Dr. LaToya Clark, MD, Women in Training, Inc. Chairwoman, President and Medical Adviser, hosted a successful WIT Annual Meeting on July 11, 2021, at Girls Raised In The South (GRITS) Cafe.
“As a global pandemic literally shut down most of the world, WIT continued to expand on its upward trajectory,” Clark said in her informative State of WIT Address. “Although the heart and focus of WIT has been to help those in poverty, this year we have seen the expansion that encompasses not only helping the less fortunate, but also cultivating young ladies to become future leaders in our community and even in the world.”
Clark highlighted the following areas of growth -- with the support of donors, volunteers and other nonprofit organizations -- since WIT was started in July 2019 by Breanna and Brooke Bennett on their 12th birthday:
Distributed 9,000 WITKITS of menstrual and hygiene supplies to meet basic hygiene needs of menstruating people. This year saw a 100 percent increase in donations from last year.
Advocated for passage of Alabama House Bill 88, sponsored by Representative Rolanda Hollis, to require school districts to provide cost-free sanitary pads and tampons to students in need
Initiated the WIT Rites of Passage Circle to provide academic and experiential learning opportunities to Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) middle school girls about their cultural heritage and history.
Initiated the WIT Leadership Development Circle to provide academic and experiential instruction to high school girls in cultivating curiosity, how to be a good community member, financial literacy, values-based leadership, the power of self-reflection.
Initiated the WIT Girls STEAM Initiative to provide academic and experiential learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).
To provide these services, WIT raised a total of $215,492 in the July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, fiscal year, in the form of in kind contributions, pro bono services, grants, government support, special events and donations from private individuals. This is more than a four-fold increase from the $57,718 raised in 2019-2020. The two special events WIT held in the 2020-2021 fiscal year were the October 2020 WIT 5K Race to End Period Poverty and the March 2021 WIT Women’s Film Festival and Panel Discussion at the Capri Theatre.
To review the WIT Annual Report, please go here: https://www.womenintrainingreport.org/