empowerment Shines!

Spreading the Wealth: An Interview with Nicole Murphy, Founder & CEO, barter black

Lifting Up Others: Mentors + Mentees = Empowerment at Work

Ambition & Trust: Blurring the Lines

Women2Know: Questions & Answers

Overcoming Stereotypes in the Workplace

In 2022 It’s Up to You: VOTE!

Woman2Know

24 2022 De Mujer a Mujer Award Recipients: EliAnna Bermudez, Edna Garcia-Dipini and Rosa Julia Parra

Health2Wellness

It’s YOUR Body: Why Women Need To Be Active Participants in Their Healthcare

What To Know + When To Go: A Timeline of Women's Health Issues

W2W 2022 Upcoming Event Schedule

November - December Events

On the cover: Marissa Orr

courtesy of Marissa Orr

2022 All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced electronically or in print without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

Women2Women Magazine is published quarterly by Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc.

Reading, PA HoffmannPublishing.com

610.685.0914

FOR ADVERTISING INFO CONTACT: 610.685.0914 x1

SEE PAST ISSUES AT W2W.HoffmannPublishing.com SPREAD THE WORD #W2WMag

LATEST

Reflections

And just like that. It’s Fall!

Whaaaaaaaat?

Yeah. June, July and August came and went so fast, my head is spinning. This time last year, just when we thought the pandemic was over, the Omicron strain hit. Now, the pandemic has been actually proclaimed over. But, is it? It’s like a bad science fiction movie that reaches a climax again and again until the viewer is so confused, they’ve forgotten the plot.

Economists can’t decide if we’re in a recession or not. Reports that show “bad” numbers are actually “good” because they indicate that behind the scenes the market is…zzzzzzz.

Mid-term elections loom large and the never-ending cycle of poorly made negative campaign ads, political survey calls and texts (yes, now not even text messages are sacred) assail us.

It’s confusing. It’s exhausting. It’s stressful.

But W2W Magazine has a remedy for you: The Empowerment Issue!

We wrap up the W2W program year by sharing stories of women who empower each other, women who empower themselves and women who empower whole communities. From our Evening of Empowerment keynote speaker, Marissa Orr to the young women leading a youth anti-racism movement to the criticality of women advocating for their health to our Fall Women2Know, we are honored to bring you the empowerment stories of women from our community and beyond.

Their empowerment stories told in their empowering words will empower you to do, say and think all that is possible in your life!

Kirsten P. Haas

Kirsten P. Haas

Executive Director, Girls on the Run Berks County Managing Editor, W2W Magazine

Empowerment.

A summary of the dictionary definition of the word is “…the granting of the power, right, or authority to perform various acts or duties” and “…the power, right, or authority to do something.”

I feel there has never been a more apt time for this word than right now.

The life I have created and lead is different from the ones of my mother and grandmothers. The evolution of women empowerment put in front of me different choices and an expanded menu of possible outcomes. I am fiercely proud of the life I have built, so it pains me to think that access to the many opportunities that empower women might go away.

Yes. It CAN happen. In fact, it is already happening.

Inspiration

But it doesn’t have to.

There is POWER in empowerment and if we want to keep ours, we have to exercise it. Get involved. Leave no one behind. Lift each other up. Spread the wealth. Spread the word. Use your voice. Use your VOTE.

To quote my new favorite POWER song: This power is yours. Take it.

Power,”

Top reasons to attend the MFG Summit

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BY KEITH STAMM, Director of Workforce Development, GRCA

In continuation of supporting the manufacturing sector, GRCA will be hosting its regional 2022 Manufacturing Summit from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Reading Area Community College’s Miller Center for the Arts. The Summit will be held during national-recognized Manufacturing Month.

Here are five reason to attend the summit:

Learn about manufacturing in the metaverse and how digitalization will transform the industry.

Meet and connect with regional professionals in

manufacturing industry.

Hear best practices on workplace culture and how this relates to attracting great talent and retaining

See a current analysis of local wages and trends to help your company stay competitive in the labor

PLATINUM SPONSOR

This half-day event recognizes and celebrates manufacturing and is focused on bringing together manufacturers throughout the area to discuss common trends, current challenges, and exciting, future possibilities. Tim Simpson, Ph.D., Penn State University, will provide a keynote presentation titled, “Manufacturing in the Metaverse.” Simpson is a Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design & Manufacturing. Simpson will discuss how technological advances, influenced by artificial intelligence and machine learning, continue to accelerate at an increasing pace and what this means for companies trying to make sense of it all. He will offer his view on how these advances create synergies that will transform manufacturing, production and supply chains as we know them. His presentation will be followed by an expert panel on industry trends and best practices related to talent, and a presentation and analysis on local wages with key takeaway items.

As part of this year’s event, the 2022 Manufacturing Summit sponsors will also be helping to support the next generation of the manufacturing industry. A portion of all sponsorship dollars will provide several students with free admittance to the Summit. GRCA and the sponsors will be working with local colleges and Career and Technology Centers to coordinate the effort.

Be inspired by your experience of the day and share this insight and energy with your organization.

If you work within the manufacturing sector or your business supports the manufacturing industry, you will not want to miss this year’s event.

MFG SUMMIT DETAILS

Meet the W2Writers!

Meet the W2W Magazine Editorial Committee and Contributing Writers who volunteer their time and talent to bring the W2W Community articles that educate, entertain, inform and inspire.

The W2W Editorial Committee members not only lend their writing talents to the magazine but also develop and direct the creation of each W2W Magazine issue.

JULIA ADILMAN,W2W Magazine Contributing Writer

I am a senior in high school who has a deep love for storytelling. I have been an intern at a local video production company in Reading, VA Productions.

MORGAN WELLIVER, W2W Magazine Contributing Writer

I am a Sophomore at the University of Miami in the Frost School of Music studying Music Therapy with minors in Psychology and Spanish.

BETH BOWERS + ANA AMARANTE-CRAIG, Partners, HGSK Law Firm, W2W Magazine Contributing Writers

EMILY A. BRANCH, MFA, W2WMagazine Contributing Writer

JENNIFER GOLDSMITH CERRA, Director of Communications with Herbein + Company, W2W Magazine Editorial Committee

I am a proud North American! Born in Canada, I’ve spent the past 22 plus years in the U.S. Married to Reading High teacher Frank Cerra and mom of Exeter High Class of 2023 member Luke, I love writing and editing almost as much as I love Canadian food classics like Swiss Chalet chicken and Tim Horton donuts. When I’m not busy trying to stay fit as a result, I’m the Director of Communications at Herbein + Company, Inc.

CAITLIN DEGLER, Vice President, Customers Bank, W2W Magazine Contributing Writer

SARAH MCDANIEL, VP of Sales Management, Ethosource,W2W Magazine Contributing Writer

I proudly hold the honor of Berks County’s Longest Drive with a 3 Wood, from the reds, on a hole that hooks left. While running, I can down a football sized burrito and still manage to hold a respectable pace. Long ago, at the largest furniture trade show in the country, I gleefully had my picture taken with Bono…who turned out to be a hired impersonator. Years later, while in a parking garage on Broadway in New York, I stood next to Kiefer Sutherland and audibly remarked, “There’s no way that’s him. That guy is too tall and scrawny.” Moments later, the man walked to a Rolls Royce and the parking attendant said, “That was Kiefer Sutherland.” My foot fits nicely in my mouth, and my favorite food is rice.

CHRISTIE GANAS, MD, Tower Health Medical Group Gynecology –Exeter DeMoss Road, W2W Magazine Contributing Writer

KIRSTEN P. HAAS, Executive Director of Girls on the Run Berks County, W2W Magazine Managing Editor

I’ve been writing since I could hold a crayon. My grade-school classics include “Anne’s Horse”and “The Devil and the Crack in the Sidewalk” and I am an award-winning poet and newspaper journalist. High school awards count! I am a native of Hawaii (not native in the ancestral sense, native in the “I was born there” sense); grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia and have lived in Berks County since 1998. I love college football, specifically my alma mater, the 2021 National Champion Georgia Bulldogs (Go Dawgs! Sic ’em!) and also enjoy JEOPARDY! (not just because I was on it!), reading, running (sort of), writing and vodka martinis.

KAREN KLEIN, Principal, Fulcrum Information Resources, W2W Magazine Editorial Committee

RACHAEL ROMIG, Senior Director of Events & Special Programs, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, W2W Magazine Editor-In-Chief

MONICA RUSH, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Wound Care, Residency and Dental, Penn State Health St. Joseph, W2W Magazine Editorial Committee

I was born and raised in Berks County where I attended Central Catholic High School. I moved towards Philadelphia for nursing school where I met my husband, Stephen. We settled back in Berks County where I have been employed by Penn State Health St. Joseph for 33 years. We have three grown daughters and we all share the same love and passion for travel. I also enjoy reading, being active and recently learned to golf during the pandemic.

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EVENING OF EMPOWERMENT

Lean In for a Powerful Evening… By Leaning Out

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022 | 6 P.M. – 8 P.M.

Join Berks Women2Women on October 20 for a celebration of empowerment and inspiration! The annual Evening of Empowerment brings together more than 200 people and always offers takeaways to immediately help you develop professionally and personally. This year, we think deeper about women and their roles in the workplace and leave with a book in-hand to lean in or lean out. Attendees can expect:

• A copy of keynote speaker Marissa Orr’s book Lean Out: The Truth About Women, Power, and the Workplace,

• A fun night out with colleagues and friends,

• Networking with passionate women,

• Delicious bites from GRCA member Catering by John Lowe

• And the always-anticipated champagne bar!

In her book, Lean Out: The Truth About Women, Power, and the Workplace, former Google and Facebook executive, Marissa Orr, offers a compelling answer to the question few dare to ask: What have we gotten wrong about women at work?

Based on in-depth research and personal experiences, Orr shares her journey as a single mom of three trying to find success in her 15-year career at the world’s top tech giants. She gives an insider’s look at the systemic dysfunction inside today’s most progressive organizations, providing a revolutionary new perspective on why

there are so few female leaders in corporate America.

“Fewer women at the top is a clear signal that the system is broken,” says Orr. “With female-dominant strengths such as empathy and consensus-building being the future of business, the headlines forecast that women will dominate the future generations of corporate leaders. But that won’t happen until prescriptions for success stop requiring women to act more like men, mistaking traits such as empathy as signals of weakness.”

Featured in Forbes, Fox, Yahoo! Finance and CNBC, Lean Out provides a fresh voice for a new generation of thinkers. Orr doesn’t simply present a counterargument to modern feminist rhetoric but she offers a revolutionary path forward to change the trajectory of the lives of women and men in the corporate world and beyond.

Lean Out is not simply a retort to Facebook’s former chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In, and Orr doesn’t like the comparison. In fact, Lean Out wasn’t her original title for the book, which challenges the ideas of Sandberg and others that women need to be pushing their way up the business ladder. Instead, she explains how women need to find out what they’re passionate about and forge the careers they want. They need to let go of the ideal of being the CEO, CFO or COO of a major Fortune 500 company, if they in fact don’t aspire to any of those roles.

Ballroom,

Abraham

Orr suggests understanding your main character. There are many ways you can “lean out,” and they aren’t all what you think: The greater your self-awareness, the greater your ability to know what you need and want from your career as well as choose which stories to believe. “Lean out” doesn’t mean quit your job, reduce your ambition or lower your standards. It means leaning out of anyone else’s story of who you should be, what your career should look like or how you measure success. “Lean out” means to reject dogma and rhetoric.

your success on your terms.

