Empowered Women International

On May 1, I was invited as the keynote speaker for the Johns Hopkins University Women’s Network Banquet. The topic I addressed, Finding the Voice Within: The Journey of a New American to Empower Women through the Arts, reflected my personal journey weaved together with stories and experiences of other women – who just like myself are crafting a new life out of their own hopes, dreams and talents.

Talking about being an immigrant as an insider rather than an outsider, or a new citizen rather than an alien brings a different point of view to the whole aspect of immigration. As immigrants, one of our most important priorities is to belong. We seek a home within the new home, we struggle to define and understand our new world, we attempt to do good, but the results of our actions do not always come out right. The world is upside down for a while. We almost forget we existed before.

A new beginning awaits us, yet we feel we did it already.

It really takes courage to face yourself as an immigrant – and then explain to the world what it means. I only know that I feel how burdensome these new beginnings are for all newcomers, and that ONLY with compassion, understanding and respect, can we lift each other up. Ultimately, this is what America is about. How can we ever forget this?

Thank you to Barbara Williamson and all the women of the Johns Hopkins University Women’s Network for having us at this special event. Many women came after the talk to offer support to EWI and encouraged me to write a book. I thank you for believing in me and our work – and yes, the book is on the way… Read more

May 1, 2009 – A wonderful community of approximately 250 women in science and health, members of the John Hopkins Women’s Network got together to celebrate their accomplishments while learning about issues immigrant and refugee women experience in their journeys to integrate and acculturate.

Marga Fripp spoke about EWI’s empowering model that uses the arts to give voice to immigrant women and communities and create economic opportunity and a strong civic participation for newcomers. Six EWI artist members showcased and sold their art and designs at this event.

The Johns Hopkins University Women’s Network (HWN) is an organization established to improve the status of women, and thereby the human climate, in all divisions of the University. The HWN identifies and takes a leadership role on issues of concern to Hopkins women, fosters professional development, and provides networking opportunities through educational and cultural activities.

Evelyn Brooks, Rabia Pervez, Sush Mazumdar, KateCampbell Stevenson, Marga Fripp, Kata Witorsch and Priscilla de Lima

Testimonials

“Marga’s keynote speech and the EWI art for sale were the highlights of the 22nd Annual Hopkins Women’s Network Annual Luncheon held on May 1, 2009.  250 Hopkins women professionals from all four divisions of Johns Hopkins were brought to a new awareness of the isolation of immigrant women as they arrive in the U.S.

Marga, your firsthand account of your own journey as a new American was reinforced by the personal stories of your artists in attendance. You are a compelling and engaging speaker. We received overwhelming feedback from attendees that this luncheon was by far the most interesting and thought-provoking one to date, thanks to your involvement.

Hopkins strives to be a welcoming and inclusive environment and you’ve shed new light on how we can practically contribute to that goal. I know you received many eager offers of help from our members in mentoring and donations.  The Hopkins Women’s Network is proud to be associated with Empowered Women International and commend your phenomenal outreach and educational programs.”

Barbara J. Williamson, Johns Hopkins Women’s Network, APL Chair

Barbara Williamson and Kate Campbell Stevenson

“Marga you are once again an inspiration for many years to come for many people to live. When you were up there talking I am sure everyone noticed it was coming straight from your heart. It was absolutely mesmerizing. You delivered some dense messages through beautiful simple words making it transparent and obvious for us to recognize them. And even now if people don’t understand, then we really do have a problem.  Thank you for the gift of you!”

Silence of the night

Echoes in my mind

Memories mesmerize me

Leaving me twined

The past confronts me

All settled and lined

Every single moment

Is one of a kind

I enjoy the mood

Like an orange rind

Some of the pieces

Now hard to find

All is clear

Nothing is blind

Yet simplicity of life

Complicates my mind

Rabia Naeem Pervez, EWI Artist

EWI Storybook artist and writer, Sush Mazumdar also wrote an inspiring story after the event: “Daffodils and Dandelions”.

The story has it that, ” Coming out of the Kossiakoff Center after the Johns Hopkins Women’s Network Luncheon, I noticed this bit of landscaping that had been forgotten. Or missed. I was surprised and stopped to get a better look. It was raining and my arms were weighed down with bags and boxes full of my storybooks that I had had on display there. But I had to stop and get a better look. It was raining and my arms were weighed down with bags and boxes full of my storybooks that I had had on display there. But I had to stop and get a better look.

There, right next to the spent bunches of daffodils in the garden outside the building, were dandelions standing tall, and swaying. They had flowers and those cool “puffballs” as my kids and I call them. I had no idea that they can grow as tall as the daffodils! Fortunately or unfortunately, little girls pick the beautiful yellow flowers off the meadows and lawns (“For my mommy,” my preschoolers friend had said, just yesterday, picking up two flowers on the way to the playground) so we don’t often get to see them fully mature and grown to their tallest. And then there are the weed killers and landscapers who don’t like them around. They prefer the familiar and beautifully showy daffodils that announce spring’s arrival with their wonderful display.

Except that my mind was still full of Marga’s talk, about immigrants with PhD’s from their countries who silently drive taxis here, handicapped because they do not speak much English. And moms who stay home in isolation telling their children stories of their childhoods elsewhere. And so I saw the dandelions. And so I stopped. Thank god for the landscapers who forgot to weed that bit of garden.”

Evelyn Brooks, Jewelry Designer

Pricilla de Lima, Photographer

Kata Witorsch, Jewelry Designer

Rabia Pervez, Silk Art and Designs

Sush Mazumdar, Handmade Books and Art

Marga Fripp and Gwendolyn Boyd, Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

April 23, 2009 – Marga Fripp was recognized by West Potomac Academy for pro bono art marketing services to the school and providing internship and professional development opportunities to students of the West Potomac Academy in the media and dance program. A group of talented student dancers presented an original choreography at We the People Project March 29 at Lorton Arts Center. During the spring semester, Leighton Good a talented senior at West Potomac Academy in the media program interned with EWI and developed a short video featuring foreign-born women artist entrepreneurs trained and mentored by EWI. More