The Cardea Center fulfills its mission by engaging the whole community on behalf
of women as a way to catalyze positive change. We foster collaborations with service providers, community-based organizations and other key stakeholders to connect women of all ages and serve as a comprehensive clearinghouse for community resources and information. We also organize and partner on a number of women’s initiatives and events that align with our vision and mission.

CCW partners and collaborators comprise of regional, state and national organizations with a focus on the concerns of women and girls, local governments, elected officials, service providers as well as individual professional consultants.

Economic advancement of women

Provide access to resources to improve women's economic security and promote opportunities for career and professional growth including micro-enterprise development.

Purpose: To offer support, guidance and assistance in a variety of areas including career choices, academic success, professional and social development and financial management.

Strategies:

• Micro-Enterprise - The Cardea Center for Women’s mission of serving as a portal for women’s empowerment and access to opportunity makes Micro-enterprise one of its primary program areas.
  
• Career Training and Skill Building for woman
  
  
• Mentoring Program for Women and Girls. Provide mentors and role models
  to lead, inspire, motivate and support women and girls in collaboration with community organizations and volunteers.

Personal Growth and Self-Discovery

Purpose: to empower and support women and girls in realizing their potential by providing personal and professional growth and development opportunities, work- life balance, health and well-being, self esteem and other identified areas of importance to women and girls.

Strategies:

• Women’s Networking Breakfasts – regular gatherings centering on different topics related to the Cardea Center’s four focus areas. These sessions provide a forum for women to network and connect with other women who share similar interests and provide learning opportunities through informed perspectives of guest “conversation starters” and experiential group sharing.
  
  
• Women’s Leadership Retreat– this annual retreat convenes multi-generational women from diverse backgrounds for a weekend developing personal leadership capabilities, sharing group wisdom and building a network of connections and resources in support of the group’s individual and shared vision and goals.
  
  
• Mentoring Program – this program (currently under development) will focus on matching women and girls with mentors who can provide them support and guidance in their areas of interest – including career, education, community engagement, or other personal interests.

Civic and Community Engagement and Leadership

Purpose : to encourage women’s participation in the political process and their full inclusion and equity in all areas of life and work.

Strategies :

• Identify, educate and inspire women who want to pursue their leadership aspirations for elective office and other leadership positions at local and state levels.
  
  
• Leadership in a Multicultural Society designed to train young women across the Silicon Valley region on assuming leadership roles in the public sector in their own communities. CCW will partner with established organizations to facilitate this program. Includes intensive training and educational sessions on focusing on political skill building knowledge of local issues, mentorship, coaching, public speaking, fundraising, campaigns and elections, networking, and civic participation including training for board and commission level membership.

Advocacy and Public Policy

Purpose:

• To promote awareness and support for regional, national and global concerns of women and current government policies and legislation affecting the welfare of women and girls
  
  
• To encourage women to develop and communicate their individual positions on issues important to them
  
  
• To provide opportunities for women and girls to hear from renowned experts about issues impacting women.

Strategies:

• Women's Action Network is the Cardea Center for Women’s legislative, public policy and advocacy education forum. WAN’s primary objective is to support non-partisan activism and political participation in regional, national and global arenas. Its members are diverse women’s groups and individuals providing a collective voice to impact policies, laws, and practices affecting women's lives.
  
  
• A free listserve womensactionnetwork@yahoogroups.com has been set up to facilitate the public policy, lobbying and advocacy activities of women in this region about issues central to their concerns and their organizations' mission.

Create your own program at the Center. If you have a program you would like us
to consider to be offered at the Center, partner with us, and share your ideas
and expertise...Contact Us