By Rachael Romig Senior Director of Events & Special Programs, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Lean Out with

W2W Evening of Empowerment Keynote Speaker

Marissa Orr is a former Google and Facebook executive as well as a bestselling author and leadership speaker. She spent 15 years working at today’s top tech giants and she has conducted talks for thousands of people in the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific, at companies and universities such as Google, Twitter, Pace University, New School, American Express and more.

Originally from Miami, Orr received her Master’s degree in Decision and Information Sciences from the University of Florida. Her best-selling book, Lean Out: The Truth About Women, Power, and the Workplace, was released by HarperCollins Leadership in June of 2019.

Based on in-depth research and personal experiences, Lean Out follows the journey of Orr, a single mom of three trying to find success in her career at the world’s top tech giants. In an eye-opening account, Orr exposes the systemic dysfunction at the heart of today’s most powerful corporations and how their pursuit to close the gender gap has come at the expense of female well-being.

Lean Out provides a new and refreshingly candid perspective on what it’s really like for today’s corporate underdogs while challenging modern feminist rhetoric and debunking the philosophy that suggests everyone has to be the same in order to be equal.

Follow Marissa on Twitter and Instagram @marissabethorr and on Medium @marissaorr.

LEAN IN MOVEMENT AT 10: EVOLUTION & RELEVANCE

In March 2013, then-tech executive Sheryl Sandberg released her book “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.” The book encouraged women to assert themselves at work and at home and subsequently became the backbone of the Lean In movement, providing safe spaces for women to share their ambitions and ideas; learn new skills; and seek advice.

Lean In Circles continue to be a prominent manifestation of the Lean In movement and Women2Women is currently taking applications for 2023 Circles. As Lean In approaches its 10-year anniversary, W2W Magazine Managing Editor Kirsten Haas talked with two women who have facilitated Women2Women Lean In Circles over the past six years: Lynn Brown, self-employed human resources consultant, and Joni Naugle, President of Naugle Associates, LLC.

Kirsten Haas: How did you get involved in the Lean In movement? What attracted you to Lean In?

Lynn Brown: I was networking at the Chamber with Karen Marsdale. She told me about the new Lean In Circles and based on my background, asked me to be a facilitator.

Joni Naugle: In early 2013, Karen Marsdale invited me to join her and Julia Klein, Chairwoman of CH Briggs, for lunch to discuss Lean In. I had vaguely heard of Sheryl Sandburg’s new book, “Lean In,” however, I hadn’t paid much attention to it up to that point.

Julia is a big supporter of women helping women, and she wanted to see Lean In Circles start locally to help women of Berks County.

Our pilot Lean In Circle launched that Fall, with twelve young female professionals. That experience was well received and Lean In Circles have been a part of the Chamber programming ever since.

It’s worth noting that Karen Marsdale is a former President and CEO of the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry (a precursor to the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance) and one of the founders of Women2Women.

KH: Did you participate in Lean In Circles prior to becoming a Lean In facilitator? If so, what did you get out of the experience?

LB: I did not participate in a Lean In Circle. However, I had participated in a number of groups designed to make improvements and solve problems in my corporate career as a VP of HR.

KH: What led you/inspired you to become a Lean In Circle facilitator? How long have you been one (years or number of Circles led)?

LB: I loved the idea of working on group sessions that focused on women’s issues. I was a facilitator for five years and had 12 Circles over that time.

JN: After becoming familiar with the Lean In format and focus, it was easy to say yes to help launch it locally. Plus, it is hard to say no to Karen and Julia!

I facilitated Lean in Circles a total of eight years. After the pilot year, I began to focus on facilitating the Lean In Circle for the more experienced women in leadership roles at their organization.

KH: What benefits do you think women who participate in Lean In Circles realize/can realize? What benefits do you realize from your experience as a facilitator?

LB: The benefits are many when you have a group of smart caring women who can help others solve problems. Each member benefits from discussing her own issues and by participating in helping others.

Some of the key issues that frequently come up are:

• How to enhance your leadership skills. There are extensive on-line leadership development programs that are used in the circles.

• How to navigate relationships, positive and difficult ones.

• Making decisions and plans for life/career changes.

• Preparing for performance reviews/key discussions with your boss.

• How to implement a key program/strategy in your workplace.

• Understanding typical themes where women face challenges in the workplace by understanding the research on gender discrimination. The resource library provided on-line is extensive in summarizing the research.

As a facilitator, it’s gratifying to watch women help others enhance their skills and solve problems. There were many success stories over the years.

JN: What I have witnessed is a Lean In Circle was a safe place for women to learn, share and ask for help when they were facing a challenge or opportunity and needed a sounding board. I’ve also witnessed women forging new relationships that have endured the test of time and conquering fears, allowing them to achieve great results.

KH: The Lean In movement is coming up on its 10-year anniversary (March 2023). Do you think the movement/ Circles have evolved over time? If so, how?

LB: The Lean In website owners and researchers have benefited over the years to assess the most needed and helpful topics. They are constantly adding new offerings online. I hope it will continue to evolve.

JN: In the time I facilitated Lean In Circles, I did not see an evolution. It’s still based on the foundation of people, not only women, getting better results and making better decisions for themselves and their organization if they have a strong, healthy peer group of people they trust who not only support them, but challenge them as well.

KH: Do you think the Lean In movement/Lean In Circles are still relevant? What impact do you think the COVID-19 pandemic had on Lean In and/or women in the workplace?

LB: I believe they are still relevant. It’s a process that I do not think is available in any other forum.

JN: Peer groups will always be relevant, which means Lean In Circles will always be relevant. COVID-19 certainly created a little bump in the road with Lean In Circles. While we have all emerged into a world that is hybrid (in-person and virtual), as a facilitator I can tell you there is a difference when you don’t have everyone in the room together. The energy is different and often the quality of the technology interferes.

As for the impact of the pandemic and women in the workplace, the statistics are out there. More women stepped away from their careers during the pandemic to stay home with the children when schools went virtual and daycares closed.

KH: One aspect of the movement that has evolved over time is the concept of knowing when to and being okay with “LEANING OUT.” What does this mean to you as a facilitator and how do you explain this concept to Lean In Circle participants?

LB: Knowing/surmising when or when not to act is a life skill overall. Discussions in Circles can help participants make these decisions. The facilitator can foster a group discussion on whether leaning in or leaning out is appropriate given the situation. The participant can then make her decision on what is best.

JN: Leaning out is making a conscious decision to say no to something. Stepping away to give yourself space and time for whatever else is your priority at the moment. This can be to stay home with young children or step away from a demanding leadership position. Unfortunately, our society is very judgmental around what success is and looks like. We would all be better off if we focused on a life well lived based on our own standards versus others’.

KH: The Lean In movement has been criticized as being too focused on individual change (for example, have gumption, don’t back down) versus systemic change (for example, addressing workplace inequities that particularly impact nonwhite women or low-income women). Do you think these criticisms are valid? Why or why not?

LB: Both individual change and systemic change are important. I do not think one organization has to provide a focus on both. Hopefully, participating in Circles inspires women to devote energy to systemic issues as well as their individual issues.

JN: It is undeniable that there are inequities in the workplace. I believe that all change must start within ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi is credited with the quote “Be the change you want to see.” As you move into leadership roles where you can affect positive change, do it.

KH: What do you think is the future of the Lean In movement?

LB: I hope it continues to evolve. The Lean In central organization should continue to focus on what is most helpful and impactful to participants and modify its offerings accordingly.

JN: Hopefully women will continue to have an interest in participating in Circles and companies will continue to support them. I have seen a lot of personal and professional growth with the ladies I’ve had the pleasure to get to know and peer groups in general are well worth the time, energy and resources.

KH: Is there anything else you think W2W Magazine readers should know about Lean In Circles or the movement in general?

LB: I think programs like this are prone to be in favor and praised and then out of favor and criticized. Expect the favorability swings as normal. Having a place for women to discuss issues and create life/career solutions is a valuable process no matter where the favorability is registering.

To learn more about Lean In, go to https://leanin.org. To register for a 2023 Women2Women Lean In Circle, go to https://www.berkswomen2women.com/events-programs/ lean-in-circles/. 2

By Kirsten P. Haas, Executive Director Girls on the Run Berks County

JOIN

CONNECTGROW LEAD 2 LEAN IN CIRCLE

After six years of hosting Lean In Circles through Women2Women, switching to virtual when needed and then back to in-person, we are excited to recruit for the 2023 Lean In Circles!

Lean In Circles are a place where women can be unapologetically ambitious, give voice to our dreams and get the push we need to start chasing them. They’re a place to share ideas, learn skills and seek advice. Most of all, they’re a place to help each other become our best selves.

Whatever your goal—whether you’re working toward a promotion, building your confidence, reentering the workforce or starting a business—your Lean In Circle will help you get there through this intentional professionally facilitated leadership development tool.

Updated each year, the Lean In curriculum is a growing library of lectures offering participants practical skills applicable to their professional and personal lives. Lean In Circles meet monthly, alternating between education meetings and exploration meetings. Video lectures are shown at education meetings followed by topic discussions. Exploration meetings allow members to discuss current-day situations they are challenged with within the context of work, life balance and more.

So, if the system isn’t going to change, what else can we, as women in the workplace, do?

“Define success in our own terms. Real empowerment is figuring out what your needs are and where they are being met and where they’re not being met, and how to get there on your own.”

– Marissa Orr, 2022 Women2Women

Evening of Empowerment Keynote

Lean in Circles help you do just that.

Visit berkswomen2women.com to learn more about Lean In Circles and to find the 2023 Lean In Circles application. Applications are due October 28, 2022.

Read more about the Evening of Empowerment 2022 and keynote speaker Marissa Orr on pages 8-9.

Testimonials from 2021-2022

Lean In Circle Members:

• “The most value to me came from the sharing of experiences and ideas from the diverse group of women in my group. Seeing what they have accomplished and overcome in their careers has been an inspiration to me. They have given examples of successful women that I strive to be like.”

• “Support from other women. I also like concentrating the sessions on the topics that most of the attendees have an interest in, rather than following a pre-set direction.”

• “The realization that I am not alone in my concerns, issues and fears AND that other women are willing

ReadingFilm: Game-Changer! Cammie Harris

“Game-changer!”

That’s how ReadingFilmFEST Co-Founder and Creative Director Tracy Schott, MS/MSW, describes the decision to add Cammie Harris, MBA, to the ReadingFilm team as Executive Director.

Founded in 2015, ReadingFilmFEST was the brainchild of then-ReadingFilm Commissioner Santo D. Marabella, DSW, who thought that a film festival should be run by filmmakers. Says Schott, “I had just completed my first feature film (FINDING JENN’S VOICE) and was in the process of applying to and attending festivals when Santo contacted me. I had seen the good, the bad and the ugly and had a pretty good idea of what made a successful festival.”

In 2017, the festival held events at the WCR Center for the Arts where Harris was then Executive Director. “I loved the energy of the film festival. I told Tracy to let me know if she needed volunteers. Instead, she offered me a job!”

That job has evolved as Harris took the organization from being a program of PA‘s Americana Region and the GRCA to being an independent non-profit organization in 2021. “We struggled through the pandemic but were one of a handful of festivals to have an in-person, outdoor event in 2020,” says Harris. “We also saw an opportunity to build the ReadingFilm office as it was intended – an economic driver for Greater Reading.”

