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SUMMIT COUNTY - The Women's Center has yet to find a permanent home, but it's ready to begin offering workshops to Summit County women just the same. It will collaborate with Borders Books in Dillon to hold educational workshops beginning next month.
Silverthorne resident Terri Tobey has been working for several months to create a Women's Center for Summit County. She moved here from St. Louis six months ago.
Tobey has experience in educational nonprofits, having worked 12 years for the Family Advisory Network, an educational nonprofit. She also volunteered and trained in a women's center, she said.
"I was so impressed by what they were doing," Tobey said of the women's center. "I thought, "Wouldn't it be a great idea to do this elsewhere?' In the back of my mind, the women's center was a really viable idea."
Shortly after her arrival in Summit County, Tobey met Regan Wood, director of Advocates for Victims of Assault, who said there was indeed a need for a local women's center.
"Originally, we tried to do it under the auspices of Advocates, but it didn't work out," said Tobey, who is working with locals Trish Whitefield and Theresa Ashton to make the women's center a reality.
They have yet to find a permanent venue for the center, though that is their ultimate goal.
"Right now, economically, it's not a possibility," Tobey said.
The women are in the process of seeking funding from private foundations for the center. But they don't want to wait that long before offering workshops to the women of the county.
"I decided, even if we can't have our own venue, let's just do something," Tobey said.
Thanks to Borders Books in Dillon, that's what they are going to do. The bookstore has offered use of its café for bimonthly educational workshops beginning in February.
"Right now, this is the quickest way to have something (educational)," she said, adding they already have scheduled speakers - a life coach and a career counselor - for February's workshops.
"There are so many women in the community here that possess so much talent and skill in their individual fields, and they are enthusiastic about sharing ... that information," Tobey said. "I've literally gotten dozens of calls from women offering their services."
Workshops also will focus on health, outdoor activities and more, Whitefield said, adding that she hopes to offer workshops on backcountry travel, conditioning for winter activities, and winter injury management.
Once the women find a permanent location for the women's center, the workshops would be only part of its offerings. Tobey, Whitefield and Ashton hope to also offer women support groups, an art co-op for local female artists, a resource library specific to women's issues, a Web site to aid women searching for jobs, and a central location for women to meet and network, Tobey said.
For now, though, they are excited about the workshops at Borders.
"Sometimes, you just have to start with baby steps to make something a reality, and that's where we're headed," Tobey said.
Lu Snyder can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 203, or lsnyder@summitdaily.com.
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When & Where
- What: Women's center educational workshops
- Who: Louise Thompson, career counselor
- When: 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5
- Who: Joanie Mall, life coach
- When: 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26
For more information, contact Terri Tobey at (970) 389-1502
Silverthorne resident Terri Tobey has been working for several months to create a Women's Center for Summit County. She moved here from St. Louis six months ago.
Tobey has experience in educational nonprofits, having worked 12 years for the Family Advisory Network, an educational nonprofit. She also volunteered and trained in a women's center, she said.
"I was so impressed by what they were doing," Tobey said of the women's center. "I thought, "Wouldn't it be a great idea to do this elsewhere?' In the back of my mind, the women's center was a really viable idea."
Shortly after her arrival in Summit County, Tobey met Regan Wood, director of Advocates for Victims of Assault, who said there was indeed a need for a local women's center.
"Originally, we tried to do it under the auspices of Advocates, but it didn't work out," said Tobey, who is working with locals Trish Whitefield and Theresa Ashton to make the women's center a reality.
They have yet to find a permanent venue for the center, though that is their ultimate goal.
"Right now, economically, it's not a possibility," Tobey said.
The women are in the process of seeking funding from private foundations for the center. But they don't want to wait that long before offering workshops to the women of the county.
"I decided, even if we can't have our own venue, let's just do something," Tobey said.
Thanks to Borders Books in Dillon, that's what they are going to do. The bookstore has offered use of its café for bimonthly educational workshops beginning in February.
"Right now, this is the quickest way to have something (educational)," she said, adding they already have scheduled speakers - a life coach and a career counselor - for February's workshops.
"There are so many women in the community here that possess so much talent and skill in their individual fields, and they are enthusiastic about sharing ... that information," Tobey said. "I've literally gotten dozens of calls from women offering their services."
Workshops also will focus on health, outdoor activities and more, Whitefield said, adding that she hopes to offer workshops on backcountry travel, conditioning for winter activities, and winter injury management.
Once the women find a permanent location for the women's center, the workshops would be only part of its offerings. Tobey, Whitefield and Ashton hope to also offer women support groups, an art co-op for local female artists, a resource library specific to women's issues, a Web site to aid women searching for jobs, and a central location for women to meet and network, Tobey said.
For now, though, they are excited about the workshops at Borders.
"Sometimes, you just have to start with baby steps to make something a reality, and that's where we're headed," Tobey said.
Lu Snyder can be reached at (970) 668-3998, ext. 203, or lsnyder@summitdaily.com.
---
When & Where
- What: Women's center educational workshops
- Who: Louise Thompson, career counselor
- When: 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5
- Who: Joanie Mall, life coach
- When: 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26
For more information, contact Terri Tobey at (970) 389-1502
