The 2011 SHEBIZ Challenge

In Celebration of
International Women’s Day 2011

Innovative Concepts…. Imaginative Thinking Inspirationally Created Hosted By, SHEBiz Columnist Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe
Author. Thought Leader. Social Entrepreneur
Got A Creative Business Idea? A Green Business? A Socially Conscious Endeavor?
A Promising Enterprise? Now Is The Time to Create It!

The SHE Biz Challenge will be staged for 100 days, from March 1, 2011- June 8, 2011.

• Stage One: Initial Concept – Due May 30, 2011
• Stage Two: Idea Development – Due June 30, 2011
• Stage Three: The Elevator Pitch – Due July30, 2011
• Stage Four: SHE Caribbean Readers Choice – August 15-28, 2011
• Stage Five: SHEBiz Challenge Winners Announced – September 15, 2011

The SHEBiz Panel of Judges will select the ten best ideas on August 12, 2011 and SHE Caribbean readers are invited to follow the SHEBiz Challenge on the magazine’s website and vote for their favourite idea from August 15-28.
Three winners will be announced on September 15, 2011 in St. Lucia.

The SHEBiz Panel of Judges
• Mae Wayne, SHE Caribbean Publisher, St Lucia • Yvonne Witter, Ampod Business Consulting and Training, London • Delia Dolor, SHE Caribbean Editor, St Lucia • A.C. Burgess, Marketing Expert, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands • Anita Johnson, Financial Management Expert, Sacramento, California • Aubry Padmore, Media and Technology Expert, Barbados • Nerissa Golden, Public Relations and Entrepreneurship Expert, Montserrat • Aldo Owen, Branding Expert, Jamaica

“SHE Caribbean Magazine Supports Enterprise and Entrepreneurship” For SHEBiz Challenge Submission Guidelines, Forms and Rules of Engagement Visit http://www.shecaribbean.com.

Download Entry Form

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YWCA US Virgin Islands Celebrates International Women’s Day First Lady Cecile deJongh and Female Political Leaders Saluted

St. Thomas, U S Virgin Islands, March 8, 2011: On Sunday, March 6th, at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa, the YWCA of the US Virgin Islands held a luncheon commemorating the 100th year anniversary of International Women’s Day. First Lady Cecile DeJongh was saluted for her vast human development work, particularly work focused on children and families; Mrs. DeJongh also served as the Honorary Hostess for this inaugural YWCA VI commemorative event. . In addition to First Lady DeJongh, also saluted for their noteworthy contributions to politics were Mrs. Cheryl Francis, Delegate Donna M. Christensen, Senator Janette Millin-Young, and Senator Nellie Rivera O’Reilly.

Offering remarks at the event, First Lady DeJongh said, I’m delighted to join the YWCA in recognizing the contributions women make in every aspect of life: in the home, on the job, in their communities, and in the many roles we play as mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, citizens, and leaders. Today we join other nations in worldwide fellowship in salute to the female spirit and in tribute to the women and girls that came before us.” Additionally, First Lady de Jongh commended the YWCA for its human development work, including leadership development programs, workshops, topical trainings, and mentoring activities for Virgin Islands youth. “These efforts inspire and nurture future leaders, build communities, and empower individuals to fulfill their highest potential.” First Lady DeJongh applauded mothers “for always inspiring us” and acknowledged the leadership of YWCA Founding President Donnalie Edwards-Cabey, the YWCA Board of Directors and officers for their community work, “You are helping to build a foundation for future generations, and in doing so, are creating a better place for all of us, here in the Virgin Islands and worldwide. Thank you for all that you do.”

The Delegate to Congress, Dr. Donna M. Christensen gave International Women’s Day Greetings to luncheon attendees. Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe, CEO/General Secretary shared highlights about International Women’s Day, the significance and celebratory events that will occur in over 200 countries. A glimpse at global fashion was presented through a mini fashion show with commentary provided by Carol Callwood. Also, musical treats were provided by Y-Teen group member Nicole Richards, and 12-year-old Violinist Alana Davis. Y-Teen group members staged a hat parade, and served as hostesses for the event, while Y-Teen Jonelle Ronan graciously thanked everyone for sharing the afternoon with the YWCAVI. For over 100 years, YWCAs have been providing services to communities around the world, and this July, at the World YWCA Council Meeting in Switzerland, the Virgin Islands’ YWCA will become a fully affiliated member, culminating a four year quest to create a YWCA here in the territory. The Virgin Islands will be in the spotlight as over 1,000 women from YWCAs representing 120 countries, and some 25 million women, gather in Zurich Switzerland to dialogue human development issues that affect girls, women, families and localities.

Founding President Donnalie Edwards Cabey shared with luncheon attendees, “The YWCA USVI’s Journey to Affiliation and now official membership in this international organization is testimony to the perseverance and vision of a group of local women, totally committed to excellence, while working to promote meaningful change in their Virgin Islands community. I encourage more women and girls to become involved in the exciting world of YWCA, a place of discovery and enlightenment for all women and girls. As we work to take a delegation to this ceremony, we ask for community support” Major sponsor for the event were VI Department of Tourism, International Capital Management Company, Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and Spa and Resorts, and Windward Capital LLC. To learn more about the YWCA of the US Virgin Islands or to support its Journey to Affiliation, visit http://www.ywcavi.org.

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March Forward..how Women’s History Month Came To Be

2011 marks 100 years of celebrating International Women’s Day which began in 1911, in Europe. The right to vote is what started this global movement, and this was and still is an issue of concern for people of color.

When the 1930s depression took center stage, interest and focus on women’s issues “faded to black.” In the 1960s, the dialogue began again, and an interest in women’s issues resumed. During the 1970s, girls and women of all ethnicities started to feel strongly that their stories and contributions were not included in history books, and that if herStory was to be told that women would have to be a catalyst for making this happen. Realizing this, a number of colleges and universities began offering women’s history courses and creating women studies programs.

The year was 1978, the place California, when the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women began a “Women’s History Week” celebration. They chose a week to coincide with International Women’s Day, March 8.

Received in a positive fashion, other schools started to host Women’s History Week programs. The following year, leaders from this California group shared their project at a Women’s History Institute held at Sarah Lawrence College. Others in attendence decided to begin local Women’s History Week projects, and they all agreed to support the effort to have Congress declare a national Women’s History Week.

Three years later, the United States Congress  did pass a resolution establishing National Women’s History Week. Co-sponsors of the resolution, demonstrating bipartisan support, were Senator Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah, and Representative Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat from Maryland.

Overtime, the interest and celebration grew, and the National Women’s History Project began to create and distribute materials to support this effort. In 1987,  the National Women’s History Project requested that Congress expand the week to a month, and the U.S. Congress has issued a resolution every year since then, ultimately resulting in the creation of a National Museum of Women’s History in Washington, DC

The goal of Women’s History Month is to increase consciousness and knowledge of women’s history, to focus for 31 days on the contributions of women from all walks of life, and moreover to fully incorporate in the telling of history the roles women played.

Choose to honor the feminine spirit every day and celebrate herStory all year long.

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