That effort has taken on new meaning for the organization this year as they have built their Board and Advisory Council, created new partnerships with community organizations and grown their educational initiatives with all five of the county’s colleges and universities. Since last year’s festival, ReadingFilm has

presented over 15 film screenings and educational events in collaboration with multiple organizations including Reading School District, NAACP, Jewish Federation of Reading, Reading Parks and Recreation, Berks Veterans Administration, Berks County MH/ DD, Alvernia University, Albright College, Kutztown University, Penn State Berks and RACC.

ReadingFilm was created in 2016 by Marabella, screenwriter Letty Hummel and the late actor Michael Constantine to attract film production to the region, provide support to local and visiting filmmakers, and build the local production community through educational, networking and promotional events. “Many people don’t realize that Berks County has a significant film production community, but we do. We know that the architecture of Reading and the beauty of our wild spaces is a draw for filmmakers who visit,” says Schott, who has been producing projects in the region for over 20 years.

Harris has continued to grow ReadingFilm as an economic driver of the Greater Reading community.

L to R: Cammie Harris, Tracy Schott Photo courtesy of ReadingFilmFEST

“Regions that have strong film offices reap huge benefits in terms of jobs, economic impact on small businesses and quality of life for their communities. Cities like Albuquerque, NM and Wilmington, NC have revitalized their economies with an investment in film production. State tax credits, unique locations and production support are big draws for film and television production companies,” Harris explains. She continues, “And, since the pandemic, there is a backlog of films looking for studio space and a friendly place to film. We want Greater Reading to be that place!”

The 8th Annual ReadingFilmFEST will happen October 27-30 at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts Eunice and Albert Boscov Theatre and Reading Movies 11 & IMAX® Theater. festival includes over 65 independent and student films, LUNAFEST® (a traveling festival featuring films by and about women supported by Reading AAUW), a presentation of the Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live shadow-cast, special programs at Alvernia and Penn State Berks, and the return of Pulitzer Prize winner and Tony® nominee Lynn Nottage and Emmy® winner Tony Gerber with a screening of the documentary THIS IS READING, and a discussion of the impact of the arts on community development.

Says Harris, “This year’s festival promises to be our best yet! We’re thrilled to bring this exciting line-up of films and events to Reading!”

All films and events are open to the public. Tickets, film and event information, and viewing times and locations are available at www.ReadingFilmFEST.org.

By Emily A. Branch

STAR

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SHINES!

This summer, on July 6, the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading premiered “Stand Together,” a locally written and produced documentary that tells the story of the students of the Youth Volunteer Corps and how this group of young leaders decided to take action in the fight against racism.

This story is best told by STAR co-founder Morgan Welliver and “Stand Together” director Julia Adilman…in their own words.

Morgan Welliver, Co-Founder of Stand Together Against Racism (STAR): I am a Sophomore at the University of Miami in the Frost School of Music studying Music Therapy with minors in Psychology and Spanish. Music is my calling but a little over two years ago, a group called Stand Together Against Racism (STAR) sparked a new fiery passion in me.

In the summer of 2020, a multi-part ZOOM series called “Community Conversations for Change” (for youth, facilitated by youth!) was hosted by Youth Volunteer Corps/VOiCE UP Berks to educate and provide a safe space to talk about racial injustice.

As youth we felt suffocated, unable to make a change, speak up or stand up regarding the injustices happening all around us. This was the breath of fresh air we needed so desperately, especially after the murder of George Floyd. Each session was completely

different, covering every topic imaginable because we strongly believe that the first step toward change is educating yourself and others.

As this series was coming to an end, we realized we were just getting started with no end in sight! That is when Stand Together Against Racism or STAR was born! We decided to establish a website that could serve as a resource for others like “Community Conversations for Change” was for us. The official STAR website, https://www.yvc-star.org, is our home base for our mission, resources and pledge. As part of this mission, school groups have been developed throughout Berks County and even some in other parts of the United States and Canada!

Of course, all of this stuff happening during a pandemic and political/social uproar has been an emotional roller coaster, but

I can speak for the group when I say we wouldn’t change it for the world! After STAR’s one-year anniversary, we yearned for a way to look back at our progress and to show others our journey. This is when the brilliant idea of creating a documentary was put on the “To-Do” list and over the course of the next year, we slowly started compiling content.

Julia Adilman, Director of “Stand Together”:

I am a senior in high school who has a deep love for storytelling. Since last year, I have been an intern at a local video production company in Reading: VA Productions.

Last winter, we were contacted by the CoFounder of VOiCEup Berks, Christi Terefenko, about an opportunity to produce a documentary. I had never heard of STAR before, but as soon as I learned about it, I knew I wanted to get involved. Since STAR is a youth-driven initiative, I was offered the lead on this project and encouraged to do most of the directing and editing myself. Thankfully, I had amazing mentors in Nicole Fryer and Brett Bottesch. Even though I had never directed nor edited a project of this magnitude before, I was trusted and encouraged to do so.

I could not have done it without my mentors’ support. The importance of the story’s message weighed on me, but all of the wonderful STAR members made me feel comfortable throughout the entire process. They were great to work with and hearing their incredible stories while conducting their interviews inspired me even more. The only challenge I faced was figuring out how to do justice to their stories with a limited amount of time. There was so much to tell!

After many hours of editing, the story took shape, and it was ready for others to see. The private screening of the film was the first time the STAR members saw it, and their reception was nothing but positive. I was so happy to know that I accomplished my job of sharing their message. Since the movie was publicly released in July, so many more people have been given an opportunity to learn about the incredible work of this youth-driven movement.

While completing this documentary felt fulfilling, I began the planning phase of another project amplifying STAR’s voices. I can’t wait to see this movement grow and spread to even more schools, states and countries. The hope for the film is to inspire others to get involved with STAR and stand together to combat racism.

Photos and logo courtesy of www.yve-star.org

MW: Although STAR is mostly youth-driven, we had our mentors: Christi Terefenko, Alex Brown, Crystal Gilmore Harris, Collette Gilmore and Bill Gartner were with us every step of the way! We look up to each one of them and we are eternally grateful for the platform they provided us with to show what we can do. Even being at college over a thousand miles from STAR’s home base, I can confidently say that I am a proud Co-Founder and would not be where I am today without this group!

STAR’s list of long-term goals is never-ending, but most recently, with many of our original members now in college, we hope to push STAR into the collegiate realm. In a more general sense, we aim to make STAR a sustainable program that will expand all over the country and globe even, serving as a resource for not only youth, but for people of all ages! In the eyes of the viewer, we hope the film highlights our journey, but more importantly, sparks hope and inspires people to continue this cycle of positive change.

If this group has proved anything, it is that change starts with one tiny idea or person and grows into a movement that is more powerful than previously imagined.

To learn more about Stand Together Against Racism and join the movement, go to https://www.yvc-star.org/home.

2 By Julia Adilman and Morgan Welliver

Spreading the Wealth

An Interview with Nicole Murphy, Founder & CEO

According to U.S. Census data, Black people comprise approximately 14% of the U.S. population, but only 2.3% of owners of employer firms while White-owned employer firms comprise 83.5%. The number of U.S. Black-owned businesses grew from 2017 to 2019 by 8% in all sectors of the U.S. economy, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey. Nicole Murphy and her company Barter Black might have helped with that increase. W2W Magazine Editor-in-Chief Rachael Romig interviewed Murphy to learn more about Barter Black and its significance in spreading the wealth.

Rachael Romig: Barter Black provides an exclusive bartering platform for Black Entrepreneurs and Startup Founders to trade goods and services with one another in order to grow their businesses, circulate wealth among themselves and rebuild Black Wall Street through the power of technology. Is the stark statistic above what led you to founding Barter Black? How did you get to where you are now?

Nicole Murphy: Somewhat! But it was mainly the COVID pandemic that led me to creating Barter Black. It was statistics like the one you just shared that validated the need for Barter Black. My entrepreneurial journey actually started back in 2017 when I launched a short-term property management company called HomeShare 365. My business thrived very quickly and I scaled it from cleaning properties and other concierge tasks up to all-inclusive Airbnb listings and property management all across Washington, DC and the surrounding areas. When the COVID pandemic struck in March 2020, all travel shut down. Airbnb canceled all guest bookings and my thriving business shrank from between 5-10 cleanings per day down to zero overnight. With such unprecedented action from Airbnb and no end to the pandemic in sight, many of my clients sold their listings in a panic or shut down their business altogether.

This is when I realized not only was my business suffering, but other Black-owned businesses were suffering, as usual, at a higher rate than our counterparts, as you already mentioned. My struggles and the need to address the glaring, but often ignored, market gap led to the creation of Barter Black.

RR: I am embarrassed to ask, but what is “Black Wall Street”?

NM: I’m glad you asked. Black Wall Street is the name that was used for the Greenwood neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Black business owners created their own ecosystem of businesses and it was one of the wealthiest black communities in the United States. Black Wall Street was thriving until 1921, when an event unfolded that left this area to be better known in history as the Tulsa Race Massacre. Over 35 square blocks of the neighborhood were destroyed, including businesses and people’s homes. Hundreds died, thousands were injured and almost 10,000 people were left homeless. What was known as Black Wall Street was destroyed in two days. All because a black man was accused of assaulting a white woman.

I believe Barter Black has the opportunity to rebuild Black Wall Street through the power of technology. It’s very important to me that we band together and build back successful Black businesses

together, creating our own ecosystem where we are not only contributing to each other’s success, but ensuring that we are able to sustain and create needed generational wealth.

RR: How can Black-owned businesses get involved with Barter Black? Can anyone across the country take part?

NM: Any Black Entrepreneur and Startup Founder who wants to start or has a business and understands how important it is to build their business with a community is encouraged to get involved with Barter Black. Yes, it is a bartering network, but it is also a community. We barter but we also invite experts in to teach the community about different aspects of business, we host coworking spaces where we come together and bounce ideas off of each other. We are focused on scaling businesses past solopreneurship. The best part is that you meet people across the country and build relationships that will last past the barter.

RR: In terms of women in business (since we love shedding the light on amazing things women are doing), Harvard Business Review released a new report sharing that in the U.S., “17% of Black women are in the process of starting or running new businesses, compared to just 10% of white women, and 15% of white men but only 3% continue to run mature businesses.” One of the big reasons is the accessing

capital piece! Do you find that many women versus men are using Barter Black? Equal? And/or have you seen any trends in Black women in business?

NM: The access to capital piece is big. Black Entrepreneurs in general are more likely to seek, but less likely to receive, outside funding. But people also underestimate the power of relationships. Building a network and intentional relationships is a very powerful source to building a sustainable business. I do find that more women than men are using Barter Black. Still trying to figure that piece out.

Could it be because Black men are twice as likely as Hispanic men and 5 times as likely as white men to be incarcerated? It doesn’t take much to understand the ripple effect of these harrowing statistics and how this issue might create barriers to our Black men joining Barter Black.

On the flip side, could it be that women have more pressure through this pandemic on their shoulders (especially in light of the recent SCOTUS rulings) and they know they must take things into their own hands to rise to the challenge?

Overall, I can only speculate on the reasons why we are seeing this trend in Barter Black usage. What I do know, is that women are rock stars and we want and know we can have it all. Being a

Continued on page 20

stay-at-home mom or working a 9-5 job just isn’t doing it for us. We want to be that stay-at-home mom and run a business. Or, we work that 9-5 while building our business at night. We want more and we demand it!

RR: You and I had the opportunity to meet at the Black Inventers Got Game event produced by Albright College. How did you get involved in the event and group?

