Michelle Somerday
Development Volunteer
Michelle is a self-employed independent consultant providing expertise in business development and outreach, marketing and communications, strategy planning and implementation, research and analysis, and program management. She is passionate about helping women and girls be empowered and providing them with the knowledge, support, and means to be a force for positive change in their own lives. Michelle works with the EWI’s Executive Director to help better define, support, and communicate EWI’s program goals and outcomes as well as the need for EWI.
While she is currently based in Arlington, VA, she has spent over 10 years living and working overseas – in Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean – and loves the cultural diversity of the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.
Laura Usrey
Summer Intern
Laura Usrey is a soon-to-be graduate of T.C. Williams High School and will be heading off in August, 2010 to the University of Kentucky, majoring in Secondary Math Education, hopefully teaching abroad at some point. Growing up in a time and place with incredible diversity, Laura has been given numerous opportunities to expand her knowledge and understanding of other countries, along with their cultures and languages through travels to Germany, Mexico and Iceland. Most recently she spent some time at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA where she was introduced to Arabic. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors, volunteering in her school & around her community, taking photos, beading, scrapbooking and of course, spending time with friends and family. Laura is incredibly excited to be a part of EWI and can’t wait to see what she is able to learn and accomplish!
Juliana P W Kerrest
Outreach Coordinator - AmeriCorps*VISTA Member
Juliana Kerrest is passionate about female empowerment, equality, international human rights, and highlighting the many contributions that immigrants make to this country. She has been to over 20 countries and is bilingual in English and French.
She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of community outreach, partnership building and volunteer participation in EWI’s programs and services. Additionally, Juliana leads EWI’s online social networking and retail development, and assists in event planning, communication and marketing.
Juliana graduated with honors from The Johns Hopkins University in August 2009, having designed her own program of interdisciplinary study entitled “Rights and Equality” and double-minored in Anthropology and Gender Studies. While at JHU, Juliana co-founded and was president for three years of the school’s first mental health awareness and advocacy group.
She has volunteered for nearly four years with Soldiers’ Angels and has fostered abused pit bulls for over three years with the Baltimore rescue Adopt a Homeless Animal. Most recently, Juliana has started volunteering with the City of Alexandria’s Sexual Assault Response and Awareness Program as a hotline and hospital companion. To reach Juliana email her at juliana@ewint.org
Sharmila Karamchandani
Client Services Manager & Training Instructor
Sharmila Karamchandani, an Indian-born artist and graphic designer has a passion for working in arts education and community non-profits. She graduated from EWI Training for Success in 2006 and began assisting the organization with graphic art projects and in various art development projects. Sharmila works in a series of art media including Jewelry Design, Photography, Calligraphy and Henna painting.
She currently coordinates the client services at EWI, conducts the initial client intake and career & self-assessment, and provides coaching, referrals, guidance and marketing support. Sharmila is also one of the instructors in EWI’s Entrepreneur Training for Success, and she works tirelessly to help immigrant women in our program develop fulfilling businesses and careers. Sharmila has a Master’s in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design. To contact Sharmila e-mail her at sdkhush@hotmail.com
Marga C. Fripp
Art Marketing Coach/President EWI
Marga Fripp, the Founder and President of Empowered Women International, is an art marketing coach, journalist and entrepreneur with over 15 years experience in managing non-profits, marketing, art management, media relations, gender and entrepreneurial development. She has a passion for empowering women to make a living from their work and thrive as leaders, educators, global citizens and entrepreneurs.
Over the past seven years since immigrating to the United States, she has worked with hundreds of immigrant and American-born women of all media and cultural backgrounds, and helped build their careers and businesses. Through her vision and work, Marga gives voice to immigrant, refugee and culturally diverse women by promoting their art and cultures, and leading them to entrepreneurial success.
In 2008, she formed Entrepreneurship Academy for Artists as a business school for artists to expand art marketing, business workshops and coaching services to artists, artisans, educators, arts organizations and entrepreneurs in creative industries. Read Marga’s full bio.
