Women leaders travel to South Africa
A group of Birmingham women is on their way to South Africa for what could be a life-changing exchange of ideas and experiences.Jenny Waltman is CEO of Grace Klein Community in Birmingham, a nonprofit that works with poor and underprivileged communities. She recruited all the women who are making the journey.“These are women that just inspire me to be a better human being,” Waltman said when asked about the upcoming trip.For Waltman, her business is a mission. And for 2 1/2 months last year, her mission took her to South Africa where she lived with a family and learned the culture.“And as I was there, I realized that all women are the same. We have the same challenges here in Birmingham, Alabama, as they do in South Africa,” Waltman said.Even though apartheid, South Africa’s brutal era of racial segregation, ended decades ago, Waltman said some remnants of the past remain. Being from Birmingham, Alabama, where several pivotal moments in the civil rights struggle occurred, Waltman said she could easily identify with some of the current issues.“I had a little party there. All the Black women sat on one side of the room, and all the white women sat on the other side of the room,” she said. “And I just sat in the middle of the room. And I was thinking, what is happening? I think we have been battling this in our own culture in Birmingham.”That experience stayed with her and gave her an idea: Why not connect women in Birmingham with women in South Africa for a special women’s empowerment conference? When choosing the women best suited for the trip, she focused on business leaders, educators, entrepreneurs and women rooted in faith and community service.“All of these women are friends of mine. I just really was praying. And God put on my heart these specific women because they deeply care about people. And they’re people that can get up on a stage,” Waltman said. “They’re all dynamic, and they can own a stage, but they don’t do it for the attention.”The women will be gone from July 27 until Aug. 14. The hope is they can mentor the South African women who often lack the resources and support to be effective leaders in their own communities. Waltman says they will also bridge racial, socioeconomic, and cultural divides.“We’re all committed to breaking barriers not only in our city, but globally. Because we know that our voice matters,” Waltman said. “We know that the unity of humanity is so valuable to what we can accomplish in our lifetime.”Waltman said she believes what they can accomplish in just a few short weeks will be life-changing for every woman involved.The women plan to take at least thirty-two bins of supplies with them. They are still collecting donations for the trip. Waltman says they especially need new underwear, bras, socks and personal care items like deodorant and body wash. You can find more information on donations at donate.gkcbhm.org. You can also drop off donations in person at 3416 Deerwood Circle in Hoover.
A group of Birmingham women is on their way to South Africa for what could be a life-changing exchange of ideas and experiences.
Jenny Waltman is CEO of Grace Klein Community in Birmingham, a nonprofit that works with poor and underprivileged communities. She recruited all the women who are making the journey.
“These are women that just inspire me to be a better human being,” Waltman said when asked about the upcoming trip.
For Waltman, her business is a mission. And for 2 1/2 months last year, her mission took her to South Africa where she lived with a family and learned the culture.
“And as I was there, I realized that all women are the same. We have the same challenges here in Birmingham, Alabama, as they do in South Africa,” Waltman said.
Even though apartheid, South Africa’s brutal era of racial segregation, ended decades ago, Waltman said some remnants of the past remain. Being from Birmingham, Alabama, where several pivotal moments in the civil rights struggle occurred, Waltman said she could easily identify with some of the current issues.
“I had a little party there. All the Black women sat on one side of the room, and all the white women sat on the other side of the room,” she said. “And I just sat in the middle of the room. And I was thinking, what is happening? I think we have been battling this in our own culture in Birmingham.”
That experience stayed with her and gave her an idea: Why not connect women in Birmingham with women in South Africa for a special women’s empowerment conference? When choosing the women best suited for the trip, she focused on business leaders, educators, entrepreneurs and women rooted in faith and community service.
“All of these women are friends of mine. I just really was praying. And God put on my heart these specific women because they deeply care about people. And they’re people that can get up on a stage,” Waltman said. “They’re all dynamic, and they can own a stage, but they don’t do it for the attention.”
The women will be gone from July 27 until Aug. 14. The hope is they can mentor the South African women who often lack the resources and support to be effective leaders in their own communities. Waltman says they will also bridge racial, socioeconomic, and cultural divides.
“We’re all committed to breaking barriers not only in our city, but globally. Because we know that our voice matters,” Waltman said. “We know that the unity of humanity is so valuable to what we can accomplish in our lifetime.”
Waltman said she believes what they can accomplish in just a few short weeks will be life-changing for every woman involved.
The women plan to take at least thirty-two bins of supplies with them. They are still collecting donations for the trip.
Waltman says they especially need new underwear, bras, socks and personal care items like deodorant and body wash.
You can find more information on donations at donate.gkcbhm.org. You can also drop off donations in person at 3416 Deerwood Circle in Hoover.
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