NM: That event was amazing and I was so honored I got the call to be a part of it. The crazy part is that the root of the story starts with a tech company that was interested in investing in Barter Black in its early stage. We declined, and the person who I spoke with ended up introducing me to someone who introduced me to someone else. That someone was James Howard, the man behind the amazing documentary, Black Inventors Got Game, or BIGG for short. This is what I mean about the power of relationships.

I have been working with James on different things since we were introduced. The inventors in the documentary were scheduled to be at Albright and Adelle Schade, who was planning the event at Albright, posed a very important question to James. “Where are our Black Women Inventors?” James called and I didn’t hesitate. I wanted in.

RR: If you had to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking about starting their own business, giving back, or just taking a leap – what would you tell them?

NM: Wow! I have so much advice to give. If I had one piece of advice though, it would be to ask for help. This is something I had a major problem doing and still do to a certain extent, but you can’t build a business alone. You can start it, but it's impossible to scale it without help.

Think of it this way, your business will have hundreds of moving parts. You, as the business owner, are not an expert in all of those parts. Find the expert, ask or hire the help you need to make scaling your business easier and scale it faster by simply just asking for help. This is where Barter Black comes in and it’s super exciting to see people getting what they need in their business when they ask for help by posting a job and then in return, are connected with the expert they need. Both the owner and the expert each leverage their experience and expertise by bartering and playing a role in supporting one another. So, ask for help, seek help. That’s something I wish someone would have told me years ago!

To learn more about Barter Black and get connected, go to www.ibarterblack.com and follow Barter Black (@ibarterblack). 2

By Rachael Romig Senior Director of Special Events & Special Programs Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

SCORE is currently looking for qualified volunteers to mentor people going into business or currently in business.

We have a need for accounting, legal, computer skills, general operation expert.

If you have extra time and would like to help us with our request, you can go to our website or call 610-376-3497 or 484-577-9791.

Thank you, Co Chairs, Dave Verrill and Pete Kostick

Lifting Up Others:

Mentors + Mentees = Empowerment at Work

Every strong business knows the potential of hiring newly minted Americans – or they should.

Did you know?

The Pew Research Center says immigrants and their descendants are projected to account for 88% of United States population growth through 2065, assuming current immigration trends continue.

Ensuring these highly qualified employees receive effective professional guidance is essential for both the new immigrant and the company’s bottom line.

Enter mentoring, which matches new additions to the company with current employees tasked to help show them the ropes. Mentoring programs are flourishing at top-rung companies and are expanding across the country. They’re also becoming a mainstay of immigrant employment councils and organizations helping new Americans adjust to the professional landscape.

So how does a mentoring program work?

Usually, a new American will enter a workplace and be matched with a more senior or more established colleague at the same professional level. They’ll connect a few times a week to discuss the transition into the workplace. While not everyone makes a good mentor, a good mentor is someone willing and able to devote the necessary time to the new employee as well as really show an interest and care about the person they’re mentoring. Mentorship can be a huge time commitment, if a mentor takes on more than a few mentees.

Mentorship-Mentee DO’s and DON’Ts for the employer

• DO: Ensure your mentees are absolutely job ready.

• DON’T: Forget to check in to see whether the relationships are working out. Feedback is important to the health of the program, and employers are just as much a part of that as the participants.

Mentorship DO’s and DON’Ts for the mentor

• DO: Give mentees access to your social and professional network. Networking is one of the most valuable tools in today’s working world if you want to eke out new opportunities or seek recommendations.

• DON’T: Be too shy to offer hard feedback – you’re not helping the mentee by skirting around any issues. If their resume is too specific, tell them.

Mentorship DO’s and DON’Ts for mentees

• DO: Try to open up to your mentor. Career anxieties and even personal problems can overlap and impact your work. It’s okay to bring this up with your mentor, as it’s all part of the normal transition to a new country. Mentors can help with things as seemingly innocuous as finding a good neighborhood to live in, not just how to get ahead in the boardroom.

• DON’T: Lean too heavily on your mentor. Use the tools they give you and try to be a self-starter. They’re there to help, but they can’t necessarily earn you the promotion or the job. 2

By Jennifer Goldsmith Cerra, Director, Communications Herbein + Company, Inc.

On November 10, Women2Women (W2W) & De Mujer a Mujer will present “All Women’s Right Not Some Women’s Right” with Kate Ekanem Hannum, founder of Inspire Community Network (ICON). ICON is a volunteer-oriented non-governmental organization that implements rural communities’ development programs, advocacy programs for girls' right to quality education, women empowerment and youth development programs, and art and cultural development initiatives for marginalized creatives, in all six geopolitical regions of Nigeria: South-South, South-East, South-West, North-Central, North-West, and North-East, Nigeria-West Africa.

Ambition & Trust:

Blurring the Lines

It is before 8:00 AM on a Wednesday morning. The sun is out. You can feel the humidity the moment you leave the comfort of air conditioning. A text comes through…

“Morning! On a run thinking about a LinkedIn Post but it might be an idea for your Op Ed piece! Call me when you can.”

Caitlin Degler, my fast friend, and golf partner, made my morning. I immediately returned her call and was welcomed by the comforting sound of a rhythmic foot strike on what sounded like runnable trail.

MUSIC TO MY EARS!

While Caitlin continued her run, we enjoyed an open and inspiring conversation about women doing business in Berks County and beyond.

In business, especially for women, we often find ourselves blurring the lines in our path to success. Caitlin shared an anecdote about recently helping a long-time personal friend secure financing for his business expansion. The amount of business we do with one another highlights a widely shared Zig Ziglar sentiment, “If people like you, they will listen to you. If they trust you, they will do business with you.”

The same goes for our experiences within the workplace. “Having the opportunity to do business with family and friends, is the greatest honor. It truly showcases the level of trust and fortitude of that relationship.”1

As women, we must constantly be aware of the perceptions we create. We need to think about our attire and general appearance, our facial expressions, our tone and our intentions. We do not have the luxury of existing in business without concern for how we present ourselves to others:

• “Did I offend Jane with my tone?”

• “Did I accidentally step on Amy’s toes?”

• “Did I come across as emotional when I said that?”

• “Did Todd understand that I was being kind to him earlier and that I’m not interested in him?”

It is not enough to simply perform and execute. For us, results do not speak for themselves.

Greater Reading is full of high achieving women living out their success stories within male-dominated industries. Through leadership, work ethic and an incredible community, we are challenging the status quo. We are lifting one another up and creating powerful friendships. We, the women of Greater Reading, are changing the future of the workplace, the boardroom and the community not only for one another but for generations to come by being mindful to those who may feel exactly as we have or still do. By being mindful, involving our team, acting on feedback and mentoring others we CAN effect change.

THAT is the power of this network we share. We have opportunities every day to be likable enough to be heard, but experienced and skilled enough to be trusted. We help each1Degler, Caitlin

2Obama, Michelle – PA Conference for Women Speech

other with blind spots and propel one another to new heights by sharing our common experiences in a transformative way: “Don’t be afraid to trust those in your inner circles to share your fears but look inward for courage you need to let your voice be heard.”2

Success happens when we combine our ambition and our performance with the ability to blur the lines. Our desire to be judged on what we do must always be balanced with our ability to elicit trust. It is not our responsibility to shape who we are to satisfy everyone around us. However, it is on us to be authentic, to show up and to surround ourselves with people who will meet us where we are. 2

By Caitlin Degler, Vice President, Customers Bank, and Sarah McDaniel, VP of Sales Management, Ethosource

Women2Women on November 17 for the networking event

the Tea on Confidence

Bringing Young Women

L to R: Sarah McDaniel, Caitlin Degler and Rachael Romig Photo courtesy of Sarah McDaniel

Recipient EliAnna Bermudez

is a freshman nursing student at Messiah University who graduated from Oley Valley High School in June. She was nominated for the award by Christi Terefenko, Executive Director of VOiCEup Berks/Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading. EliAnna’s passion for equity and justice helped propel the Stand Together Against Racism (STAR) project from a county-wide initiative to a budding national youth movement. In her role as a STAR leader, she led discussions about equity and diversity with her peers in Berks County as well as with students from other YVC groups across the country. EliAnna even arranged for US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Monica Rainge, to speak to students at a monthly STAR meeting about her career as an African American female civil rights attorney.

Recipient Edna Garcia-Dipini

is the CEO and Founder of RIZE, a youth-focused arts nonprofit that plans events and programs centered around dealing with children and nonviolence. She was nominated for the award by RIZE Board Member Diana Singh. Edna’s work often goes beyond the boundaries of Berks County and in 2020, she was part of the Reading Cares group who travelled to Puerto Rico to assist victims of the earthquakes. Locally, during National Youth Violence Prevention Week, Edna organized a walk called BERKS4PEACE, which hosted over 300 walkers from the City of Reading and surrounding areas for a walk to the Peace Dove in City Park.

Recipient Rosa Julia Parra is CEO, Editor and Founder of Palo Magazine, a bilingual publication aiming to bridge the gap between local English and Spanish language speakers. Rosa has produced Palo Magazine for over 12 years and it remains the only bilingual magazine in our area. Additionally, she also gives back to communities beyond the Berks borders. In 2018 she helped to collect funds for Hurricane Maria victims, and in 2020, she helped victims in Puerto Rico after the earthquakes as part of the Reading Cares group.

On June 9, the 4th Annual De Mujer a Mujer Awards brought women and men together to celebrate the accomplishments of three impactful women in the Greater Reading area.

L to R: EliAnna Bermudez, Rosa Julia Parra, Edna Garcia-Dipini

Women2Know: Questions & Answers

W2W: Why is your position unique to women in our community?

EliAnna Bermudez: As a leader, I am willing to proactively educate others, but first I listen and let others teach me. I’ve learned that one’s weakness becomes their opportunity, however, everyone has a choice to perceive their cup as half full or half empty. I perceive obstacles as a stepping stone to achievement, but it allows me to grow in my weakness for it to become an opportunity of strength. It also forces me to take the first step even if I am the only one because I develop as a leader when I make a decision that risks my position, but benefits those around me.

Edna Garcia-Dipini: According to Census 2020, the State of Pennsylvania is home to 1,049,615 Latinos, Reading being one of the cities with the largest Latino population. In the U.S., Latinos hold just 5.3% of executive positions. I am one of the few Latina Leaders to hold the title of an Executive Director in our community and in the U.S.

Rosa Julia Parra: If I’m not mistaken, I’m the first and longest bilingual publication in the area. I think this helps women understand that anything is possible. Doing a bilingual publication every 30 days is not easy, you have to endure a lot of long nights and hard work.

W2W: Would you wish to acknowledge a mentor or friend who helped you aspire to this point in your life’s journey, and why?

EB: Christi Terefenko is one of the most inspirational mentors that humbles her leadership achievements. Her passion to serve the community by empowering our youth is beyond gratitude from Berks County, as she is the reason behind youth excelling and using their voices. No one will understand the determination that motivates the endless hours she puts forth to accomplish her vision for Berks County. I am honored to be one of those youth to have witnessed Christi’s incredible leadership attributes.

EGD: My grandmother Ramonita taught me to love unconditionally and that has helped me navigate through my ups and downs. She was a humble woman of faith who inspired my work ethic.

RJP: For me it wasn’t anyone locally but yet it was no other than OPRAH, she does everything and came from nothing, zero, a black woman that was raped and she rose beyond her wildest dreams. She is a prime example of a beautiful soul to me. She has a balance of spiritual, smart, business savvy and just plain old fashioned a good-hearted human being who loves to give back.

W2W: What words of wisdom would you offer to other women?

EB: Being a leader is not about receiving the greatest accolades, but rather earning the best award through educating yourself to be the best individual you can be for others.

