Empowering women through leadership and strategic investments.
March is a busy month! It’s a time when people are in the throes of filing their taxes, planning spring break with the family and getting excited about the upcoming warm weather. This month is also time for us to reflect on something else March has given us: National Women’s History Month – an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.
United Way of the Midlands has a rich legacy in celebrating women through both internal leadership and our strategic community investments in the Omaha-Metro area.
Four out of the five executive level positions are occupied by women at United Way of the Midlands – most notable, our current President & CEO, Shawna Forsberg. Since April 2013, Shawna has been in a leadership role at UWM, both as the SVP of Marketing and now as our President and CEO. Shawna’s work focuses on providing critical funding to help our neighbors meet their most basic needs including access to healthy food, physical and mental health services, safe and affordable housing and academic supports, with the ultimate goal of helping families achieve long-term financial stability.
We also want to recognize Shawna’s predecessor, Karen Bricklemyer, who passed away suddenly in 2014 and had held the office of President & CEO at United Way since 2011.
Inspiring women are also represented on the UWM board, by our CIRT process volunteers, and members of Women United. The leadership and ambition shown by these women move our organization forward and empower the next generation.
In addition to honoring women in the workforce, United Way of the Midlands is dedicated to women empowerment through our strategic investments.
See below for the programs we fund that work tirelessly to lift up girls, teens and women everyday in our community:
Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska: Outreach Program
Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa: Girl Scout Leadership Experience Program
Girls Incorporated of Omaha: The Girls Inc. Experience Program
Women’s Center for Advancement: Self-Sufficiency Program, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Safety Services, Education and Prevention