Successful, Equitable Workplaces

The next big fight for equality in the ranks will likely come from women in uniform [New York Times]

Feminist movements have been fighting for equality between the sexes for over a century; asking for equal rights, equal pay, and equal perceptions [Georgetown Voice]

Remarks by the First Lady at Joining Forces Event on Family Medical Leave Act [NewsRoom America]

Seeking novel ways to eliminate the gender pay gap,  Department of Labor announced contest for creating software applications to promote equal pay [MMD NewsWire]

Three years after the Ledbetter bill passed women still earn less than men [Think Progress]

Women still minority in Davos [Bloomberg]

Pregnant and pushed out of a job – yes it can still happen [New York Times]

Saluting Misbehavin’ Women

As Sue Cischke retires, Motor City loses on of its few women executives [Forbes]

The power women of Davos [Forbes]

Girl Scouts celebrating a century, it’s about more than the cookies [New York Times]

Navy remembers fleets first female handler [Military.com]

Female ROTC Cadet excels at OSU [ocolly]

Politics

At 51 percent of the population, and 55 percent of voters, women should require candidates to rethink their pitch to women [The Hill]

Small Business

Survey reveals what keeps women business owners up at night [MarketWatch]

Why the global economy needs businesses to invest in women [The Daily Beast]

How women are mistreated by the venture capital world [Inc]

Health

Caffeine alters estrogen levels in younger women [New York Times]

Editorial: Birth Control and Reproductive Rights [New York Times]

VA publishes regulations on newborn care [BusinessWire]

Gen Y

The challenges facing Gen Y women [Forbes]

Next generation of women leaders will emerge faster when we stop trying to act like men [Forbes]

Veterans/Military

BPW/Columbia, SC holds women veterans summit [Midlands Connect]

Female vet and former Black Hawk pilot has problems with transition [New York Daily News]

Challenges contributing to homelessness may be more pronounced for women veterans suffering from “disabling psychological conditions” [USGovInfo]

Homeless women veterans on the rise [Time]

Mentoring

Canadian researchers determine mentoring helps women who have suffered abuse [Pych Central]

Michelle Obama talks about being a mentor [White House Blog]

Other Important News

Fierce outcry on Komen decision of defund Planned Parenthood [New York Times]

Editorial takes issue with Komen Foundation decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood [New York Times]

Women’s Professional Soccer League has cancelled their 2012 season [Huffington Post]

Why are women better at buying cars? [NPR]

New Facebook App connects women [AllFacebook]

Don’t fall for untrue smears against Girl Scouts [Washington Post]

Voice over trailer work scarce for women.  Men’s voices more “credible” [New York Times]

Can feminists like fashion? [Forbes]

For the eighth #HERvotes blog carnival, our coalition of women’s groups is joining forces for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, rates for sexual violence, stalking, and domestic violence occurred at alarming rates.  One in four women have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner and nearly one in five women have been raped in their lifetime. This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider legislation that to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the largest policy effort aimed at responding to and preventing these crimes. First passed in 1994, VAWA supports comprehensive, cost-saving responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and must be reauthorized to ensure a continued federal government response.  Since its passage in 1994, more victims report domestic violence to the police and the rate of non-fatal intimate partner violence against women has decreased by 53 percent.  Through the HERvotes Blog Carnival we hope to remind voters of the importance of protecting women from violence and highlight VAWA’s lifesaving programs and services.  Reauthorizing VAWA  will ensure that its important programs will continue for five more years.  We urge the Senate to remember and protect women.

Join us by sharing the posts below on Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #HERvotes), and other social media

The Trenches, Remembered – Joan Grey, Business and Professional Women’s Foundation

Tell Your Senator to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act Now- Elizabeth Owens, AAUW

Why VAWA is a Queer Issue- Terra Slavin, L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center and Sharon Stapel, New York City Anti-Violence Project

Universities Should Support VAWA- Melissa Siegel,  National Youth Advisory Board

Students Against Dating/Domestic Abuse- Sara Skavroneck,  National Youth Advisory Board

Loveisrespect.org- National Youth Advisory Board Against Dating Violence- Kevin Mauro,  National Youth Advisory Board

Teenage Dating Violence and VAWA- Nikki Desario,  National Youth Advisory Board

Violence Against Women Act up for Reauthorization- National Association of Social Workers