EGD: Trust your intuition. Learn how to be still and choose again.

RJP: Stop dreaming so little, dream so big that even you are a little scared of that dream.

W2W: What is the most valuable way women can support each other?

EB: By being honest, it begins with oneself. If people can’t be honest with themselves, how will they be honest with others in the face of opposition. We have to be as strong as the woman next to us. So, this means helping others during their lowest time and highest peaks/moments. Let us not get carried away by the titles given, but by the respect earned.

EGD: Showing up.

mother was for me. So, become what inspired you for others.

RJP: We are not always strong. Sometimes we are weak but that is ok despite what society leads you to believe. I felt strong because I was raised in public housing, with a single, illiterate mother, who had five kids, no car, no education and no family near her and she still left my dad due to mental and physical abuse. Her not staying made me stronger. Learning why I didn’t share the same last name as my brother even though we shared the same parents made me angry and temporarily weak. I always felt I needed to prove myself to people. You see my father denied me the family last name solely based on the fact that he had conceived only boys previously, so he couldn’t have fathered a female. However, me finally accepting that those were not my mistakes, made me strong again.

RJP: Stop believing the hype that we should compete against each other. First, stop bullying other women behind closed doors and stop closing doors for other women. Once you accept that we all bring something different to the table, you will realize that there is room for all of us. It actually makes us stronger.

Today I am free of those chains and ways of thinking. Free yourself of your parents’, your spouses’ or anyone else’s errors. As a matter of fact, free yourself of your own mistakes. Just learn from them and don’t repeat them.

W2W: How do you want to be perceived/remembered?

By Kirsten Haas Executive Director, Girls on the Run Berks and Rachael Romig Senior Director of Events and Special Programs, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

<insert photos provided>

EB: Accountability for one’s transformation. In my transformation, I had to be the first one to admit my faults before teaching others to do the same. Ultimately, lead by example.

EliAnna Bermudez

EliAnna Bermudez EliAnna Bermudez

Photo courtesy of EliAnna Bermudez

Photos courtesy of EliAnna Bermudez

Confidence in one’s identity. How one perceives themself is how others will perceive them. If the individual is a strong and confident leader, people are more than likely to listen and follow the direction they are determined to go. I believe no one should never expect less of what they are capable of achieving.

Perseverance to never give up. Don’t quit, step back or hold back what you know you can accomplish because of others’ false accusations. The best feeling about succeeding is the story behind the achievement, which is never taking failure, “no” and “I can’t” as answers. Don’t be the next one in line to accept defeat.

EGD: I am eager to learn every day. I am accountable for my mistakes but I don’t allow them to keep me stuck. Take time for yourself, travel and learn about other cultures.

RJP: Consistency, humble and hungry. Number one is consistency. I work from home, but I don’t take for granted how blessed I am to work from home, and I don’t abuse it. I make sure I work at least five days a week and not just lay around the house.

Number two is staying humble. It’s very important to stay humble. Sometimes I even forget that I own a monthly, 60-page publication, and in two languages. While I love the magazine and it makes you locally known, that is only part of what I do. I also give back a lot to my community by volunteering; I have been to PR to help earthquake victims; I read to kids at urban schools; I help clean city streets; I help do fundraisers and I donate what I can throughout the year.

Number three is you have to stay hungry, because if you don’t stay hungry someone else will eat your food. If you stay hungry, you will always be innovative and creative, and this helps you evolve and not just stay afloat.

EB: The one that did what no one else would do. I want to be the prime example of the first youngest women to change the mentality and heart of the community including women and men. I am a first generation American, who is being raised by a dedicated and determined single mother. She devoted her time to work during the day and the first to attend college by night, solely for her children’s future. In addition, she did not let labels like being a woman or Hispanic define her right to education. She unintentionally taught me to keep working on achieving my dream of attending college, while allowing me to appreciate education.

EGD: Edna was a woman of her word.

Senior Director of

<insert photos provided>

RJP: A woman who did great things for her diverse community but didn’t want anything in return. I don’t expect anything from anyone but from myself. When you don’t expect anything but from yourself, you keep moving, otherwise you won’t eat or evolve or leave a legacy of your own.

W2W: What does it mean to you to be recognized as a De Mujer a Mujer Award winner?

EB: Someone recently asked me, “As a leader, why should people listen to you?” After reflecting upon my response, I realized it’s not about being the only one to achieve what others could not, but rather teaching others to do the same. A leader’s goal is to have people follow them in their direction of purpose. Therefore, I want to be recognized as the first to be the example of what others can now dream of being realistic to achieve.

EliAnna Bermudez EliAnna

Photos courtesy of EliAnna Bermudez

I am EliAnna Bermudez and my culture does not hinder me, but provides a unique opportunity to educate others of who I am. I want to be the CHANGE for my COMMUNITY. Therefore, I perceive my high-level of academic performance as an opportunity to create a voice for others to see that education empowers us in unity to overcome these labels that try to entrap my generation from a future and stand together for our rights as students, leaders and Americans.

EGD: It brings me happiness to know that my community embraces my influence. I am grateful to have a community of respectful women who support and empower diversity and inclusion for women of color.

<insert photos provided>

Edna Garcia-Dipini

Edna Garcia Dipini Edna

Photo courtesy of Edna Garcia-Dipini

Photos courtesy of Edna Garcia Dipini

Continued on page 28

<see photos of Rosa Julia Parra courtesy

Headshot of RJP

W2W: What three things do you recommend that contribute to your success?

RJP: For me it was an honor, again because I don’t expect anything from anyone but when you aren’t sitting around waiting for the applause, and you do get applauded or recognized it means so much more. It reinforces your “WHY” and it gives you that extra push to continue to do things for your community, expecting nothing in return.

W2W: Please share why you believe W2W is important for the community & why De Mujer a Mujer is important for the community.

EB: Greatness comes by small beginnings. Foundations are built with patience and determination. Providing a platform for women to share their achievements in a supportive atmosphere is not always successfully given. It’s empowering to work with one another to represent tomorrow’s future and I believe W2W has truly portrayed unity for womanhood in the community. I am overjoyed to be a part of something so change-making in today’s society. W2W is needed for women to grow stronger together and not weaker apart.

EGD: It is important to create opportunities for women that can help to guide, coach and empower in order to strengthen our community.

Life is good…

…when you can take your pick of fun things to do

…when family and friends come to visit

…when new neighbors seem like old friends

Rosa Julia Parra Raising Funds for St. Judes

RJP: Anywhere that there are gatherings that push any human being to the next level is something important for the community. However, as a female knowing everything our female ancestors had to endure, how they were treated as either the cleaning lady, as the one that only gives birth but doesn’t or shouldn’t have an opinion, something like W2W is needed to empower the young girls and women but also at the same time paying tribute to the women who paved the way for us to be here today.

Life is good when you can spend time with family and friends, when there’s always plenty to do and when delicious professionally prepared meals are served restaurant style. Our residents enjoy entertaining activities and opportunities to engage with the community both inside and outside our campus, always knowing assistance is never more than a few steps away, if needed. To learn more, call or visit us today. Life is good… at Country Meadows.

… when the food is fresh, tasty & nutritious

…when there’s always someone there to help if you need it

Independent Living Personal Care Memory Care Restorative Care

1800 Tulpehocken Road Wyomissing (close to Route 422 and US-222) 610-374-3122

…when you have your favorite pet by your side

Photo courtesy of Rosa Julia Parra

Today we can vote, we don’t have to cook if we don’t want to, we can send our kids to daycare while we live our dream careers and still have a great stable family. We own our bodies and our minds, and I believe it’s because of women gatherings across the nation that continue empowering us. To have these groups in Spanish via De Mujer a Mujer and know that the community welcomes and accepts the diversity that we bring to the table, makes it more of a blessing. Us Latinos have a saying that says, “En la Union esta la fuerza” which means: In union stands power. We must remain united no matter what language we speak.

W2W: Anything else you’d like to share?

EB: Don’t be afraid to be the first. I have learned from my inspirational and phenomenal mother, the first individual in the family to attend college, to follow my ambitions in becoming the first aspiring nurse in my family regardless of any impediments. Everyone has a first teacher who becomes their inspiration as my mother was for me. So, become what inspired you for others.

EGD: Thank you for this opportunity!

Rosa Julia Parra

Photo courtesy of Rosa Julia Parra

RJP: We are not always strong. Sometimes we are weak but that is ok despite what society leads you to believe. I felt strong because I was raised in public housing, with a single, illiterate mother, who had five kids, no car, no education and no family near her and she still left my dad due to mental and physical abuse. Her not staying made me stronger. Learning why I didn’t share the same last name as my brother even though we shared the same parents made me angry and temporarily weak. I always felt I needed to prove myself to people. You see my father denied me the family last name solely based on the fact that he had conceived only boys previously, so he couldn’t have fathered a female. However, me finally accepting that those were not my mistakes, made me strong again.

Today I am free of those chains and ways of thinking. Free yourself of your parents’, your spouses’ or anyone else’s errors. As a matter of fact, free yourself of your own mistakes. Just learn from them and don’t repeat them. 2

By Kirsten Haas, Executive Director, Girls on the Run Berks, and Rachael Romig,Senior Director of Events and Special Programs, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Stereotypes Overcoming in the Workplace

“The world is full of movers and shakers.”

The main stereotype behind that phrase is the idea that men are the ones spearheading the moves within the labor force. As Partners and Trial Attorneys at the law firm of Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer and Kupersmith, P.C., Ana Amarante-Craig and Beth Bowers know firsthand what it is like to tackle the stereotypes that women face in the maledominated legal field.

As a Latina lawyer, Attorney AmaranteCraig understands the additional challenge of being a double-minority within the legal field. Indeed, at present, Latinas comprise a mere 1.47% of all lawyers in the United States. The genderwage gap is also highest for Latinas who, on average, earn just 55 cents for every dollar earned by a white, non-Hispanic male. Significantly, Latina lawyers are among the lowest ethnic demographic among law firm partners in America.

The lack of female representation within the legal field has led to stereotypes such as assuming that a woman walking into a courtroom is either a legal assistant, the court reporter, a judicial staff member or even a defendant, if the setting involves a criminal case. Beyond the legal field, women are also often stereotyped as being soft-spoken, needing others to speak for them and/or lacking aggressiveness. They are sometimes overlooked for long-term projects out of the fear that a pregnancy or other caregiving obligations at home will deter their ability to undertake and lead long-term initiatives. Moreover, women are often regarded as best suited for the “helping professions” such as nursing, teaching and child care, rather than the traditionally male-dominated fields of law, finance, business and technology. These stereotypes have, at times, triggered women to suffer “imposter

syndrome.” The phenomenon of imposter syndrome, which was originally developed in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanna Imes, encompasses feeling like a fraud or an imposter in one’s environment – usually a professional setting – and causes selfdoubt and an inability to believe that one’s accomplishments and accolades are deserved. While this phenomenon is not unique to women, many women have reported seeing themselves as imposters once they have attained professional goals and success, especially in maledominated fields.

The good news is that stereotypes can be shattered, regardless of their pervasiveness. To start, a woman seeking to advance in her field can focus on gaining the education, credentials and certifications needed to excel in her chosen profession. She can also arduously

hone her presentation skills by improving her command of the English language, her diction and practicing confident projection of her voice. Additionally, by dressing professionally when the circumstances require such an effort, a woman can command the room with confidence.

