Empowered Women International

Afton Cissell, Research and Development Assistant

Afton Cissell began volunteering with Empowered Women International in August 2011.  She graduated in December 2010 from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education, Culture, and Human Development with a B.S. in Media, Culture, and Communication and a minor in History.  Afton spent a semester studying Eastern European civil resistance movements and human rights law in Prague, Czech Republic.  As a student, she also contributed entries to Hasia Diner’s upcoming Encyclopedia of American Women’s History and was a member of an applied psychology research team doing a comparative study of Muslim identities in the U.S. and Turkey.  Afton now works as a substitute teacher in Northern Virginia and is in the process of applying to law school.  During her free time, she volunteers with multiple organizations related to women’s empowerment, immigrant and refugee services, peace education, and conflict resolution.

Rebecca Jami credits a variety of sources for leading her into the world of graphic design. Her natural love for art and typography took her to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where she developed her skills and talents. She has been surrounded by people who have encouraged and supported her towards a career in graphic design, including her mother and other graphic designers she knew while working as a direct mail production manager.The medium of graphic design brings together art and images with Rebecca’s flair for typography. She loves the challenge that graphic design offers, and enjoys finding the best way to create a design that presents the client’s message in a manner that will yield the greatest reply. She says, “There is always more than one solution, so it is always interesting to see what the final outcome is.”  Rebecca became involved with Empowered Women International after deciding she wanted to volunteer her graphic design skills and create new challenges for herself. She says the mission of EWI is quite personal to her. Rebecca’s grandmother emigrated from Hungary, and she has four sister-in-laws who left their families and lives behind in Afghanistan. She has seen the sacrifices family members have made to come to America, such as giving up professions as pediatricians and teachers. Rebecca knows the struggles that immigrants face while trying to build their lives here, and she respects the valuable work EWI does.  As an entrepreneur herself, Rebecca knows firsthand about the hard work and dedication it takes to begin and run your own business. She has had her graphic design business since 2006, and understands the persistence it takes to have a business. She advises budding entrepreneurs to, “Keep your head down and keep moving forward.” As she has grown her business, she has lived by one of her favorite saying: “Don’t look back; you’re not going that way.”

Visit Rebecca at her website: www.jamiprodesign.com or view her portfolio at www.coroflot.com/rebeccajami.

Paule Margus, Website Editor

Paula Margus incorporates her professional career as a quality assurance specialist into many aspects of her life. She constantly identifies improvement opportunities in day-to-day situations. Her job experience, coupled with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a keen instinct to process her surroundings, she has developed the ability to analyze conditions that pose challenges, and provide solutions.  Paula started volunteering with EWI in July, 2010. She enjoys working with immigrant artists to tell their stories and portray their work through writing and photography. Through her volunteer work with EWI, she has mentored immigrant artists in various ways, and enjoys engaging with them to learn about their lives, and writing their artist profiles and success stories. As a 2010 graduate of EWI’s Entrepreneur Training for Success program, Paula is working on a side business where she offers promotional services to individuals and businesses, see www.catalyst-promotions.com. Paula is very passionate about learning about other cultures, travel, cuisine, music, theatre, art, and animals. She currently resides in Falls Church, VA with two felines who take great pleasure in outsmarting her with their exceptional ingenuity.

Brian DuBoff, Computer Technician

Brian DuBoff has a real passion for small business development and has worked for the Maryland SBDC, Detroit Economic Regional Partnership and the Utah SBDC. He has also worked as a private consultant and has a background in education. Additionally, he has a passion for technology and all things digital and has even worked as a computer professional on the Y2K/semester conversion project for the University of Utah. Brian has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Consumer Studies and Small Business Marketing from the University of Vermont and a Master of Science in Administration from St. Michael’s College in Vermont.