Wake up, People! Domestic Violence is an Epidemic!- Donna Pantry, Elf Lady’s Chronicles

Recession and Women: How Economic Insecurity Enables Abuse- Donna Addkison’s, Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW)

More Bipartisan Support Needed for Violence Against Women Act- Terry O’Neill,  NOW

Combating Domestic Violence – Mallon Urso, NWCP

Speak Up and Support the Violence Against Women Act, Jewish Women International

Taking the Violence Against Women Act a Higher Ground – Emily Alfano, National Council of Jewish Women

It’s a Good Time To Be a Black Woman? Well,  Not So Good When It Comes To Violence – Black Woman’s Health Imperative

Teen Dating Violence -Christine Bork, YMCA Metropolitan Chicago

By Joan Grey
BPW Foundation Mentoring Liaison

We all have our stories.  Maybe these narratives, rather than DNA, are really what make us human.  On the topic of military sexual trauma, I turned to my West Point women classmates for their input.  Ours was the first co-ed class. Out of over 900 graduates, 62 were women.

We didn’t get to know each other as well as you might think for all the shared challenges we faced. The message we absorbed was, “Where two or more are gathered, a conspiracy is brewing.” So, we went our separate ways, tried to blend in, and not draw attention.  A bellowed command of, “Miss, halt,” caused more than a few collisions and scuffed spitshines when women scurrying to class instantly obeyed.

Were we harassed? As Anne put it, “Oh, let me count the ways.  But was this exclusively because I was a woman? Yes and No.  Was this just part of being a cadet at West Point? Yes and no.”

Some ideas were “design flaws” like the shorty, see-thru bathrobes; go-go boots; swimsuits that failed to cover; 4000 calorie meals (leading to Hudson hip disease); and parade coat without tails. What was the administration thinking? Others were humorous, at least in retrospect, like the mandatory makeovers (what message does that send?) and group consciousness raising session that required physical restraint (Go, Karen!).

Some problems were simply criminal. A classmate was attacked in her room. She left; he graduated. It was not the only nighttime intrusion, but one that was most widely known, especially when you consider pre-internet days.

After this episode, women cadets were required to sleep two or more to a room. If your roommate was gone overnight, the remaining cadet needed to bunk with someone else or find another woman to sleep in her room, to ensure women’s safety at night.  Because of West Point’s honor code, we had “Absence cards” but not locks on the doors. Ever inventive, women applied military tactics by propping brooms or chairs against doors as early warning devices.  Locks weren’t installed on barracks room doors until around 1990—14 years after the arrival of women cadets.

And some rules were intended to prevent illicit encounters–like doors open when members of the opposite sex where in the room; then changed so the door didn’t have to be wide open—disruptive to studying; and yet again, door open and propped with a trash can. Dr Seuss would have had a field day composing a tale (see The Sneetches). At some point, windows received privacy shades, with specific rules about inches from sill in daytime.

Department of Defense (DOD) defines Military Sexual Trauma (MST) as rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment. MST affects both women and men in uniform, but disproportionately affects women. Sexual assault and rape is widespread, with one study reporting that almost one in four women had been assaulted or raped, and that’s just reported cases. A female soldier in a war zone is at greater risk of being raped by a fellow soldier than dying under fire. Maybe the problem hasn’t gotten worse; but just better reported as a possible justification for increased assaults at military academies. Women entered military academies in the mid-70s. However, reporting on the effectiveness of sexual-violence related programs and policies was not mandated until 2007.

It’s the anecdotes rather than statistics that punch you in the gut though…

Neu Ulm, Germany; 1981; a guesthouse on an American Kaserne: The hotel was American-operated, in a gated community, as military facilities tend to be.  The group bathroom/shower was down the hall—separated from the sleeping area—more like a hostel, but a step up from a bunk in the barracks with no privacy. The window in the bathroom was a concern. One side of the casement had been lodged behind the washing machine. To close the window would require pulling the machine out and it was wedged beside the dryer. So the window stayed open, figuring it was the middle of the night and the room was on the 3^rd floor. Mistake. A hand reached into the shower. A man pulled back the shower curtain. Water off, towel grabbed, and backed up toward the locked door; she managed to escape. He was never caught, but the souvenir composite sketch is a reminder that it actually happened… Like the shower scene from Psycho, the image will suddenly surface.

