November 11, 2020

Our first session was held on November 11 from 7 – 8 pm for a “Year in Review”.  Members were invited to reflect on what went well and what they learned to make Year 3 an even better experience. 

December 10, 2020

Our members enjoyed a festive virtual happy hour while they shared their family holiday traditions.

January 27, 2021

The first event of this year’s Women Connect Series was held on January 27, 2021. The topic covered Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  Ellan Bernstein, a founding member of Impact 100 Philadelphia and on the board of Philanos was the guest speaker.  She shared her experiences and insights as Impact 100 adapted to address and prioritize DEI in their grant processes and within their culture.  We also had some of our own Project W members who are on the TCF DEI committee talk about some of their experiences. Project W announced it has established its very own DEI committee and made modifications to its grant process as it relates to DEI.

February 23, 2021

Project W hosted its third year annual kickoff meeting on February 23rd. Thirty-six members got together virtually for entertaining ice breaker conversations and trivia quizzes. A favorite topic of the evening was sharing bad fashion trends of the ’80s which may be coming back in style – did I hear that perms are all the rage now?? We look forward to getting together in person in the future, and maybe even try some Karaoke. Thank you, Erica Barbuto and Christina Valerio for a fun evening! 

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March 25, 2021

Another member, Kayla Brochu, led our March session on Human Trafficking. Kayla’s immense experience, knowledge, and passion fueled our discussion and helped demystify human trafficking. She provided us with real-world cases to educate us further. For those who missed it, or want a recap, you can access the PowerPoint presentation here and the recording session here. Kayla has also provided us with additional resources here and here.

May 25, 2021

On May 25th from 7:00-8:00 pm ET, Project W member Lydia Holiat hosted a personal finance session. Our goal was to include all generations of women coming together to talk about the fundamentals of budgeting, saving and investing. Lydia Holiat is the Vice President and Portfolio Manager at the Haverford Trust Company and is passionate about educating people of all ages about finances and is active in sharing her knowledge and experiences with others through speaking engagements. An advocate helping clients with their financial wellness, Lydia has been managing relationships and investment portfolios for families, individuals and non-profits at the Haverford Trust Company since 2011. Prior to her current role, Lydia spent her early career at SEI Investments in Oaks, PA.   Lydia received her bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing from Lehigh University ‘02 and a is graduate of the Villanova Executive MBA Program ‘17. Lydia personally enjoys spending time outdoors whether it be hiking or working on her golf game.  Recently Lydia was elected as Treasurer of the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where she has been a board member for the last 6 years.