In our exploration of the transformative impact of education and community support, SIA unfolds the inspiring journey of Lisa, a resilient single mother of three. Lisa’s story, fuelled by the support of SIA’s initiatives and programs, epitomizes the Soroptimist mission of empowering women through education and community advocacy. From receiving the prestigious Live Your Dream Award to assuming leadership roles within the organization, Lisa discovered her strength and passion for inspiring others. Her journey, shaped by education and community backing, showcases the profound impact that Soroptimist International has on individual lives. Through narratives like Lisa’s, we strive to shape a world where education stands as a transformative force, breaking barriers and fostering empowerment for women globally.
“In 2019, I heard about Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc., while attending Rio Hondo College studying child development. I was a single mother of three and a member of the CalWORKs program, which helps parents who are low-income students. I had never heard of Soroptimist, but a fellow student encouraged me to apply for their Live Your Dream Award. I applied and was chosen!
When the region chair, Christina, reached out to me, I told her that I was a speaker for the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), where I inspire those with mental health issues by sharing my story. She asked if I could be a speaker for Soroptimist and encourage women to apply for the award. Embracing the opportunity, I felt so empowered that I could make a difference and become a beacon of hope for other women.
With the help of the Live Your Dream Award, I earned associate degrees in both child development and early childhood education and may further my education when my children are older. I have been working as an instructional aide for special needs education for five years, and I am also a mental health motivational speaker and peer support connections facilitator for NAMI.
Christina reached out to me again the following year with the exciting news that she was chartering a Soroptimist club and invited me to become a member. Then in 2021, I received the opportunity to co-chair the Live Your Dream Awards for our club. Serving as club chair was such an amazing experience. To this day, I stay in touch with our past awardees, regularly checking in to ask about any resources they may need to focus on their education.
This year I received a special honour when I was asked to serve as the region Live Your Dream Awards chair. It was an unexpected opportunity—something I envisioned doing five years from now, not in the next five minutes! Without hesitation, I accepted the role and was excited to empower more women through education the way I had been. That is what Soroptimist is all about: empowering others so they can empower many.
My club is into our third year, and we have done amazing things to increase access to education for women and girls in our community. We collaborated with another club to host a wonderful Dream It, Be It event. This event featured a panel for the young ladies to ask questions of professionals from diverse fields, including a lieutenant, film editor, professor with a PhD in psychology, paralegal, and an ICU pharmacist.
Our club has a diverse mix of talented women spanning ages from 30 to 80. This blend of youth and experience results in many new ideas infused with wisdom, ensuring a continuous commitment to empowering women through access to education. Since becoming a Soroptimist, I have boosted my confidence and leadership skills significantly. My children witness the positive impact I make through Soroptimist, and my husband has expressed his admiration for my Soroptimist involvement because it brings out the best version of me.”
This compelling narrative from Lisa, about her involvement with SIA and the Live Your Dream Award, exemplifies the profound impact education and community support can have on an individual’s journey. Through empowering stories like this, we continue to work toward shaping a world where education is recognised as a transformative force, breaking barriers and fostering empowerment for women across the globe.