Why bring this up now, more than 30 years after the first West Point class with women graduated? Not only because of an increase in assaults at military academies, but  there has been a lot of interest lately with the showing at the Sundance Film Festival of the Invisible War which reports in an unflinching manner on rape in the military and the reauthorization of The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA provides money to enhance investigation and prosecution of violent crimes perpetrated against women

Even if we weren’t physically assaulted, were we unscathed? The first class of West Point women can boast of a lot of accomplishments—mothers, doctors, lawyer, Indian chief (still reading?), Rhodes Scholar, teachers & professors, nun, general officer, SES’, activists, movers and shakers.  Perhaps the statistic that gives most hope is how many woman classmates have let their children attend service academies.  Mothers wouldn’t knowingly send their children into danger.

Commandeering the public address system to play I Am Woman before graduation was discussed but didn’t happen. Like the lyrics of that song, the West Point women of 1980 are resilient.

Yes I am wise

But it’s wisdom born of pain

Yes, I’ve paid the price

But look how much I gained

If I have to, I can do anything

West Point Women 1980

I am strong

I am invincible

I am woman

I raise a glass to all pathfinders—you can bend but never break us.

Successful, Equitable Workplaces

Must women pry the board room door open? [The Glass Hammer]

Davos expects rise in female executive attendance [eFinancial News]

The path for getting more women in senior leadership [Forbes]

Men out earn women in all US areas except in one a tiny town in FL [BizJournals]

Should pregnancy be treated as a disability? [Wall Street Journal]

Walmart faces long battle on sex discrimination despite court win [Huffington Post]

Women 100 years away from board parity [HRM Today]

Just because there are only a few women CEOs doesn’t mean we are not successful [Forbes]

Mentoring

Michelle Obama on personal service, mentoring and giving back [More]

Giving back to women veterans and military spouses who have given so much to us [Huffington Post]

A Miss America contestant’s cause, “Mentoring: Investing in Tomorrow’s Future Today,” focuses on positive impact a mentor can have on children [Examiner]

Cherie Blair on why women should become mentors [Huffington Post]

Politics

Number of women in politics declining [Charlotte Observer]

Small Business

Five lessons for daughters taking over the family business [The Grindstone]

Gen Y

Gen Y: The new workforce [The Next Web]

Saluting Misbehavin’ Women

Little Pink Book lists top 11 women in philanthropy [Sacramento Bee]

All female Seabees Team makes history in Afghanistan [Los Angeles Times]

Female engagement teams build rapport with Afghan women [Gazette]

Walmart promotes African American woman to run Sam’s Club.  One of Fortunes Most Powerful Women [Loop21]

Woman veteran goes from drugs and suicide attempt to helping others [New York Times]

Health

Secrets from the world’s healthiest women [CNN]

STEM

Organizations for women in technology formed in the past thirty years follow a “separate but equal” doctrine [Venture Beat]

Math study provides clues as to why women don’t excel at chess [New York Times]

Veterans/Military

Part two in the series “The Battlefield and the Barracks: Two War Fronts for Women Soldiers” [Truth-Out]

GAO report shows VA’s shortcomings in dealing rising number of homeless women veterans [Government Executive]

Number of homeless female veterans more than doubles [MSNBC]

Woman Veterans Coordinator responds to gender PTSD study [Swords-to-Plowshares]

Other News You Can Use

Social Enterprise trains women philanthropists in Angel investing [Just Means]

A complex portrait emerges of black women who feel confident but vulnerable, who have high self-esteem and see physical beauty as important, who find career success more vital to them than marriage [Washington Post]

New definition of rape finds men struggling for awareness of how rape has affected them [New York Times]

Are pink Legos just building stereotypes?  [NPR]

A scientific look at the dangers of high heels [New York Times]

So, what does this have to do with mentoring? Rachel is not your typical business associate. While my connection with my granddaughter is certainly not professional, our interaction has aspects of mentoring.  We have a mutually agreeable relationship that includes respect, communication, and setting boundaries.

Within each of us is the capacity to mentor. And each of us has an area in which we could use mentoring by someone else. Mentoring is more about relationship than skills or knowledge. Probably the biggest “skill” a mentor needs is the desire to help. It’s a relationship built on trust and respect.  And it recognizes that at some point, our mentee will no longer need us and be able to “walk” by herself.

