At the beginning of December, WoVeN had the privilege of hosting our second Train the Trainers event in sunny Orlando, FL! This event marks the largest National WoVeN training event to date. We’re thrilled to report that the weekend was a resounding success with tons of friendships and memories made. We had 2 National Consultants, 4 Staff Members, 10 Trainers, and 60 new Peer Leaders attend the event!
With this training, we are expanding WoVeN to 35 new cities across the country, including the first ever WoVeN group outside the contiguous USA in Bayamón and Dorado, Puerto Rico. At this training we introduced some exciting programs and training activities, like the new Online Group Format, WoVeN Tier system, and training video starring yours truly, WoVeN’s Director and co-Director, Tara and Amy! We are so excited to share more details about these exciting new WoVeN programs with our national community in the coming months.
This amazing cohort of Peer Leaders are already starting their new WoVeN groups, with many more beginning in the first few weeks of January. Stay tuned for more stories from our Orlando Training!
Here’s what some of our new Peer Leaders have to say
about their training experience:
“I retired 15 years ago and realized quickly I didn’t have a military community any longer. I wanted to be a WoVeN Peer Leader to spread the news as fast and far as possible so it wouldn’t take others 15 years or more to find genuine relationships with female veterans.”
— Sue M. S.USN/USMCR, 28 years of service
“I was searching the New Mexico Department of Veteran Services website for programs specific to women Veterans. After seeing the photos and reading how WoVeN began, I felt I wanted to be a part of that story.”
— Desiree G.USMC, 8 years of service
“The WoVeN Peer Leader Training is a truly remarkable experience! As women Veterans we have unique experiences from that of our male counterparts and those experiences translate to incredible stories. By sharing those stories, we can strengthen and inspire our Veteran sisters, all while creating extraordinary friendships.”
— Desiree G.USMC, 8 years of service
“I heard about WoVeN from a very good friend I’d recently met after moving to Denver. Knowing my story, she insisted I become a part of WoVeN to inspire other Women Veterans to stand up proudly in their now civilian lives and use the same military honor and courage to push through new challenges.”
— LaVern G.USN/USNR, 24 years
“My most memorable moment from the training was what I felt in connecting and sharing with my Veteran sisters. There was an incredible sense of camaraderie and empowerment and it made me realize how much I needed a connection to other women Veterans.”
— Desiree G.USMC, 8 years of service
“The most memorable moment and most important take away from my Orlando training experience are the feelings of empowerment, emotional support and synergistic strength of over 60 women veterans that weren’t there to place judgement, but only to connect and lift each other up in Sisterhood.”
— LaVern G.USN/USNR, 24 years of service
“Life is too short, so make a commitment now to something that really matters to yourself and the masses of women who need a women’s network. You will NEVER look back…only forward!”
— Sue M. S.USN/USMCR, 28 years of service
“To women Veterans considering applying to be Peer Leaders: Just do it! I didn’t know what I’d been missing since leaving the Navy, but I knew I longed for something I once had. I found it at Peer Leader training. The “it” was pride, solidarity, unity and community. My missing pieces are back together now…I’m WoVeN for life.”
— LaVern G.USN/USNR, 24 years of service
“It was so touching and heartwarming to see our National Consultants represent us at the Disney flag ceremony. We are valuable and we will be seen!”
— Sue M. S.USN/USMCR, 28 years of service