In the words of former First Lady Michelle Obama, “No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women.” At Mi Casa, we wholeheartedly embrace this sentiment, fueling our commitment to empower women through our Women’s Leadership Program. Launched under Mi Casa’s Business Pathways in 2022, this program supports women of color in overcoming business and career challenges while nurturing their personal and professional growth.
Mi Casa knows women’s power in their communities and strives to foster that spirit. Empowerment is the focus of this three-month program, which follows three fundamental principles: understanding mindset, making lasting changes for transformation, and developing a leadership roadmap. Our goal is for participants to enhance their leadership skills, build confidence, and feel empowered upon completing the program.
In the two years since Mi Casa launched the program, we have translated the program into Spanish and have had 58 participants graduate to date. The most impressive aspect of this program is the community and trust that the women in each class have built.
Bilingual Business Advisor and Instructor Maria Osorio, who teaches the program in Spanish, said, “This leadership program is important because it gives these women the opportunity to see their personal and professional development, especially their personal development. In our Hispanic community, it’s not common for them to sit down and ask themselves, ‘Who am I?’ or ‘What am I doing with my life?’”. That’s not something they usually reflect on. I think this class makes them rethink what they’re doing, what they can accomplish, and see there’s more for them beyond their roles as mothers and homemakers, to know that they can continue to develop professionally without it mattering their age, what country they’re from or what language they speak.”
When asked about the positive impact the program has had on our participants, Maria said, “It’s a safe space for them to share things they haven’t shared with anyone. I don’t know what it is about the energy in the class, but they feel safe to share things and know that nobody will judge them. This space allows them to create a community because they realize that someone else went through the same things and still accomplished something. Finally, this class has made us realize that there are many victims of domestic violence who have never asked for help and who need it and need that support they haven’t been able to find in other places.” This week, 48 more women will be graduating from the Spanish program. Maria is proud to see the confidence they have gained, the friendships they’ve created, and the growth they’ve gone through.
Mi Casa’s Women’s Leadership Program is a powerful force for empowerment, showing that supporting women leads to positive changes for everyone. Focusing on personal and professional growth, the program gives women essential leadership skills. It creates a supportive environment where they can grow and connect. We’re proud of the program’s success and the achievements of its graduates, and we’re dedicated to empowering women of all backgrounds to succeed and make a difference in their lives and communities.