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NABFEME KATRINA SUPPORT STRATEGY
To the Members and Friends of the NABFEME
Community:
The giving spirit of our brothers and sisters
in this time of crisis and the desire of the NABFEME membership
to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina has been awe-inspiring
and humbling. Over the past couple of weeks, I have spoken
to several of our colleagues and friends who were personally
devastated by this tragedy. The dialogue we exchanged, combined
with many messages from our membership, our officers, as well
as our networks, has led me to put together a strategy and
plan that I believe will have a positive and significant long-term
impact on our friends and colleagues that were affected.
Below is a brief overview of the NABFEME
Katrina Support Strategy that will provide some assistance.
We will need everyone's focus, attention and support to implement
successfully and make this a reality.
NABFEME Katrina Support Plan & Strategy:
A. JOB PLACEMENT
With respect to the millions who have already
responded by providing relief assistance to the victims of
the Hurricane Katrina tragedy, our plan will serve as a compliment
to these already existing efforts by providing long-term support
and self-help initiatives.
To that end, NABFEME will develop an "Executive
Job Placement Strategy" that will provide job placement
assistance to many who are jobless, or entrepreneurs who have
lost their businesses. Through this strategy, NABFEME will
be in constant and on going contact with various employers,
businesses and entrepreneurs to locate jobs whether they are
temporary or they offer long-term placement. The implementation
and coordination will be managed via our National offices;
execution will be conducted through our NABFEME Networks located
in various cities across the nation. If you have jobs, know
of jobs or you are a Human Resources professional with job
placement information, or you know someone in HR, please contact
us. This is the simplest form of empowerment. We believe many
of our colleagues simply want to get back on their feet and
help themselves. With access to jobs, they can do this.
Many administrative or contractual jobs
do not require that the person be physically in the city where
the job is available. Considering the circumstances, these
types are most opportune. Also, many are ready for a fresh
beginning, so a new job in a new city in a new environment
will be welcomed.
B. ADOPT-A-FAMILY
Part two of our strategy is to combine forces
with SocialStep.com and utilize their already existing "Adopt-A-Family
Program." Many of you have been in touch with Malikia
and are aware of her program. She is a NABFEME Sister and
through this partnership NABFEME can assist in the adoption
of displaced families (preferably single-moms, women business
owners) who have lost everything and have been forced to relocate
in other cities across the nation. Participating NABFEME Networks
will leverage their local resources and utilize dollars gathered
through this "Friend-Raising" effort to provide
everything from housing, furniture and employment assistance,
to electrical/gas support, groceries and school supplies for
children.
Our "Friend-Raising" campaigns
will be funded by various drives. Networks can be creative
and name the drives what ever works best for their immediate
locale. To get us started, here are some different drives
I am suggesting: "School Supplies," "Rent,"
"Thanksgiving, "Household Items," "Christmas,"
"Dress For Success," "Utility Bills,"
"Metro Card or Bus Card" … again these are
suggestions, we can always put our heads together and come
up with more ideas.
We will track the progress of our jobs placements
and adopted families as they establish new lives and new beginnings,
which we feel, will yield long-term results. We will keep
everyone posted regularly by publishing our success stories
through our web site, email updates, our newsletter and the
2006 International Women's Leadership Summit.
Through our efforts,
anyone making a contribution will be able to see first-hand
how their contributions are being used to create better lives
for those affected by
Hurricane Katrina!
To make this strategy a reality… we
request everyone's support. Support means giving time, providing
input, donations, hands-on, and of course individual generosity.
Together we can make an important and positive impact on the
lives of many. Each Network, Board Member and Officer's participation
and/or donations are essential to rebuilding the lives and
livelihoods of many. As President and Founder of NABFEME,
I ask that you come together with us and let's present a unified
and well-planned effort that will allow us help others who
need help so desperately.
Remember our slogan: "One woman
can make a difference… but it's a lot easier when we
work together as a group."
Here's how you can help:
Stay posted for updates, details and additional
information. Thank you for your support and participation.
Sincerely,
Johnnie Walker
President
NABFEME, Inc.
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