evan, lindsay, nina, elena and esther

As if there aren't already enough amazing people in my life to look up to! You know when you meet a person or group of people and they just INSPIRE you to be better or make you want to do something good? Two weeks ago I had that experience, deeply. So now I am now a proud member of: WOW - The Worldwide Organization for Women.

WOW is one of the many non-profits in Utah (utah seems to have a disproportionately large amount of international non-profits for how non-metropolis it is comparatively) They have a broad mission to advocate women globally - economically, socially, politically. Which is extremely important in our world of decaying morals and rapidly changing cultures, often leaving women the most disadvantaged of any ( for example, of the world's poor 70% are women, for many reasons). This means that women are the least empowered to raise their families and pave a new future for society through their children. WOW has representation at the UN in NY (ahem, Suvi), and at the UN headquarters in Geneva, and they collaborate with a variety of different NGOs who work in one way or another to empower marginalized women. Sounds pretty vague, but believe me, it's not vague to the hundreds of women whose lives are touched by these organizations.

Suvi invited me to meet up with her at their annual conference at the Weber State campus two weekends ago. It was the weekend after General Conference so I just felt all around inspired and edified. The theme of this year's WOW conference was Women's influence for peace worldwide. I was BLOWN AWAY by the variety of speakers and the simple power of their messages. I wish that everyone I know could hear what those ladies had to say.

Please go here and listen a little bit to one of my heroes from the conference who is doing brilliantly courageous things in Somalia. I can't tell you how much hearing Asha Haji Elmi speak in person, touched my heart. This BBC report is a bit outdated but is still relevant :