Today is International Women’s Day, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women.
As International Women’s Day approached, I asked myself, “who are the women I look up to?” From Oprah to Jennifer Lawrence, there are plenty of examples of amazing women to admire.
Then I started thinking about women I know that aren’t famous but are extraordinary examples of everyday women and I came up with three women I know and respect. These women are organizers, teachers, and community leaders. They are volunteering in their local communities and beyond. All three have dedicated themselves to increasing awareness of their favorite causes, and through their daily work they are challenging conscious and unconscious gender bias, and creating a better world for women everywhere.
Meet 3 extraordinary everyday women worth celebrating this International Women’s Day.
Jamie Folsom
I met Jamie through KRFC FM Community Radio. I quickly came to know Jamie as an intelligent and passionate women, willing to speak up about important social topics. I’ve enjoyed many thoughtful conversations with Jamie over lunch, leaving each encounter inspired to be a leader in my community.
Jamie is a Department of Journalism and Mass Communication instructor at Colorado State University. She is a single parent, a TedX speaker, and she has worked to support various non-profits in environment, food justice, and sexual health.
Jamie supports a number of food justice, health and wellness projects in the Native community. “There are few things more satisfying that sharing and learning with people who love the earth and good food,” she says.
Jamie is inspired by her ancestors and the thought of the coming generations. “I’m so grateful for the sacrifices my ancestors made, and I hope I make them proud in what I do. I’m also trying my best to be a good ancestor.”
When I asked Jamie how women can support each other, she replied, “I value truth, so validating reality is an important part of supporting women. It can be easy to lose our voices as women, and it is a powerful thing for women to say to one another that our perceptions of injustice, or feelings of accomplishment are real and worth saying out loud.
In abusive situations, for instance, the first thing to go is our sense of perspective. We can say to a woman who dares to voice her unhappiness that she is right. We can say to a woman who puts forward a solution to a problem that her idea is valid in the work place. We can say to a woman whose family rejects her for loving another woman that she is right about herself.”
View her TedX talk, The Story of Poverty Porn and Indigenous Americans, and find out more about Jamie at her LinkedIn page.
Tina Erdmann
I met Tina at BlissDom 2012. She inspired me with her beautiful art, her creative spirit, and her passion for helping women and families through her art.
Tina is a Portrait Photographer specializing in child and family portraiture. “My clients bring me into their lives for a short period of time—they trust me—and I don’t take that lightly,” she says.
She also teaches photography workshops specifically for women. “I started teaching photography workshops specifically for women because women learn differently than men. We shoot from the heart so to speak. We shoot with emotion. During my workshops I strive to make the technical workings of the camera super easy to understand, while creating a safe learning environment where women can make mistakes, learn, grow, get inspired, and build their confidence so they can go home and start documenting their families’ lives with more creativity.”
Each year, Tina gives two families a free portrait session along with several prints to hang on their walls. These are families who are in need and could never imagine spending money on such a luxury like hiring a photographer to take their photos. It’s quite emotional for all involved. They are so thankful to have the images, and she is changed after spending time with them.
Tina is involved in social projects around the world. She’s traveled abroad to Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya as a humanitarian. She’s worked with Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, Food for the Hungry in Bolivia, and CARITAS for Children in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya to document the good work they’re doing in each of their communities. After working with each cause, she gives the organization digital images so they can use them to bring awareness to their cause, and to raise money to continue their work.
She recognizes the need for this type of work in her own community and is currently working through the process of getting started on a few projects locally. “I’d like to bring awareness to the high number of homeless children here in Milwaukee. The high school drop out rate is 60% in Milwaukee. Drug addiction is an epidemic right now here in the States. There is so much need,” she said.
When asked how women can support each other, she replied, “by understanding that life isn’t a competition as to who’s busier, who’s accomplishing more, who’s doing more for her family, or who’s running to the most sporting events with her children. We are all busy. Our lives are full. We are unique individuals who need and want different things out of life, and we build our individual lives to fulfill those needs and wants. There’s no reason to one up each other. We need to give space and show grace—to ourselves and to other women.
We can become better support systems for one another by holding each other’s hands, lending an ear, and showing compassion in knowing we are walking similar paths and dealing with similar struggles in life. We can hold each other up and celebrate in one another’s differences and accomplishments.”
You can learn more about Tina at her website, Tina LeAnn Photography, LLC. You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Erika Oliveras
I met Erika online many years ago. I was immediately struck by her caring and dedication to animals, as well as her desire to find work that benefits the world.
Erika is currently working as an assistant to a real estate agent. She previously spent a year away from her husband, working out-of-state for AmericaCorps VISTA, motivated by her desire to benefit society. In addition to her day job, she is a dog sitter through DogVacay.
Erika’s commitment to animals has lead her to volunteer for 2 Labrador breed rescues, Midwest Labrador Retriever Rescue (MLRR) and Labrador Education and Rescue Network (LEARN). She has fostered for MLRR, taking in dogs from out-of-state open admission animal shelters. She is also am involved in home visits, and LEARN’s major annual fundraiser.
She volunteers with her Lab, Gracie, who is a registered therapy dog. They belong to the therapy team, Caring Paws, through their local hospital, Centegra Medical Center, where they visit patients undergoing chemotherapy in the cancer center.
Erika and Gracie have recently started visiting an elementary school where the students read to Gracie to improve their reading skills.
When I asked Erika how women can support each other she replied, “I think it’s important not to judge others too quickly and also keep an open mind- maybe someone is doing something a different way than you would, but it doesn’t mean it’s a wrong way.”
You can read more about Erika’s dog sitting business at Dog Vacay.
All three of the extraordinary women are making a difference in their own way. They are good friends, community leaders, and outstanding women. I am fortunate to know them!
Who are the women in your life that inspire you? Share your stories below and join the initiative at the International Women’s Day website!