2008 Woodie Awards
New program by, for, about women
Mayra Marquez
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: News
The Women's Institute, a new program developed in the Corporate and Continuing Education Division, addresses women's issues in society, such as life skills, business etiquette, finance and home improvement.
Vernon Hawkins, associate vice president of Workforce and Continuing Education, said Brookhaven College's service area has a need for women's programs by women, for women and about women.
"We have a lot of things we do [in the Corporate and Continuing Education Division] that gives people job skills but [women's] issues haven't been addressed by many colleges or educational institutions," Hawkins said.
The Women's Institute is implementing a set of workshops that strive to empower today's women of all ages.
Julie Stearman, continuing education and workforce specialist, said she is in charge of developing a theme for the classes, finding speakers and professors, and putting all the details together.
Sherry Bronson, who currently teaches the self-empowerment workshops, is the author of "Discovering Your Power Within" and has 12 years of professional training experience in women's issues and diversity.
Coordinators of the program are currently working to find speakers and professors for future workshops that are related to the issues presented.
A few classes have already started under this program such as "Self-esteem: Developing a Positive Self Image" helping women develop high-esteem.
"The Assertive Women" challenges women to become assertive individuals. Personal finance classes for women already existed before the development of this program.
Stearman has a do-it-yourself idea for a future theme offering classes such as credit repair, auto mechanics and home improvement for women.
"Each semester, or each year, we will try to develop a new theme for classes," Stearman said.
She said she gets ideas for classes from TV, billboards and advertisements driving down the street or just asking women what kind of classes they would like to see or would have been helpful earlier in life.
"I'm 28 years old, I live by myself and there are things I wish someone would have taught me so I wouldn't have been so dependent on others," Stearman said. "These are classes designed to make women more confident and successful."
The Women's Institute offers classes in five hour/two meeting workshops, mostly in the evenings at R.L Turner High School in Carrollton for $39 per workshop.
For more information on this program or to offer suggestions for future classes, students can contact Julie Stearman at 972-860-4367 or via e-mail at jStearman@dcccd.edu.
Vernon Hawkins, associate vice president of Workforce and Continuing Education, said Brookhaven College's service area has a need for women's programs by women, for women and about women.
"We have a lot of things we do [in the Corporate and Continuing Education Division] that gives people job skills but [women's] issues haven't been addressed by many colleges or educational institutions," Hawkins said.
The Women's Institute is implementing a set of workshops that strive to empower today's women of all ages.
Julie Stearman, continuing education and workforce specialist, said she is in charge of developing a theme for the classes, finding speakers and professors, and putting all the details together.
Sherry Bronson, who currently teaches the self-empowerment workshops, is the author of "Discovering Your Power Within" and has 12 years of professional training experience in women's issues and diversity.
Coordinators of the program are currently working to find speakers and professors for future workshops that are related to the issues presented.
A few classes have already started under this program such as "Self-esteem: Developing a Positive Self Image" helping women develop high-esteem.
"The Assertive Women" challenges women to become assertive individuals. Personal finance classes for women already existed before the development of this program.
Stearman has a do-it-yourself idea for a future theme offering classes such as credit repair, auto mechanics and home improvement for women.
"Each semester, or each year, we will try to develop a new theme for classes," Stearman said.
She said she gets ideas for classes from TV, billboards and advertisements driving down the street or just asking women what kind of classes they would like to see or would have been helpful earlier in life.
"I'm 28 years old, I live by myself and there are things I wish someone would have taught me so I wouldn't have been so dependent on others," Stearman said. "These are classes designed to make women more confident and successful."
The Women's Institute offers classes in five hour/two meeting workshops, mostly in the evenings at R.L Turner High School in Carrollton for $39 per workshop.
For more information on this program or to offer suggestions for future classes, students can contact Julie Stearman at 972-860-4367 or via e-mail at jStearman@dcccd.edu.
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