A mentor wants her mentee to succeed. Rachel’s ability to walk is independent of me, but my helping hands have encouraged her in the process. And you can bet I’m there to applaud every step she takes. I’m also there to pick her up when she falls; drying tears if needed.

January is National Mentoring Month, focusing on mentoring as a way to give back.  This year, Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation is concentrating on women veterans and military wives.  BPW Foundation has deployed Joining Forces for Women Veterans and Military Spouses® (JFWVMS) Mentoring Plus, a program dedicated to helping women veterans and military spouses connect with working women mentors and subject matter experts (SMEs) to receive support, guidance, and career development.

There is a role for everyone to play. Our mentors and mentees are women of all ages, eras, ranks and skills. Follow this link to sign up to be a mentor, subject matter expert or mentee.

Did you ever teach someone how to use Facebook, or knit, or mix a margarita? Congratulations, you have the skills to be a subject matter expert (SME). While, Mentoring Plus is focusing on career-oriented skills, it’s not so different than teaching other things. In the new world of job seeking, there’s overlap between personal and professional roles. A SME might advise you to have a Linkedin profile or possibly edit the photos you post on social media sites.  Maybe you’d like to rehearse interview questions and a mentor or SME can help. A mentor may also share contacts on her network, point out opportunities, and open doors.

Rachel’s successes are hers to enjoy. I feel honored to accompany her as she blossoms from baby to toddler. Who knows how her life will unfold, but you can be sure of this: I’ll be there to share and shape and guide the person she becomes. You’ll recognize me by my loud cheering, whether she’s jumping off a diving board or walking across a stage to pick up her diploma. And if you are involved in a mentoring relationship, you can probably relate.

Please help us connect 10,000 women veterans and military spouses with mentors during 2012 by sharing this information on webpages, social media, and at meetings.

If you have questions or need further details, please contact us at JoiningForces@BPWFoundation.org.

For updates, follow us:

http://www.facebook.com/BPWF4WomenVets 

https://twitter.com/#!/BPWF4WomenVets

]]> http://youngwomenmisbehavin.com/2012/01/26/everyone-can-lend-a-hand-through-mentoring/feed/ 0 serenityordersimplicity walking with help with wagon http://youngwomenmisbehavin.com/2012/01/20/womens-news-to-chew-on-link-love-for-lunch-10/ http://youngwomenmisbehavin.com/2012/01/20/womens-news-to-chew-on-link-love-for-lunch-10/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:59:38 +0000 YWM http://youngwomenmisbehavin.com/?p=9084 ]]> January is National Mentoring Month – Sign Up to Mentor a Women Veteran or Military Spouse -

Successful, Equitable Workplaces -

More young women are covering campaigns [Politico]

Does it pay to be one of the guys at work? [Forbes]

38 years after passage of legislation designed to enforce workplace equality, the Equal Pay Act is often violated [KStateCollegian]

Empowered Work Force

How the gift of mentoring changed two lives [Naples News]

A mentor can help you reach your goals at any stage of your career or life [Chicago Tribune]

Chart showing women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s in 2010 [HR Compliance]

Wal-Mart Women file expanded Texas Class Action [MarketWatch]

Walmart seeks to halt refiled gender discrimination law suits [Insurance Journal]

Rutgers study finds that paid family leave leads to positive economic outcomes [National Partnership]

Health

New recommendations for older women and bone tests [New York Times]

VA says women veterans getting screened for cervical cancer [DODLive]

Women’s groups file Supreme Court brief supporting Health Care Reform Law [National Partnership]

Small Business

Women have to shine to attract investments in their businesses [Women2]

California, Texas and New York have the most women owned businesses [Gisuer]

Are women more careful entrepreneurs than men? [Forbes]

Do men and women bring different skills to entrepreneurship? [FastCoExist]

Three in four women small business owners see more tough times in 2012 [Insurance News]

STEM

Encouraging biotechnology workplace diversity [BioTech Now]

Gonzaga University awarded grant aimed at bringing more women into STEM careers [Spokesman]

Gen Y

Millennial Women are burning out at 30 and starting their own businesses [Forbes]

Other Interesting Items

Professional women rate 6 biggest mistakes businesses make when marketing to women [SFGate]

Men and women are still both from earth despite study showing “brain” differences [Huffington Post]