Moreover, seeking a mentor who can share how they overcame prior pitfalls can empower a new way forward around career-based challenges. Being mentored by a woman who has entered and succeeded within a male-dominated field can provide immeasurable confidence to a young female professional early on in her career when she needs the guidance the most. Significantly, mentoring honors those who paved the way for us and allows us to “pay it forward” by pulling newcomers up the ladder of success. Success does not occur in a vacuum and we can grow our numbers within any

field by helping others achieve their goals.

There are many social programs which can provide support to women seeking to further their careers and to empower themselves. For example, LCH Health and Community Services in Kennett Square has programs that provide Job Placement Assistance, as well as GED and English as a Second Language courses. LCH also offers classes to prepare a candidate to take the U.S. Citizenship exam. In Reading, Berks County Community Foundation has over 50 grants and scholarships that can be accessed by Berks County students for financial assistance with college and graduate programs.

In all, women are the universe’s chosen vessels for life because we are geared

towards creation, nurturing and growth. We can empower each other to reach for the stars. Even though setting and achieving professional goals can be time-consuming, as well as mentally and physically taxing, the benefits generally outweigh the stress and effort exerted to reach them.

Together we can all achieve and succeed and, in turn, dispel the hurtful stereotypes that surround us. 2

By Ana Amarante-Craig, Esquire and Beth Bowers, Esquire Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer & Kupersmith, P.C.

It’s YOUR BodyWhy Women Need To Be Active Participants in Their Healthcare

Many people are surprised to learn that physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend a girl have her first visit with a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15. We’re fortunate that at this young age most girls don’t have significant health concerns, but we can talk about it and help prepare them for the upcoming physical and emotional changes they may experience.

I like my first visit with a young patient and their parent or guardian to be proactive so we can set health goals and provide guidance for a long, healthy life. This first visit provides the teen the opportunity to begin to build trust with their healthcare provider, ask questions and alleviate fears. During the initial appointment, I also talk about normal development, discuss family history, risk factors and schedule any other health screenings they may need. It is unlikely that a pelvic exam would be needed at this first visit.

I also use this appointment as an opportunity to discuss other important healthy habits that impact teens. We discuss risky behaviors such as smoking, vaping, alcohol consumption and texting while driving as well as the impact these choices can have on them today and later in life. We also address the importance of healthy choices, physical activity and the importance of mental health.

As teens experience menstruation and hormonal changes, they may also experience heavy or irregular periods, a delayed period or have acne or unwanted hair growth. These concerns can also be addressed with the gynecologist.

Parents and guardians play an important role for young women as they go through these changes and there are things you can to do help:

• Educate yourself on upcoming physical and emotional changes so you can have discussions and answer questions.

• Be proactive and set health goals.

• Keep open lines of communication and encourage them to ask questions.

• After the appointment, set aside time to speak with her about the information addressed during the appointment.

• Let the young woman take some control and let them be involved in their healthcare decisions.

• Lead by example by engaging in your own healthy practices and lifestyle choices.

• Take the young woman’s maturity level into account throughout the process.

When we encourage young women to be active participants in their healthcare, we lay the foundation for their strong, healthy future.

On the other end of the spectrum, women must prepare for menopausal transition or as I sometimes refer to it: the “new puberty.” Menopausal transition typically occurs around the age of 51 and it can last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years.

The most common symptoms of menopause include abnormal bleeding, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, depression,

Tips to be EMPOWERED at Your Next Appointment:

• Be prepared for your visit. If this is a first visit with a new physician be sure to have information regarding your past medical history, family medical history, surgical history, list of medications and vaccination records.

• Share with the physician if you are experiencing anything out of the ordinary or different regarding your health.

• Ask questions! I encourage patients to write them down or make notes in their phone so we can address all concerns and nothing is forgotten.

• BE HONEST! It’s so important to share honest and accurate information with your physician. He or she will listen and advise without judgment. If you omit information, it could impact the diagnosis and treatment process.

anxiety, vaginal dryness, decrease in sex drive and skin and hair changes. Sometimes these symptoms can begin years before the period stops.

The most challenging thing about menopause is that no two women experience it the same way and it can be a bumpy ride for some. However, there are ways to prepare to make menopause and its symptoms easier to manage. I recommend eating a healthy and balanced diet; maintaining a healthy weight; scheduling regular checkups with your physician; receiving appropriate vaccines as recommended by your physician; exercise and practicing mindfulness.

If you are suffering from the bothersome effects of menopause, there is good news. Medication and treatments are available to help make the changes around menopause easier for patients. A wide array of hormonal (estrogen and progesterone) and nonhormonal medications including patches and oral medications, can help balance the body and manage symptoms. In cases of excessive bleeding during menstruation, a low dose birth control or progesterone IUD can help. It is important to treat heavy periods because if left unmanaged, heavier bleeding can lead to iron deficiencies.

The most important thing you can do while experiencing menopause is to stay in touch with your physician. Working together to update and make changes to your treatment plan, as needed, can help you adjust and relieve the symptoms that are worrisome or bothersome. Managing menopause and its symptoms is a team effort.

And, as always, be kind to yourself! 2

By Christie Ganas, MD Tower Health Medical Group Gynecology – Exeter DeMoss Road

What To Know + When To Go: A Timeline of Women's Health Issues

Timeline of Women's Health Issues <sidebar with It’s YOUR Body article>

The foundation of good health is prevention, but with ever changing guidelines and opinions, it can be challenging to keep track of when and why you really need to see your health care provider. The best advice is to eat well, be active, take care of your mental health and establish a relationship with a health care provider you trust. A provider can have an open and honest discussion with you about your body. Women experience many unique health issues and we need to educate ourselves to learn about proven, scientific based methods to improve our health and prevent disease It is always best to work with your primary care provider to create a prevention plan designed for you.

The foundation of good health is prevention, but with ever-changing guidelines and opinions, it can be challenging to keep track of when and why you really need to see your health care provider. The best advice is to eat well, be active, take care of your mental health and establish a relationship with a health care provider you trust. A provider can have an open and honest discussion with you about your body. Women experience many unique health issues and we need to educate ourselves to learn about proven, scientific-based methods to improve our health and prevent disease. It is always best to work with your primary care provider to create a prevention plan designed for you.

SCREENINGS:

SCREENINGS:

Health Condition Screening 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s Frequency

Breast cancer Mammogram

Colon Cancer Colonoscopy

Cervical Cancer Pelvic Exam and Pap Smear

Osteoporosis Bone Density Test

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) chlamydia and gonorrhea

Heart disease and stroke Blood Pressure

Heart disease and stroke Cholesterol

Diabetes Type 2 Fasting blood glucose or A1c

Skin Cancer Visual skin exam

Lung Cancer X Ray

Oral Care

VACCINES:

Annual*; to age 75

Every 10 years*; to age 75

Every three years 21 30 Every five years if also tested for HPV

Every 2 3 years*

with new or multiple sex partners

Annual

Every 4 6 years*

year for smokers or previous smokers to age

*Discuss with your provider as family history and risk factors will be taken in to consideration. References: https://www.heart.org/-/media/Healthy-Living-Files/LE8-Fact-Sheets/LE8_Eat_Better_Fact_Sheet.pdf https://www.huffpost.com/entry/womens-health-specialists-infographic_n_1515668 https://www.womenshealth.gov/healthy-living-age https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/womens-health.htm

Information compiled by Monica Rush, Director of Rehabilitation Services, Wound Care, Residency and Dental, Penn State Health St. Joseph, and Krista Schenkel, DO, Penn State Health St. Joseph

In 2022 It’s Up to You: Vote!

Another voting cycle is upon us which means we are bombarded with messages and ads on social media, television and email from candidates hoping to earn our vote. As we approach Election Day on November 8, 2022, here’s a primer on how to register to vote, evaluate candidates and issues, and actually vote.

Registering to Vote

Before considering for whom to vote, it’s important that you are registered to vote. To be eligible to vote in Pennsylvania, you must be:

• A citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next election.

• A resident of Pennsylvania and your election district for at least 30 days before the next election.

• At least 18 years of age on the day of the next election.

October 24, 2022 is the last day to register to vote or update your voter registration before this November’s general election.

There are several ways to register:

1. In person at the Berks County Elections Office located at Court and Reed Streets in Reading, Pennsylvania.

2. When applying for or renewing a Pennsylvania Driver’s License.

3. By mail using a form available at many municipal buildings, state liquor stores and some branches of the United States Postal Service.

4. At state government offices including but not limited to armed forces recruitment centers; area agencies on aging; and offices of special education.

5. Online by visiting www.vote.pa.gov/register.

Evaluating the Candidates

There are several online resources that provide information on the candidates, the issues and general information about the election process.

www.ProCon.org

ProCon.org’s mission is “To promote civility, critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship by presenting the pro and con arguments to debatable issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, freely accessible way.” It serves as a non-biased information and presents sourced pros and cons of debatable issues, as well as a host of reference information relevant to those issues.

www.VOTE411.org

Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF), VOTE411.org provides nonpartisan information with both general and state-specific information. Unlike ProCon.org which highlights issues, VOTE411.org focuses on the registration process including absentee ballot information, election dates, polling place locations and registration deadlines.

It also provides a user-friendly snapshot of the next scheduled election and key deadlines associated with it. Users can enter their home address and find the polling location closest to their residence.

www.VotesPa.com

Votes PA is an official Pennsylvania government website that provides information on registration status, upcoming elections and absentee ballots. It provides election return information at the federal, state and county level for the current year and prior years dating back to 2000.

In a section titled Find Voter Registration Status users can enter their personal information and receive a snapshot of their voting status, party, United States Congressional District, State Senatorial District, State House Legislative District and closest polling location.

Voting Options

Voting at the Polls | www.vote.pa.gov/AtThePolls

If you choose to vote in person, polls are open on Election Day from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. If you have voted at your polling location before, you do not need to bring identification with you. If you are voting at a polling location for the first time in your election district, you WILL need to bring one of these forms of identification:

Driver’s license | U.S. passport | Military, student or employee ID Voter registration card | Firearm permit | Current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government check | Any ID issued by the commonwealth or federal government. Once at the polling location, poll workers will check you in and answer any questions you might have about the voting process.

Voting by Mail-in or Absentee Ballot

Registered voters can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot online with a valid PA driver’s license or photo I.D. from the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.

• Mail-in ballot – Any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. You may simply request this ballot without a reason. You now have the option to request to be added to the annual mail-in ballot request list where you’ll receive an application to renew your mail-in ballot request each year. Once your request is approved, you will automatically receive ballots for the remainder of the year, and you do not need to submit an application for each election.

• Absentee ballot – If you plan to be out of the municipality on Election Day or if you have a disability or illness that prevents you from going to your polling place on Election Day, you can request this ballot type, which still requires you to list a reason for your ballot.

Request forms for mail-in or absentee ballots must be received by November 1, 2022. Your completed ballet must be received by 8:00 PM on Election Day. 2

By Karen Klein,Principal, Fulcrum Information Resources

CONNECTGROW LEAD 2

Women2Women (W2W) is Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s catalyst for developing women leaders and connecting women from diverse backgrounds to learn, share ideas, and mentor each other through offering a forum for women to create connections, gain knowledge, and build strategic alliances to foster their personal potential and career advancement. Joining the network is open to all who support women.

De Mujer a Mujer, una iniciativa de W2W, continúa conectando a mujeres de diversos orígenes al ofrecer programación especializada en la noche y destacar a oradores de diversos orígenes.

To register for events & receive the Women2Women e-newsletter, visit www.berkswomen2women.com.

