Lean In With Women To Build Thriving Communities

Renew, Revitalize and Recreate
with Revamp... & CMWS  

 Lean in with CMWS... 

to build an international marketplace and multicultural learning center. CMWS connects women in the region to resources, training, technologies and mentorship to develop and expand their emerging business, non-profit or community collaboration. We do this by providing on-line and physical space to gather, to train and to showcase their sustainable businesses and services. Visit CMWS on-line store or temporary local space at Revamp in Radio City Music Mall. This post is dedicated to some inspiring projects from other communities and opportunities for any individual, organization and or business to participate in growing the dream of this woman focussed wealth and wellness center in Central Minnesota.

The Olive Branch Retreat Summer Moon Festival

A Celebration of Life with a higher purpose

East meets West with the power of women creating pathways to sustainable wealth and wellness for self and others. 

Click here for complete schedule

To register Call 320-393-7212 or email info@olivebranchretreat.com
If you are unable to attend but would like to invest in the Women's Empowerment Program simply mention CMWS.  

The place, a repurposed convent of the Franciscan Sisterhood- where women who dedicated their lives to the wealth and wellness of others once gathered. They might have used different terms, but having founded the first orphanage, hospital and a home for the aged in Central Minnesota, their desire and power to care for the human body and spirit is a legacy carved in stone. To celebrate the moon, in Eastern philosophy symbolizes the feminine energy and power. A power we could all benefit from. Finally, the purpose is to nurture and pamper self while at the same time serving a higher purpose of empowering women in Central Minnesota. So come celebrate life, nurture and pamper yourself and or be part of the higher purpose for just $10.00 by simply registering for the event•* *•♪♫•* 

Out and About with CMWS

Shining a light on Central MN and Global Difference Makers
It starts with congratulations to CMWS on your 501c3 non-profit approval!

Learn more about CMWS projects and possibilities to particiate at Out and About Tuesday.

For those who don't know, Out and About Tuesday is a social hour and open forum sponsored by CMWS for area women in business, non-profits and community collaborations aspiring to live well, do business and grow sustainable wealth for self, family and community. On Tuesday, June 4, 2013 CMWS ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING will follow the social hour. Click here for a full description  of Out and About Tuesday http://bit.ly/XNGsKf. There are so many ways to participate in CMWS. Be it as a client, a member, a service provider or a leader building thriving communities.

CMWS– A place to be, become and "LEAN IN"

CMWS mission is to connect women in the region to resources, training, technologies and mentorship to develop and expand their emerging business, non-profit or community collaboration by providing on-line and physical space to gather, to train and to showcase their sustainable businesses and services.

CMWS logo is a compilation of symbols and colors that embody the mission and goals of Central Minnesota Women shine: the 4 focus areas of the organization and the 4 sets of human attributes and the synergy that is created when systems work together toward a common goal. It is a symbol of all things possible. 

CMWS Logo
Organizational Book p. 4

CMWS and You, A place to grow wealth and wellness

Building the Dream

 Could CMWS be the conduit between you and your dream life? We invite you to TAKE 5 to sense, express, decide and choose your action. View its mission and goals- imagine yourself as a player, welcome your passion and envision your purpose in this innovative collaboration to build a multicultural art and learning center that is also a global marketplace and business development center.

What intrinsic motivation is bubbling up inside you as a builder of the dream? We invite you to express your dream in words- comment below, believe that you can create what you want and need  and how it will spill over to meet the needs, enrichment and opportunities for the greater community, take a powerful action by downloading the questionnaire and joining CMWS a place to build wealth and wellness today. Become a member today!

CMWS aims to be the non-profit that will profit a whole community ready to realize

wealth and wellness in all 4 areas: emotional/sensory, social/interactive, mental/spiritual and physical material.

Action time! Please choose one and complete the task of a powerful dreambuilder: 

Comment below, the dream is yours, the expression of it validates self as well as the community. 

Commit to introduce yourself at a netweaving event such as "Out and About Tuesday, (see schedule). Put it on your calendar and send us a note- we'll put it on ours too. Become a member today! and explore the many ways you benefit and be of service to the larger community.