Commission on Status of Women to get budget ax in CA [SFGate]

A furor over gender marketing for Lego toys [Huffington Post]

Dr Pepper’s bizarre “not for women” ad campaign [Forbes]

NY area female retail workers experience low pay, little health insurance, scheduling instability and an abuse of part-time job status. [Women's eNews]

Politics

Political Parity’s drive to help women win office [The Daily Beast]

15 women GQ could have named to its most powerful in Washington list [Think Progress]

Why women still won’t run for office [Elect Women]

Military/Veteran

Film, “The Invisible War” takes on rape in the military [Huffington Post]

Jill Biden writes children’s book about military family’s struggles [Huffington Post]

The Battlefield and the Barracks: Two War Fronts for Women Soldiers.  Why Do Soldiers Rape? Part 1 of a 5 part series [Truth-Out]

Female vets struggle to find work [WWLP]

Cengage and BPW Foundation partner to support women veterans with career transitions [InfoTechSpotlight]

PTSD—an equal opportunity disorder—rates are same among male and female vets of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, with about 18 percent of both groups [KQED]

About one in five women and one in one hundred men reported that they’ve experienced military sexual trauma [MotherSatWar]

The double trauma of war and sexual assault by “brothers-in-arms” in the military leaves women feeling unsafe [Truth.Out]

The first VA patient to receive all of her prenatal care from the VA [SL Tribune]

Panetta announces new measures to combat sexual assault [Stripes]

In my past articles, I have talked about my drive towards the ambiguous definition of “success” …the constant quest for new motivation. While I have always been someone who recognized the efforts others, it wasn’t until recently that I realized how the unwavering support of one particular person is truly what carried me for the past 27 years. Without him…”success” would have had a much smaller meaning.

Not but a few weeks ago, my father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized throughout his body. I have had horrendous experiences in life, but finding this news was by far the most gut wrenching.  Much like the opening stanza to Emerson’s Concord Hymn, it was a devastating shotgun diagnosis heard around the world.  Flying out to CA to sit in the Oncologists office as “Jingle Bells” played in the background was surreal, but it was my father’s positive mind-set that still made it seem like Christmas after all.

Liz and her dad Bud

As he goes from doctor to doctor hearing the trials and tribulations of what he must endure ….one thing never vacillates: his positive attitude and his mantra to fight with all his heart. When I say to him “dad, you are an inspiration to start appreciating what is important in life” his response is “I’ve always said love is the most important thing in the world. Some people thought I was crazy. But I have known it is supporting family, friends and having a positive attitude that matters.”

As I began to reflect on life, I started realizing what it was that got me to this point of “success.” There is no doubt I have worked hard on my own, but without my dad’s love and support growing up…I would not be anywhere. Starting to compete in running events in Kindergarten; my dad was there as a cheering squad for every road, cross-country or track event. I can still hear him in the background chanting “Go Liz Go!” as I came around the bend. He was there for every drama performance, every monologue, for my Miss Junior America competitions, my biggest fan for every newspaper article I drafted, my sailing teacher, my horse show applauder, my driving teacher, my example of work ethic and the one person who constantly told me he thought I was beautiful.

When I think back to momentous occasions such as when my USAFA acceptance envelope came in the mail, parents’ weekends, graduation, my wedding, nearly every Thanksgiving no matter where I was in the world…..he has been there. My number one fan.

The point being that sometimes when you think you have accomplished success on your own, you fail to look behind the scenes to who may have been the catalyst. My father has given me faith to prevail …and now it is my turn to stand behind him to help him make this fight.  Cheers to you Dad….you were right….love is the most important thing in the world. Keep calm and carry on.

Empowered Workforces

Women are opting into career advancement strategies, including mentoring, and giving up work life balance [Forbes]

According to Ginny Rommety, IBM Chief Ex, women round down rather than up when assessing their skills [HBR]

Its time the U.S. adopts paid family leave [WomenseNews]

Women have a hard time taking credit for their success [Huffington Post]

As more husbands stay at home to support their wife, we see the rules changing [BusinessWeek]

During past 50 years, women have advanced in the American workforce yet still often receive lower salaries than male colleagues [IB Times]

Since 2009 recovery began, women have only added 43,000 jobs; picture’s even bleaker for female veterans, who just can’t seem to catch a break [Jezebel]

