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Celebrating the Heart of Women’s Empowerment: Our Volunteers

This past April, Women’s Empowerment International proudly celebrated National Volunteer Week—a time to recognize the incredible individuals who generously give their time, talents, and passion to strengthen communities and help tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges.

At WE, volunteers are not simply supporters of our mission—they are the heart of it.

As a volunteer-driven organization, our impact is only possible because of the dedicated people who believe in the power of economic empowerment to help women work their way out of poverty. From board leadership and partner liaisons to committee members, giving circle leaders, event volunteers, and advocates, our volunteers help turn compassion into action.

A Community Creating Change

Every volunteer’s journey with WE is unique, but a shared belief unites them: when women have access to opportunity, training, and financial tools, entire families and communities thrive.

For longtime WE Board member José (Co-President), volunteering has been deeply meaningful because of the opportunity to witness impact firsthand. Our Board members play a vital role in guiding WE’s mission—helping keep us accountable, providing strategic leadership and advisory support, and serving as ambassadors for our work in the community. As a volunteer-driven organization, we truly could not operate without their dedication and commitment.

“When I first became involved, I wasn’t fully convinced that microfinance was an effective tool to fight poverty. But through site visits and seeing the women WE supports through our partners, I became convinced. WE is doing good work. WE is making a positive difference.”

For Meg, a longtime volunteer and Partner Liaison, working with local San Diego partners has reinforced just how complex—and important—economic empowerment can be. Partner Liaisons play a unique volunteer role at WE, serving as a direct connection between our organization and our grantee partners. They help maintain relationships, support progress reporting, facilitate communication, and stay closely connected to the programs and women our grants support. It’s one of the most meaningful ways volunteers can be directly involved in our mission.

Through WE’s partnerships with organizations like Dreams for Change and Urban Corps, Meg has seen firsthand how barriers like unreliable transportation can prevent women from accessing jobs and opportunities.

“I have been privileged to know these young women who, with deep commitment and self-determination, complete their educational goals, obtain driver’s licenses, and job certificates. It is truly an honor to be a WE Partner Liaison and watch firsthand how these remarkable young women achieve their goals, and I believe WE is helping develop contributing members to our community in the future.”

For Nancy, who leads WE’s Julian Giving Circle, volunteering is as much about community as it is impact. Giving Circles are a powerful way to magnify your impact by bringing together a community of people with a shared passion for women’s empowerment. By pooling resources, individuals can make a greater collective impact while building meaningful connections, learning about important issues related to poverty alleviation and economic opportunity, and directly supporting women working to create brighter futures for themselves and their families.

“Being part of a giving circle has shown me that giving is more powerful—and more meaningful—when it’s shared. Together, we can accomplish far more than any of us could alone.”

And for newer volunteers like Carla, getting involved has been an opportunity to use her professional skills in service of something meaningful. Carla currently serves on our Fall Fundraiser Committee, where volunteers work alongside Board members and staff to help bring WE’s largest annual event to life. From event planning and marketing to fundraising outreach and logistics, committees offer a meaningful way to contribute while building community—and making new friends along the way.

“The most meaningful part has been knowing that all the behind-the-scenes efforts are going toward something that truly makes an impact.”

Looking Ahead: Join Us for Our Fall Fundraiser

As we celebrate our incredible volunteer community, we’re also looking ahead to our largest event of the year—our annual Fall Fundraiser.

This signature event brings together supporters from across San Diego to raise critical funds for women’s economic empowerment programs locally and globally—and it takes a village to bring it to life.

We are currently seeking volunteers to support:

• Fall Fundraiser planning committee participation 
• Silent and live auction item procurement 
• Sponsorship outreach 
• Event logistics and planning support 
• Day-of volunteer roles 

Whether you have a few hours to give or want to play a larger role, there’s a place for you.

Thank You

To every WE volunteer—past and present—thank you.

Thank you for your time, your energy, your belief in this mission, and your commitment to creating opportunity for women around the world.

Because of you, women are building businesses, supporting their families, and creating brighter futures.

Interested in getting involved? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch HERE

Tribute to Rosemary Straley

We are saddened to share the passing of Rosemary Straley, a visionary leader, advisor and inspiration to many, and dear supporter of Women’s Empowerment International. Rosemary’s life was defined by service, a passion for education and politics, and a deep commitment to lift up women into leadership roles, especially elected offices.

Rosemary’s accomplishments and purpose-driven life can hardly be summarized in a few paragraphs. This just begins to skim the surface of her incredible work and contributions.