NOVEMBER 2022

Women2Women Networking Experience

SPILLING THE TEA ON CONFIDENCE –BRINGING YOUNG WOMEN TO THE TABLE ChristiTerefenko, 2022ATHENA EliAnnaBermudez,2022DeMujeraMujer YoungChangemaker

Bringing other women to the table is vital to share past successes, obstacles, and learn from the newest generation. We welcome Christi (mentor) & EliAnna (mentee) to kick off our networking event by offering a look at the importance of mentorship and how it can positively affect your personal and professional paths. Following the session, we will be breaking into tables to network with one another.

We are asking all who attend BRING ANOTHER WOMAN to empower and lift up! Consider inviting an up-and-coming leader in your workplace, friend, daughter, or mentee. High school and college women will be attending to expand their networks. We will also be hosting Zerbe Photography who will be offering complimentary headshots to update your resumes and LinkedIn profiles!

DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: WCR Center for the Arts

Price: $20/GRCA Member | $30/Not Yet Member Free for Students

Women2Women (W2W) is a special program of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA).

GRCA’s mission is to be Berks County’s leading resource for building a healthy, competitive business community by assisting companies to retain, expand and grow their operations and employment while also attracting new business to Berks County.

Greater Possibilities Start Here. Visit greaterreading.org for resources we can offer your business, or connect with us directly with any questions you may have at info@GreaterReading.org or call 610-376-6766.

De Mujer a Mujer ALL WOMEN’S RIGHTS NOT SOME WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Kate Ekanem Hannum, FounderInspireCommunityNetwork(ICON)

Mujer Mujer

There’s been a good amount of historical and current movements that address all forms of gender inequality confronted by women from around the world. More than ever, we now have a significant number of women in politics, in business, engineering, science and even in education, and while this is a breakthrough in our time, there are still women with stories yet unheard. This presentation will focus on featuring those stories to enable a robust conversation that strives to recognize the differences in the various forms of challenges that affect women from developing countries. It will conclude by highlighting the works of ICON in West Africa.

Ha habido una buena cantidad de movimientos históricos y actuales que abordan todas las formas de desigualdad de género que enfrentan las mujeres de todo el mundo. Más que nunca, ahora tenemos un número significativo de mujeres en política, negocios, ingeniería, ciencia e incluso en la educación, y si bien esto es un gran avance en nuestro tiempo, todavía hay mujeres, con historias, aún no escuchadas. Esta presentación se centrará en presentar esas historias para permitir una conversación sólida que se esfuerce por reconocer las diferencias en las diversas formas de desafíos que afectan a las mujeres de los países en desarrollo. Concluirá destacando los trabajos de ICON en África Occidental.

DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Abraham Lincoln Events (parking in garage below)

Price: $10/person

W2W Networking Experience HOLIDAY WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP

Women2Women has partnered with woman-owned & family-owned Folino Estate Winery to host a wreath making holiday workshop! Attendance is limited in this beautiful venue. Join us to create a wreath with an expert, a glass of wine, delicious bites, and a night out with friends.

DATE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2022

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Venue: Folino Estate Winery Price: $75/per person –Register at www.folinoestate.com

Women in the Manufacturing Environment

PANEL SPEAKERS

RosaArroyo-Vega-Safety, Health& EnvironmentalManager

DayanaBlandonHuman Resources Manager

Mujer Mujer

TeriBoyer-Production/OperationsSupervisor

ShannanLerch-QualityManager

BriannaRodriguez-RecruitingSpecialist

Manufacturing has always been known as a male-dominated work environment. In the past years, more women have shown interest in manufacturing jobs and their knowledge helps companies to succeed. During our panel discussion, we will talk about how the manufacturing environment is truly seen through the eyes of five women working in different areas within a manufacturing company. These women bring to the table knowledge in Quality, Production/Operations, Human Resources, Recruiting and Safety. Their discussion will also cover how their individual experiences empower other women; sculpt work-life balance; how they work as a team and how they overcome challenges.

La fabricación siempre ha sido conocida como un entorno de trabajo dominado por hombres. En los últimos años, más mujeres han mostrado interés en trabajos de manufactura y su conocimiento ayuda a las empresas a tener éxito. Durante nuestro panel de discusión, hablaremos sobre cómo es realmente el entorno de fabricación a través de los ojos de cinco mujeres que trabajan en diferentes áreas dentro de una empresa de fabricación. Estas mujeres aportan conocimientos en Calidad, Producción/Operaciones, Recursos Humanos, Reclutamiento y Seguridad. Su discusión también cubrirá cómo sus experiencias individuales empoderan a otras mujeres; esculpir el equilibrio trabajo-vida; cómo trabajan en equipo; y cómo superan los desafíos.

DATE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Abraham Lincoln Events (parking in garage below) Price: $10/person

MAKING THE MOST OF CONNECTIONS & UTILIZING YOUR NETWORK

ConnieCapiotis-CEO,FullFlavorLeadership

Relationship development is the secret sauce of success! There is a reason they say it’s all about who you know, but there is more to it than that! Join Connie Capiotis to learn why nurturing a healthy network of solid relationships is essential for both your personal and professional growth, and how to develop those relationships from those scary first introductions to bonding over shared values, and above all else having FUN in the process!

DATE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Venue: ZOOM Event

Price: $15/GRCA Member | $25/Not Yet Member

Stay connected at:

2

November & December Speaker Profiles

NOVEMBER

Spilling the Tea on Confidence –Bringing Young Women to the Table

Christi Terefenko, 2022

ATHENA Award recipient

Christi attended Lehigh University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and Johns Hopkins University where she received a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering. After a 20-year absence, she returned to Berks County and got reengaged in the community she calls home. In 2015 she co-founded VOiCEup Berks with the mission to promote individual and community growth by connecting people and organizations with meaningful volunteer and service learning opportunities. Christi has supported countless meaningful projects such as helping animal shelters, neighborhood clean-ups, food drives and leadership camps. She has worked in issue areas such as homelessness, environmental sustainability, youth with disabilities, and most recently, mental health. Most recently, Christi launched two projects that have been particularly impactful: “Girls Supporting Girls. Period.”, fighting for menstrual equity by ensuring that period products in underserved facilities like low-income schools, shelters and prisons are safely accessible and affordable; and Stand Together Against Racism (STAR) with a virtual series called “Community Conversations for Change,” a safe space for youth to engage in challenging but necessary conversations about race.

EliAnna Bermudez, 2022 De Mujer a Mujer Young Changemaker Award recipient

EliAnna is a senior at Oley Valley High School and who is actively involved in her school and church, as well as deeply involved in her community through programs including Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading (YVC) and our YVC Youth Advisory Board.

EliAnna is a co-founder and leader of a youth-initiated project called Stand Together Against Racism (STAR). Her passion for equity and justice helped propel this

project from a county-wide initiative to a budding national youth movement. She also has received numerous awards, even at her young age, with the most recent being named the 2022 De Mujer a Mujer Young Changemaker. She has also been named Outstanding 4-H Member; Rotary Student of the Month, Fleetwood Rotary Club, State Representative; Youth Volunteer Corps Service Award; VOiCEup Berks; and the Unsung Hero Award, Oley Valley High School 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.

De Mujer a Mujer – All Women’s Right Not Some Women’s Right

Kate Ekanem Hannum, Founder - Inspire Community Network (ICON)

When Kate Ekanem Hannum started Kate Tales Foundation in 2012 (now known as Inspire Community Network), she was driven by an urge to create solutions that address extreme poverty in rural communities around Nigeria. She wanted a platform to empower women to be financially independent, advocate for education for girls and ensure that young writers’ voices were heard on global podiums.

Inspire Community Network (ICON) started in 2012 when she was 18, and since its inception, ICON has worked with several communities for more than five years in the implementation of innovative solutions to pressing societal issues. ICON currently boasts the most ethnically diverse presence in Nigeria, coordinated by youth in various regions: South-West, South-East, NorthCentral, North-West, and South-South of Nigeria.

DECEMBER

Women in the Manufacturing Environment Panel Speakers

Rosa Arroyo-Vega, MS SHE Management; BS Sociology Safety, Health & Environmental Manager at Alpek Polyester

Rosa was born and raised in San Germán, Puerto Rico. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and has worked as a supervisor in different industries including the ARMY National Guard, Warehouses, Food Industry and Manufacturing. She is an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran having done a tour of duty in 2005. During the economic recession in 2009, Rosa moved to the United States looking for better job opportunities and she became interested in working in risk control and safety. In 2015 she had an opportunity to be a Safety Manager and in 2022, she completed a Master’s degree in Safety, Health & Environmental Management. She believes there is no perfect time to “start over” and that no one is too old or too late to start a project, goal, or career.

Dayana Blandon Human Resources Manager

DAK Americas LLC-Alpek Polyester

Born in South America, growing up in New York City and a graduate from CUNY University with a Cultural Anthropology degree, Dayana Blandon has spent her adult life immersed in culture, diversity and people development. She is currently the HR Manager at Alpek

Polyester in Reading, PA. She is an avid volunteer, coach and mentor for people of all ages and all different walks of life. In the past, she has volunteered with the Junior Achievement Women in Business Mentoring Program and she currently volunteers at her church, LCBC, as a Next Steps facilitator; a board member for Berks Tech Centro and a mother of three amazing boys. She takes pride in her purpose to build inclusive programs and assist Latino communities in finding a voice and career paths in manufacturing where she spent most of her HR professional work history.

Teri Boyer

Production/Operations Supervisor DAK Americas LLC-Alpek Polyester

Teri had a career in school bus transportation for many years. While she was successful, she strove for more. She got a job working in manufacturing as a machine operator and quickly realized that it still was not enough to fulfill her. They were looking for a supervisor and since she had many years of supervision in transportation, the company was willing to invest in her. She quickly knew that is where she belonged. When the recycling plant was being built by Carbonlite, she knew it would be a huge challenge and she was eager to take it on. The recycling industry was new to her and every day was a learning experience. Many challenges have come her way and there are more to come. It is a male-dominated field but she doesn’t let that inhibit her. Rather, it drives her to keep learning and growing.

Shannan Lerch Quality Manager

DAK Americas LLC-Alpek Polyester

In the beginning of Shannan’s career, she attended a Women’s College that contained a CSA farm. She was a student worker on the farm and managed the bio-diesel production for the farm equipment. This was her first real-world experience working in an environment where one received waste and manufactured a useful material out of it. This role required knowledge of regulations, specification limits and the overall creation of Quality and Production processes. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management and Policy and started working in a steel mill Quality lab, where she learned the day-to-day operations. After several years, which included taking on increased responsibilities in the lab, she returned

to school. Shannon obtained her Master’s degree in Environmental Management as well as a Six Sigma Green Belt and EHS certification. Once she had maxed out the potential as an individual contributor in that Lab, she was excited to accept the position of Quality Manager at the former Carbonlite facility. Her past experiences in testing materials made from recycled goods plus her hands-on knowledge of the functioning of a production laboratory has prepared her well for this challenge!

Brianna (Bri) Rodriguez

Bri graduated from Kutztown University with degrees in Business Marketing and Business Administration (Human Resources track). In August 2021 she was recruited by manager Dayana Blandon to start as a temporary HR Coordinator. After three months, she was asked to come on permanently as a Recruiting Specialist and she currently supports the recruiting efforts of the Reading, PA and Richmond, IN facilities. Being in manufacturing, especially in recruiting, she faces adversity every day, but by pushing forward and seeing the difference a team with the right people can make is endlessly rewarding.