Successful, Equitable Workplaces

Corporate Boards: shifting from aging men to a new generation of women? [Forbes]

Tools and training prepare managers for workplace flexibility [SHRM]

Ball State University investigates lack of women professors [The Star Press]

Health

New York Times editorial: The Republican Party vs. Reproductive Rights [New York Times]

Odds and Ends

High hopes that 2012 will be a good year for women [New York Times]

Women are a mystery to Stephen Hawking [Reuters]

Roughly half of the planet’s visionary leaders are women and they have probably spent years wishing they could change something, or everything, about their bodies and their looks. [Business2Community

Thanking the women who paved the way [Huffington Post]

On Jan. 12, 1915, the US House of Representatives voted, 204-174, to reject a constitutional amendment to give women the right to vote. [New York Times]

Small Business

White House helping small businesses drive innovation [WhiteHouse.gov]

STEM

Meet a top female engineer for GM [Freep.com]

A survey by HSN showed that women outstripped men in their interest in owning electronics [Huffington Post]

Gaming keeps gaining among women [emarketer]

Gen Y

The future of work? Here area the top 10 employers of Gen Y [Forbes]

Millennial Women Battle Mentors: Article on disconnect between older mentors. [Forbes]

Saluting Misbehavin’ Women

Judy Smith recently named to the Women in Aerospace board of directors is a supporter of mentoring [Black Engineer]

Veterans/Military

Female engagement team is first for Michigan National Guard [Mlive.com]

Jobless rate for young female veterans climbed in 2011 [Stripes]

Women at War: women’s growing military roles out pace their health care [Stripes]

Joining Forces: Helping women veterans move into new careers [ICDCollege]

Mentoring programs help veterans make the transition [Career Builder.com]

Members of the US women served in the Cadet Nurse Corps are the only uniformed WWII service people not to be considered veterans. [MPNNow]

“Making a very generous in-kind commitment through the free use of their award winning on-line, interactive Career Transitions resource, Cengage Learning has demonstrated its commitment to support women veterans as they make the transition from military to civilian careers and military spouses as they deal with establishing successful careers under both difficult and unusual situations,” said BPW Foundation CEO, Deborah L. Frett.

“Though our partnership, women veterans and military spouses will be able to use, at no cost, this advanced career service tool to help them in their search for meaningful civilian careers. The new and highly interactive Career Transitions provides immediate access to the most important job-seeking and career learning activities,” Frett continued.

“The Career Transitions experience is about accessibility and guidance: helping people get started—and follow through—on meaningful activities to improve their chances of finding sustainable employment. BPW Foundation’s long and strong history of women helping women will allow us to reach an important but often overlooked population, women veterans and military wives, providing them access to this powerful tool – and ultimately to new careers,” said Dave Garza, Vice President, Careers and Computing, Cengage Learning.

In addition to delivering measurable details on user accomplishments and successes, Career Transitions will offer women veterans and military wives:

•    Interactive interview practice
•    Matching of work and military experience to new careers
•    Multiple job-search options, including internships and entry-level, with job tracking; Job openings can be filtered  by occupational interest and geographic location.
•    Comprehensive education and training options by career, program and location
•    Guided resume and cover letter creation
•    Continually updated expert advice and industry-leading content
•    Hundreds of career overview videos, including “A Day in the Life” interviews featuring real people who work in those occupations
•    A new, streamlined interface designed to give users immediate access to activities

Chair of the JFWVMS Mentoring Advisory Council Dr. Lynda Davis said, “JFWVMS Mentoring Plus, an initiative of BPW Foundation, will enable women mentors to tap their own experiences in the workplace to help women veterans of all eras successfully enter and advance in the civilian workforce, positioning their military expertise and skills for long-term career stability and success. Mentors will act as coaches, guides, and navigators, sharing insights and skills needed to secure meaningful employment and career advancement. The program will also help make connections for military wives who often cannot find jobs that match their skills and education because of the hardships of military life including many moves and living in areas dominated by a military base.”

BPW Foundation identified mentoring as a key need of transitioning women veterans during its Inaugural Joining Forces for Women Veterans National Summit held in October, 2010. The Office of the First Lady also recognized this “mentorship gap” in their selection of BPW Foundation as point organization for a large-scale mentoring initiative to benefit women veterans and military spouses.