This is the true story about a volunteer community service project that involved several women’s organizations working in collaboration on behalf of a woman and her family. In the early 1990’s, leaders and members of the following organizations decided to come together to participate and support the first Atlanta Habitat for Humanity house built exclusively by women:
· Spelman College
· Agnes Scott College
· Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
· Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
· Coalition of 100 Black Women, Atlanta Chapter
· The Links, Inc.
· Junior League of Atlanta
· Jenny Pruitt Real Estate Company
The idea for the women’s house build with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity was conceived by my shero, the iconic griot Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, the first Sister President of Spelman College. Dr. Cole has dedicated her life to the empowerment of women in particular, and she consistently exemplifies the mantra “Lift As We Climb.” Women empowering women is an essential component of the mission of these women’s organizations. They know that it takes a village.
In my book, Journal Reflections With 2020 Vision, there’s a description of my first encounter with Dr. Cole, during which she responded to a 1988 letter I sent to her with the specific reasons why I should have an opportunity to work at Spelman. She told me that I had “so much chuzpah” that she was compelled to create a position for me, and she did! Dr. Cole completely understands the power of helping someone else advance professionally.
We have access to the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity logo via media assets available at https://atlantahabitat.org, but unfortunately, we no longer have the Women Helping Women logo that was creatively designed by a Spelman student. Habitat houses are built in eight days over eight consecutive Saturdays. Each organization chose a specific Saturday, and their members committed to volunteer on those dates. For opportunities to interact with members of the other organizations, they also volunteered on different Saturdays. As Spelman’s Assistant Dean and Director of the Office of Community Service, I had the great pleasure of recruiting Spelman students and alumnae volunteers, working at the house build site every Saturday, and coordinating the deliveries of breakfasts and lunches for all volunteers.
An example of a completed Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Home is provided here.
Although the respective memberships of these women’s organizations frequently overlap, they had not ever collaborated as one group of women on a project of this type. This particular house build project by women for a woman and her family was an extraordinary, exemplary first for Atlanta Habitat for Humanity. Feedback and results revealed that it was one of the best, most rewarding, joyous experiences for all of us who participated. By design, the uniqueness of this volunteer community service project delivered a very powerful, positive message. It demonstrated that women helping women can make the communities in which we live a significantly better place.
Explore opportunities to support, uplift, give your time, talent and treasure to positively impact your community in mutually beneficial ways.
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