Making the Most of Connections & Utilizing Your Network

Connie Capiotis - CEO, Full Flavor Leadership

Connie Capiotis is the CEO of Full Flavor Leadership and the Executive Director of Digital Bridges

Pittsburgh. She is a business consultant, coach and speaker with over 20 years of experience helping businesses create “catalytic” results, and connecting with her clients so they feel fully seen, heard and understood in their growth process. She believes in building strong relationships through leadership that is human-focused and action oriented.

ASKED&ANSWERED

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You’re at the start line of a 5K or maybe you’re about to give a presentation or maybe you’re about to meet a new client. Whatever the situation, it’s not uncommon for even the most experienced among us to feel some tummy flutters or have sweaty palms. So, we reached out to some of our Contributing Writers and Editorial Committee members to find out what helps ground them, whether it’s calming down or getting fired up, to get ready to meet the moment!

When I have to present and I’m feeling nervous, I think of this one tip I was once given: spread your toes out. It makes you feel grounded and confident and ready to talk. I also once heard making yourself feel bigger has the same impact. To do this you spread your arms wide and take up as much space as possible. I’ve shared this with a few coworkers before presentations and if nothing else, it makes everyone laugh and ease some tension!

– EMILY WUNDER BARRETT, Registered Dietitian and Regional Wellness Director, Eurest

Surface Pressure” from Encanto. It’s on my running playlist and I read an article online calling this song “the mom anthem of 2021” but I’d refine that to “the woman anthem of 2021.

– JESSICA BEZLER, Public Relations Manager, Marketing & Communications, Tower Health

My “walk-up” song is “September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire…while I love September, and the fall in general, I just can’t say enough about how it puts me in a great mood!

– JENNIFER GOLDSMITH CERRA, Director of Communications, Herbein + Company

“Roar“ by Katy Perry!

– SARA FRASSINELLI, Digital Marketing & Social Media, Spherion Staffing

“This is Me” - Keala Settle (from The Greatest Showman)

– SARAH MCDANIEL, Vice President of Sales Manangement, Ethosource

I do make a power pose whenever I’m feeling especially nervous and remind myself that I am exactly where I need to be. I also tell myself these words someone said to me before: “act like you belong there, because you do.

– SORELLY GERMOSEN, Driver Hiring Specialist, Penske Logistics

I don’t have anything I say to myself when I’m going to give a speech, but right before I go into any client’s home, I want to focus on their needs and their situation so I say, “Help me, help them.

– VALI HEIST, Certified Professional Organizer & Owner, The Clutter Crew

I’ll listen to pretty much anything from Two Steps from Hell – a production company in LA who write original music for movie trailers. All of it makes you feel like you’re about to embark on an epic journey or fight for your life. The best part is most of it is orchestral (with maybe a little bit of vocals) so it’s perfect for when I want to have something to listen to that won’t distract me from my work.

– KATIE C. JOHNSEN, Events Coordinator, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

When I used to play team volleyball on a college league the song was “Hit Me with Your Best Shot!

– WENDY KERSCHNER, Retired

I love everything that makes me FEEL positive. Florence & the Machine, SIA and most recently the song. “I AM WOMAN” by Emmy Meli.

– RACHAEL ROMIG, Senior Director-Events & Special Programs, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Give Back to Berks!

Each issue, W2W Magazine highlights an organization that needs help with resources, whether financial, physical or in sweat equity. This Fall issue, we encourage you to check out all the various organizations in Berks County and Greater Reading and find one or two (or three or four) that speak to you. Then reach out to them and volunteer some of your time, talent and treasure!

The United Way of Berks Holiday Guide provides a one-stop guide to Volunteer Opportunities for many local non-profits https://www.uwberks.org/holiday-guide. On the next three page are a few of the organizations that need help.

a nonprofit who

know

Rachael Romig

make a

Berks County Area Agency on Aging

Holiday Drivers for Home Delivered Meals

Volunteers are needed to deliver a Holiday meal to homebound seniors who currently receive regular home delivered meals. The holiday meal, prepared by and picked up at the DoubleTree Hotel, 701 Penn St., Reading will be delivered on Saturday, December 18 between 10 AM –12 PM.

Volunteers will be delivering to multiple individuals in Berks County.

CONTACT Ann Barlet abarlet@countyofberks.com or 610-478-6500 X5523.

Children’s Home of Reading

Santa’s Helpers

Assist with Holiday Gift Drive, gift card collection sites, toy drive, gift sorters and inventory anytime from now until December 10. Holiday gift drive pick-up and drive through, Christmas Carolers, gift runners, light display set-up and breakdown on December 15.

CONTACT Liz B. Hafer ehafer@choreading.org or 484-577-6488 (C) 610-478-8266 x427

Crime Alert Berks County Shop With A Cop

We are looking for a few extra hands to wrap the presents that children choose for their special loved one(s). On Thursday, December 9, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, 20 children are paired with a local law enforcement officer to help spend $100 on their loved ones at Boscov’s North. We are looking for Gift Wrappers to wrap the presents that the children select.

CONTACT Chris Nein at cnein@ptd.net or 610-334-0633.

Friend, Inc.

Christmas Gift Distributions

Volunteers are needed on the following dates:

• December 5, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Gifts are dropped off from local churches and need to be carried up a flight of stairs and match the code on the gift to the bag with the identical code.

• December 17, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Volunteers assist with pantry distribution and distribute turkeys, holiday dinner boxes and gift bags for children.

CONTACT Cathy Dill at cathy@friendinc.org or 610-683-7791.

Volunteer Bell Ringers

Volunteers are needed from November 26 through December 24, Monday – Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM in Kutztown/Fleetwood area locations.

CONTACT Dennis Ritter at dsritter@ptd.net or 484-529-7801.

Give Back to Berks!

Volunteer Your Time

Habitat for Humanity of Berks County/ReStore

Santa’s Helpers Needed at ReStore

The ReStore could use some extra help during the busy holiday shopping season. Volunteers assist with a variety of tasks including receiving donations, prepping donated goods for the sales floor, displaying inventory, general cleaning and assisting customers. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and wear closed-toe shoes. Individuals and groups of up to 10 are welcome for at least three-hour shifts. The ReStore is open Tuesday through Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM and Sunday, 12 PM to 6 PM.

CONTACT Eneida Powell at eneidap@habitatberks.org or 610-621-0011.

Hannah’s Hope Ministries | Christmas Caroling, Crafts, You May Choose

Any Monday in December is available.

CONTACT Joy Kessock at joy.kessock@hhopeministries.com or 610-451-5984.

Keystone Military Families | Stocking Stuffer Elves and Helpers Needed

Volunteers are needed from November 1 thru December 15 to stuff Stockings for Soldiers at pantry located at 331 Main St. Rear, Shoemak ersville. Parking and entrance is in rear of the building. Hours are 9 AM – 2 PM Monday thru Thursday and Saturday from 10 AM – 2 PM. Please call ahead if your group is more than 4 people. Once stockings have been packed and shipped we will be setting up a Christmas Shoppe, sorting and packing toys for military families in need.

CONTACT Kyle Lord at keystonemilitary@yahoo.com or 610-698-2122.

Lifeline of Berks County | Giving Tree Assistants

We are lucky to receive many Christmas gifts for our mothers and babies. Would you help us put them away and keep our storage area ship-shape? Duties include sorting gifts and calculating their value. Opportunities are available from December 20 through the end of February.

CONTACT Debbie Baker at debbieb@lifelineofberks.org or 610-374-8545.

Opportunity House | Serve/Donate A Meals

Seeking a meaningful way for your business, club, association, church, group of friends, or family to live the season of giving? Make a meal for our shelter clients! You donate the food for the meal, and then prepare and serve it on the day of your choosing OR prepare the meal and drop off at shelter entrance. Lunch and dinner dates available!

CONTACT Stacy Perlaki sperlaki@opphouse.org or 610-374-4696 X231.

Safe Berks | Holiday Meals

Give Back to Berks!

Looking for small groups to cook dinner or sponsor a local restaurant to provide dinner for the residents of our Safe House. We have 30-40 people which includes parents and children. We appreciate if food can be delivered hot and ready to serve by 5 PM. Please bring earlier if you need us to re-heat food. Many dates are available.

CONTACT Mindy McIntosh at mindym@safeberks.org or 484-468-9637.

The Salvation Army Service Center (700 S 4th St., Hamburg)

Volunteer Bell Ringers

Volunteers are needed from November 26 through December 24, Monday – Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM in Hamburg, Leesport and Bernville area locations.

CONTACT Kettle Coordinator at redkettlehamburg@gmail.com or 610-562-3576.

Gift Program

Volunteers are needed for 2 or 4 hour shifts and longer if available on the following dates at the Hamburg Field House.

• December 6, 9 AM - 4 PM, Gifts and food pick-up, unload gifts from trailers, set-up tables, sort gifts, make and label boxes etc.

• December 7-10, 9 AM - 4 PM, Volunteers sort gifts.

• December 13, 9 AM - 4 PM, Pick-up remaining gifts and continue sorting.

• December 14-15, 9 AM - 4 PM Organize tables and final preparations.

• December 16, 12 Noon - 3 PM, Assist with distribution of gifts to seniors’ vehicles.

• December 17, 12 -7 PM, Assist with distribution of gifts, tear down and clean-up.

The Salvation Army Reading Corps (301 S. 5th St., Reading)

Kettle Bell Ringers

Business groups, organizations, civic clubs and individual volunteers are needed to ring the bells at the kettles in various locations throughout Berks County from November 19 through December 24.

Christmas Gift Distributions

Volunteers are needed on the following dates:

• December 5, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Gifts are dropped off from local churches and need to be carried up a flight of stairs and match the code on the gift to the bag with the identical code.

• December 17, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Volunteers assist with pantry distribution and distribute turkeys, holiday dinner boxes and gift bags for children.

CONTACT Cathy Dill at cathy@friendinc.org or 610-683-7791.

Santa’s Elves

Various dates in November and December – volunteers are needed to help in preparation for Holiday distribution. Duties include completing angel tags to be placed on trees at area businesses in the community, hosting an angel tree, helping sort toys, helping to distribute toys and various other tasks to assist with the Holiday season.

CONTACT Yesenia Mejia at Yesenia.mejia@use.salvationarmy.org or 610-373-5208 x207.

The best reading in Reading

Family is foundational, and having a perfect home for your family means everything. Having Peter Heim by your side to help you navigate through the multiple steps of buying or selling is key. Born and raised in Berks county, Peter is an award-winning Real Estate Broker with more than 35 years of experience.

A family man, Peter has been married to his wife Michele for more than 30 years. They have seven children and two grandchildren. Pete and his family are involved with many Berks County organizations.

This seasoned professional brings his hardworking yet fun personality to every interaction. Now Peter is proud to welcome his son Christopher onto his real estate team. Chris brings his unbridled enthusiasm, on-line savvy, and banking experience to the team. Let the Heim Team do the best job for you!

Peter specializes in customer service.

Whether listing or selling residential or commercial real estate, Peter is dedicated to helping his clients. His personal attention to every aspect of the business has garnered him more than 200 five-out-of-five Gold Star independent reviews.

“I have personally known Pete for close to two decades, and he is one of most conscientious, caring and outgoing people I know. He truly cares about his clients, and works harder than any other realtor I know. I highly recommend that you work with Pete.” – Dave R

“Pete is attentive to every detail. He made a hard journey of selling my mom’s house easier not just because he is a skilled realtor but in how much he cares about the story and people behind the sale.” – Cathleen P.

“Always a great experience working with Pete and now his son Chris as well.” – Michael S.

Peter K. Heim, CRS, GRI

Peter K. Heim, CRS, GRI Christopher Heim