Since our founding in 2004, DC EcoWomen has grown from what was once an informal gathering of like-minded women into a full-fledged nonprofit reaching nearly 5,000 members and running 40 programs each year — all with the goal of supporting and empowering women to become leaders in the professional environmental space.
Our organization is run entirely by our board members — women with “regular” day jobs at other environmental nonprofits, consulting firms, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations — who volunteer their time in the extra corners of their evenings, weekends, late-nights, and early-mornings to organize EcoHours, schedule out newsletters, put on workshops, host networking events, and keep the trains running on time with the nuts and bolts that make up this organization and its great community.
With the new year approaching and inspiring a time to reflect, we asked our board members to tell us why it is they dedicate their spare time and energy to our mission, and what it is they love about DC EcoWomen. Here’s what they said:
“It is a community of multitooled women coming together for inspiration, education and connection. Women work together here to make women in environment a force for good. And as a woman in the environment I know that this community would not exist for us if it was not built, staffed, and maintained by us, and I don’t take that for granted. DC EcoWomen feeds my curiosity, buoys my hard days with solid examples of women of every age, and experience and background and who are on the same path, as mentors, speakers and real life leaders who work in government, in newsrooms, in community and in the streets. I don’t know of any other organization that brings us all together. So, long story short I love EcoWomen, because it reflects the best intentions of community and looks and feels like a place for me.” – Tamara Toles O’Laughlin
“It lives up to its superlatives. It is a group of energetic women whose focus is to give others the best tools that they can to go out and do good in the world. It is an amplifier of awesome that draws its energy from its amazing community.” – KC Stover
“I love EcoWomen because it’s such a positive and supportive community of environmentally-minded women. I have learned so much through the professional development team’s workshops and EcoHour speakers, and I have met more seriously cool DC women than I thought was possible, including some lifelong friends. I even found housing through the listserv! The DC EcoWomen really helped me adjust to living in DC and I want to make sure that other women who come after me have the opportunity to be served by this wonderful community as well.” – Claire Garvin
“I get to be surrounded by passionate women who are lifting each other up as leaders in the DC environmental community. To know that every woman involved in DC EcoWomen is doing so in her spare time is inspiring, and I’m proud to be involved in such a positive organization.” – Jackie Marks
Remember, we can’t do any of this without you. As a volunteer-run non-profit organization, we hope you’ll consider giving to DC EcoWomen to help us continue our programming and services to you and other DC-area women. Only four days left before Sunday, January 1 to support our tax-deductible End-of-Year-Giving campaign.
Help us to do more for you, with you. Give to something you love. Give to DC EcoWomen today:
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