Rosemary proudly earned degrees from Stanford and Harvard, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and became one of the first women to be a Peace Corps Country Director in Cameroon. Her career in international development and education planning took her to over 150 countries and included projects with UNESCO, World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, and the U.S. Trade & Development Program.

Throughout her education and career, Rosemary often found herself as one of the first women to enter a program or hold a leadership role, and she became committed to lifting up women and opening opportunities for them to lead. She has led and supported well over 20 organizations in San Diego and nationwide, including co-founding a local organization, Run Women Run, that played a role in electing over 120 women to public office at every level of government. She led a local working group for the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to pass a countywide ordinance. She also served as a volunteer National Coordinator of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Support Network.

Rosemary was honored with WE’s first Woman of Empowerment award in 2018 for her dedication to achieving equity for girls and women and advancing women’s leadership.

Rosemary attributed her commitment to philanthropy and service to her parents, who also taught the power each person holds to inspire others to give. She also held a quote from President John F. Kennedy, who founded the Peace Corps, close to her heart: “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” She had this quote on a magnet on her refrigerator and was quoted as saying, “That’s what guides me every day.”

Rosemary, you will be deeply missed, but we carry on your legacy.

If you would like to share thoughts or stories of Rosemary, please email Sarah Adams, WE Executive Director, at SarahAdams@womenempowerment.org.

Woman of Empowerment 2025

Meet our 2025 Woman of Empowerment Honoree, Rosette Garcia — a leader whose journey reflects courage, purpose, and the power of lifting others. During our Empowered WE Rise celebration, Rosette delivered a heartfelt speech that moved the room and reminded us why women like her are at the core of our mission.

Her message centered on the idea that meaningful change happens when we come together –– that it’s the small, collective actions of many that create the biggest impact.

Below are passages of Rosette’s inspiring remarks, a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we unite for a shared purpose.

“I want to thank someone who isn’t here—my dad who kept coming to mind as I was planning my remarks. And particularly something that he always used to say to me—and my siblings–when we were kids. We’d have done something we shouldn’t have—say missed a curfew, and in explaining the misdeed I might say, Dad, I couldn’t help it. Sorry. And my father –who was a gentle but real figure of authority–would gently rebuke me, saying,  you can help it. Don’t tell me you can’t help it. You can always help it.

That phrase, you can always help it, and his refusal to accept that excuse taught me a lot. I learned that claiming futility or powerlessness was not an excuse. I still hear that voice—often– telling me that I can help it—that I can do something. His words come to me not just when I’m running late, even as I offer an excuse. I know that I could have helped it; I just should have left earlier, planned better! But I also hear them when I’m confronted with things in the world that just aren’t okay—that aren’t fair. What if I –if we– can help it?” 

I don’t think he meant that I could help alleviate poverty, as WE set out to do. Or ensure women’s right to bodily autonomy. Or guarantee justice and equality. But I have always found it difficult to do nothing when I see something that is unfair, unjust. It’s so obvious when injustices occur and equally obvious what fairness would look like. And it seems to me that we should demand it—no excuses, no I can’t help it. So, my dad’s gentle admonishment, you can help it, reminds me that futility is not the answer and it subtly nudges me to do something.

I met many women and visited several communities where our funds have improved lives, but beyond that WE funds have given these young women a reason to hope and dream and have ambitions. I think of Carla, the 25 year-old young woman who was able to start a small grocery store in her living room with a $200 loan funded by WE, who told us of her dreams to own a real supermarket one day. It could happen!

The power of this organization lies not just in its mission, but in their belief that women are the drivers behind change—when you help a woman, you help not only her, but her family and her community, improving many lives in the process. I’m a long-time believer in the power of women and I’ve poured a lot of my energies into ensuring women and girls enjoy fairness and freedom.  

Certainly, when we think about the many, profound problems we are facing, so many that seem to be going in the wrong direction, it is easy to feel powerless and wonder if our efforts are futile. I’d like to quote Dorothy Day, the amazing early 20^th century social justice activist, who pondered this same question. She said, “What can one person do? What is the sense of our small effort?” Her response says it all:  “They cannot see that we can only lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time.” 

She (DD) reminds us that change doesn’t happen in one fell swoop, but slowly, excruciatingly slowly. I look out and I see a room of people, all who are making one “small effort” that is leading to lasting change. Who are taking that one step, laying that one brick. Who are undaunted by the magnitude of the challenges and continue to show up.”