1. The list of things I have learned during this experience would go on and
on! But something in particular that I certainly did not know before is
that there are so many different ways to be involved in a
nonprofit. A career with a nonprofit organization can
encompass so many
different skills and
goals - something I
grew to realize after
our office hours with
WEstaff and career
exploration sessions.
Policy, development,
community
engagement, event
planning, all are areas
essential to the
success of a non-profit.
- Sr ut hi This program has shown me
the importance of being
intentional with advocacy,
whatever your particular
cause. Also, I have met
seven really wonderful
young ladies, of varying
backgrounds. Listening to
their viewpoints has helped
me to think in a broader
sense.
- TIna
August 2015
Through the Summer Leadership
Program at Women Employed I have
learned so many very important
skills, more than I can summarize
here. However, one of the main
takeaways is to challenge myself
each and every day either by doing
or learning something new. It is the
very moments in which we come
outside of our comfort zones that we
grow, we reach new heights we never
knew was a possibility. To face the
fear of the unknown, never letting it
get in the way of my ultimate goal
which is to succeed despite the odds.
As a returning adult student, single
mother of four and a first time
grandparent the very fact that I have
had this amazing opportunity to be a
part of the 2015 WESummer
Leaders, is proof that everything is
possible. The past 8 weeks working
with other inspiring summer leaders
from all walks of life has really given
me the inspiration to dream big. The
sky is truly the limit as long as we do
not limit ourselves.
- Susan
Summer Leaders 2015
What have you learned from the program?

2. In this program, I have been exposed to the real
issues that working women deal with on a daily
basis. Surveying and interviewing women who
work in retail and food service taught me the
severity of unstable scheduling and low pay in
this industry. The Summer Leadership Program
opened my eyes to that reality.
- Maya
By researching volatile scheduling and speaking
with the women who are affected by the poor
business practices of many national
corporations, I've realized how interconnected
the issue of fair schedules (and, more broadly,
workplace equality) is to many of the other
issues I care deeply about. Unstable scheduling
has effects on health, family, and education,
and it's interesting to me to see the connections
between so many systems of oppression and
learn how to approach problems holistically to
arrive at the best solution.
-Madison

3. Tina'sButter Rum Cake Recipe
Ingredients
FORTHECAKE
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 eggs, plus 6 egg yolks, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla
1/4 cup dark rum
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups cake flour
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional
FORTHEGLAZE
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup dark rum
To make the cake: Grease and flour one large Bundt pan.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
In a large bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the
butter on medium high speed for a few seconds until
smooth and shiny. With the mixer still running, very
slowly add both the white and the brown sugars.
Continue mixing on medium high speed until the mixture
is light and fluffy, and almost white in color, about five
minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice, as
needed.
While the butter is mixing, combine the eggs, vanilla, and
rum in a medium bowl, or large measuring cup, and mix
together lightly. When the butter mixture is ready, reduce
speed to low and slowly add the egg mixture in a thin
stream, then beat in the salt.
Sift one cup of the flour on top of the batter and gently
fold it in with a spatula. Repeat this process twice more,
until all of the flour is used and the batter is mixed
completely.
Quote from Scheduling Project
The woman with whom I did my long interview told me, "I feel like women do need some
type of empowerment, some type of motivation, because it really does get hard, and you?ll
never know what a person experiences unless you?re doing the same thing, have the same
life, same shoes, whatever? you?ll never know? A lot of men feel like women can?t do what
they do." It strikes me because, while our work helps all workers, it is especially beneficial to
those who face additional discrimination because of their gender identity.

4. Favorite thing about the
Summer Leader Program
The opportunity to work in a team! In my
experience, other internships do not
necessarily have such an integrated
experience. By integrated, I mean
particularly the chance to work with other
strong, unique women, as well as the feeling
that we are really part of the organization.
-Sr ut hi
I loved working with 7 other women who all
have our own passions and causes that we
care about. We're a very energetic group,
and I think we're all on our own paths to
make effective change. It was also great to
meet women from other organizations as
examples of ways we can funnel our
passions into a career.
- Madison
My favorite thing about working with SLP has
been working in a team oriented internship.
It is different from other internships where
you only work alone with the employees of
the company. I loved it because it took me
out of my comfort zone. I really appreciated
the exposure to different methods, styles
and personalities.
- shaj aya
My favorite thing about the SLP is being
surrounded by hard-working and successful
women that were able to give us incredible
advice based on their experience.
- Chl oe
Story from our long-form interviews
I spoke to a young woman who worked almost 24/7 in her retail job. She is a Nigerian
immigrant, and has a degree in business administration and accounting from a Nigerian
university. But she found that her degree was not valued in the US, at least the way that the
same degree from an American university would be. Hence, she is working in retail with the
hope that she can eventually afford to continue her education.

5. READINGRECOMMENDATIONS
DreamsOf Trespassby Moroccan feminist Fatima Mernissi. I
spent a semester studying abroad in Morocco where I
discovered Mernissi's writings. She seamlessly links issues of
gender, colonialism, and religion into a beautiful, striking
narrative
Choosing the Margin asa Space of Radical Opennessby Bell
Hooks. I personally do not identify as a feminist, as I am
learning more I identify as a womanist. One of the things bell
hooks talks about in his reading that resonates with me is
letting your own voice speak for you, not letting someone else
tell your story. I think that is very important.
Servantsof Globalization by Rhacel Parreñas. This book
helped me understand the field of domestic work and how
working women's issues are a global struggle.
The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti, because I grew up in an
environment that placed undue emphasis on the idea of
virginity, a concept used to constrain
girls and women of all backgrounds and
cultures, and to reduce women to a
singularity based on their sexuality.
Race, Gender and Culture Politicsby Bell
Hooks , this book because addresses the
challenges within feminism. And ties
race, gender and culture politics to
feminism and its importance.
We want to say thank you to all Women Employed Staff for the support!
Thank you Sarah and Dana for all the love!