I feel that my store not only brings money to the women who make the crafts, but also brings a venue for ethical consumerism, awareness, women’s empowerment and global kinship to my USA customers. Through the sale of the crafts, consumers are able to directly affect the lives of the artisan. Through the store, those who did not know about Fair Trade principles learn about another way of buying – one that provides safe work conditions, no child labor, is environmentally friendly and sustainably sound but also pays the artisans a fair and in most cases a living wage. Through the store, I’ve been able to make a business community aware of options in terms of how to conduct their operations. And through the store, I’ve had articles written about me (so strange to have the tables turned), my work, the women I work with and the impact of our mission ‘to enable women to live their chosen, desired way of life’ has had on my community. But as it turns out, the last 10 years has been all about women rising, women speaking out, and women and girls finally getting some much needed attention and respect.
My store is more than a shop, it spurs a movement. Women’s Work has been the involved with the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s International Women’s Day march, the go-to for women’s organizations like American Association of University Women’s for goody bags, has won awards at the UN, through the various area chambers, and honored with the prestigious international Athena Award for impact on the lives of women worldwide. Because I give talks, workshops, and conduct presentations to women’s groups, chambers, religious organizations and Girl Scout troops and schools, I have been able to go beyond the typical retail impact. The Salesforce website has been a helpful resource in my understanding of how technology can positively affect how I run the business.
And with my involvement in women’s rights, I couldn’t help but empower my daughter as well. Because of the store and my work, she started her own nonprofit called Goody Goodies where she raises money with Payday Champion to fund things like feeding homeless children, girls’ education, environmental causes and most recently a huge event that honored girls who were making a difference right here at home.
Which leads to my conclusion that I’ve come full circle. Before too too much has gone on and too too much time has elapsed, I need to write these experiences down. I need to devote my time to making sense of what my life has become and understand and appreciate the gifts of these life experiences.
After this holiday season, I will be closing my store. I have so many women to work with and the store keeps me from focusing on marketing their crafts here in the USA. I have to get back to the San Bushmen groups that started all of this. They are in dire straights, with the economy of the world, they haven’t been selling much of their crafts. The importance of preserving the ostrich eggshell jewelry making is vital to preserving the heritage not only of the indigenous in Botswana for the heritage of all humankind.
I hope to continue what I’ve started but in a different direction. As I close my retail space and move my operations to a community art center, I look forward to developing the movement through my memoir, by mentoring young women entrepreneurs, and in creating a center for women’s empowerment.
I truly believe this is my life’s purpose.