Women in Training Inc

Women in Training, Inc. has five major goals for the current fiscal year:

1. Double the number from 700 to 1500 WITKITS of menstrual and hygiene supplies and COVID-19 personal protective equipment that volunteers distribute to menstruating youth and their families.

2. Double the number from 2,200 to 5,000 "WIT Guide to the Menstrual Cycle" pamphlets that the organization distributes to global programs that service menstruating youth.

3. Advocate for the passage of Alabama legislation to provide free menstrual products to youth in public high schools serving students on free and/or reduced lunch.

4. Develop a substantive youth development program to train a diverse group of young people in a wide range of areas, including social etiquette; Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Mathematics; international relations; social justice issues; career exploration; and preparing for life after high school.Operations

5. Increase global awareness of period poverty by appearing on national and international media.

The Women in Training Board of Directors has instituted the following strategies to accomplish the goals above:

1. Formed Standing and Ad Hoc Committees of the Board to propose specific programming and plans to implement such programming to support the organizational goals.

2. Accepted individual responsibility for raising funds to support programming.

3. Accepted individual responsibility for volunteering a minimum number of hours on programming, outside of attending meetings.

4. Accepted responsibility for chairing Board Committees created to propose and implement programs.

5. Accepted responsibility for attending a minimum number of organizational events/activities.

Women in Training has the capability to meet and exceed our goals! Just a year ago in July of 2019, the
mustard seed of the idea for this organization formed when 12-year-old Brooke and Breanna Bennett conceived of donating their birthday to raising funds to help alleviate poverty. While this is where the idea commenced, the vision for the organization has grown along with it to encompass not only supplying youth in poverty with hygiene supplies, but also providing valuable menstrual education services, advocating for legislative action to provide government support for hygiene supplies for impoverished youth across Alabama, and engaging youth in community service and social justice issues.

This inaugural year has seen Women In Training grown in wonderful ways from this small and generous act into the creation of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a fully and diverse board. Working with this board, the Women In Training Youth Ambassadors, and numerous volunteers have reached some important milestones in a short period of time.

Because we are a new organization, we had so much to do, but with the vision of Brooke and Breanna, our CEO, and our Board, we have made great strides. We are thrilled to have a board that is not only composed of community leaders but is also representative of the community we serve. We invite you to visit our website for more information about our mission and our members: womenintraining.org

While the COVID-19 pandemic required the cancelation of our major planned large fundraising event, we continue to push to grow our organization’s ability to help our community.

This inaugural year has seen Women In Training grown in wonderful ways into the creation of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a fully and diverse board. Working with this board, the Women In Training Youth Ambassadors, and numerous volunteers have reached some important milestones in a short period of time:

 Distributed more than 700 WITKITS containing menstrual and hygiene products, menstrual education materials, and personal touches to honor and value the recipients to menstruating youth living in low-income situations. The assistance does not stop with this initial delivery as we resupplied WITKIT recipients on a regular basis even during the global pandemic.

 Published and distributed “The WIT Guide to the Menstrual Cycle.” Dr. LaToya Clark, Board President and Montgomery obstetrician/gynecologist, created this easy-to-understand brochure.

 Partnered with area organizations like New Beginnings Educational Center, Reality and Truth Ministries, That’s My Child, and Common Ground Montgomery to bring menstrual education and WITKITS to youth involved with those organizations.

 Inspired and advocated for House Bill 237, a bill Alabama Representatives Rolanda M. Hollis and Tashina Morris
co-sponsored. This bill proposed funding free sanitary pads to more than 200,00 youth in Alabama’s public schools. While COVID-19 pretermitted the legislative session before the bill could pass, advocacy on this issue will continue in the next legislative session.

 Initiated plans with the Montgomery Public School System to begin a program designed to bring menstrual education to middle school and high school students in the next few years.

 Secured a sponsor for free sanitary products and dispensers for Montgomery Public Schools.

 Raised awareness of the mission of Women in Training and provided public discussion opportunities relating to menstrual education at various events.

 Participated in Alabama’s inaugural Period Day Rally to raise awareness regarding the need to alleviate the adverse impacts of poverty on menstruating youth especially those in school.

 Created a vibrant strategy for increasing visibility, including a website and a presence on numerous social media channels, with which we recruit donors and volunteers.

 Co-sponsored the Justice for George Floyd Protest Rally at the Alabama Department of Archives and History on June 6, 2020. The peaceful rally, the largest in Montgomery this year, brought together people of all ages and identities to call for social justice and peace.
 
 Created and produced a video explaining our scope and mission.

 Elevated organization's profile through the numerous awards and acknowledgments 12-year-old Brooke and Breanna received in our inaugural year for their work, including an award from the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, Daily Point of Light, Alpha Phi Alphi fraternity, Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium, Andrew Young Outstanding Youth Award, and Leadership Montgomery.