Our Model
What Makes Us Different?
EWI participates in the 2009 Girls Gotta Run event. All artwork shown is handmade by EWI artist members. Pictured from left: Juliana (staff), Mariana (Argentinian set designer), and Geanina (volunteer and family member)
EWI is the only not-profit organization in Northern Virginia and the DC Metropolitan area that focuses on art to empower and bolster immigrant women’s participation in the market and the civic life of our community. EWI is also one of the few not-profit organizations that provide a holistic, tailored model of service delivery to our beneficiaries.
Why Art?
We believe the arts and immigrant women’s cultural heritages are extraordinary assets and means for helping them integrate in a new culture, develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills, and establish a foothold in their new community and the labor market. Art has an inherent capacity to bring people together and act as a platform for dialogue, tolerance building and multicultural understanding. Art has a demonstrated multiplier effect that engages people in community building, education and cross-cultural dialogue about local and global issues.
Why a Tailored Service Model?
We recognize that immigrant women typically face multiple challenges to achieve economic self-sufficiency and civic participation. Since not all needs are “tangible,” efforts at facilitating economic and self-empowerment must be balanced with effective services addressing the many cultural and personal factors affecting immigrant women’s integration and success.