With gratitude from our board for all innovative collaborators past,present and future,

Mary Margaret

Dara Westra,  Mary Margaret and Sandi Bernard, below

Sandi Bernard

CMWS shining a light on St. Cloud, MN Mayor Dave Kleis

To build awareness, acknowledge the legacy, inspire community and empower women to realize their gifts, goals and roles for self, family and community. That is what International Women's Day is about.  St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis validates the legacy and honors the women who hold up "Half the Sky" in proclaiming March 8, 2013 International Women's Day in St. Cloud, MN and honor the many accomplishments of women in our community. 

Central MN Women's organizations invitate you to an International Women's Day event, Honor the Women and Stop the Violence in St. Cloud, MN or post your event here. 

  HONOR THE WOMEN, STOP THE VIOLENCE

An International Women’s Day celebration

St. Cloud, Minnesota, March 6, 2013

With March 8th being International Women’s Day, several local organizations have come together to celebrate women, honor victims and survivors, build awareness and provide resources on topics that affect women not only globally, but locally.

This free, family friendly event is from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2013, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4310 County Rd.137 in Saint Cloud. There will be a multi-cultural meal and silent auction in addition to entertainment, an art exhibit and presentations. The celebration also includes activities and art for children and resource booths from the sponsors and others.

This event is possible because of the efforts and support of AAUW, Casa Guadalupe Multicultural Communities, Central MN HUMAN TRAFFICKING Task Force, Central MN Sexual Assault Center, Central MN Women Shine, Delta Kappa Gamma, herARTS in Action, League of Women Voters- St. Cloud Area, NGATHA International, Perseverancia, PFLAG, Refugee & Immigrant Equity Coalition, SCSU Women’s Center and SCSU Women’s Studies.

Awareness + Collaboration Inspire Powerful Sollutions

CMWS joins area women's organizations and You

Weaving the Golden Thread of Our Talents

One Day, One way to grow thriving communities 

Inspire the world with your visions and actions.

After the shock and disbelief in learning so many area families are affected by human trafficking and femicide, Central MN women's groups and concerned residents began partnering with state law makers and The Women's Foundation to expand community awareness, collaborate, educate and create a pathway to safe harbor when needed.  We invite you to a soirée with poetry, story telling art and fine food to honor, build awareness, access resources and invest in communities where all families thrive– autonomous yet interconnected.

Thank you for taking the time to click more for links to resources, information and actions. Every time you visit, like, comment or share a link you expand awareness, collaboration, vision, and actions to build thriving communities.

State Information and Resource Links:
 Women's Foundation of MN 
 MNGirlsNotForSale.org 

The Family Partnership. 

If you agree with this post, have an event or solution to building thriving communities please share; leave your comments and links.

Those of you on twitter will love to tweet :  @cmnwomenshine shout out with hashtag: shining a light on #centralmnwomen event http://bit.ly/120t6TM. The bitmark (short web address) will take readers to the invitation flier on the CMWS events page. FBers can use this short link fb.me/BsJ7Iee8 to the Facebook event page where you can join the event invite others   Facebook event page. 

A Special thank you to @marysmithmn for organizing the Minnesota Human Trafficking legislative update and inspired CMWS to be a part of this collaboration, and Dara Westra, co-founder of CMWS  @microsofttrainer who created the flyer. Please shoutout on twitter with hashtag #centralmnwomen @cmnwomenshine. Connect on Facebook: Perservencia Casa Guadalupe: 

Mary Smith of MarySmithMN

Thank you all for reading, sharing, believing and growing thriving communities with Central Minnesota Women Shine.

Shine on,

Mary Margaret and Dara ¸.•´.•´¨) ¸.•¨)

(¸.•´(¸.•´ (¸.•* *•♪♫•*¨*

Dara Westra & Mary Margaret
Co-founders of CMWS

Sense, Express, Dream and Make it Happen

Imagine, dream and weave the fabric...

Join area women from all walks of life, backgrounds and belief systems who are coming together in full awareness of our challenges as well as our talents and resources to build this women's cultural center and place to grow sustainable wealth and wellness.

February A Month Of Hearts, Art and the Feminine

Art, her art. HerArts in Action. Meet Sarah Drake, artist, collaborator and visionary contributing to sustainable wealth and wellness at home and across the globe. We at CMWS wish to express a heart felt welcome to our newest member, tell you about HerArts in Action, Sarah's non profit, and provide you with some opportunities to connect this month - both locally and globally - with individuals and groups who sense, collaborate, innovate and take determined action to grow sustainable wealth and wellness for self, family, community and the world. 

Sarah Drake of HerArts in Action

Locally & Globally, Kitchen Table Networking– It works!

From the Kitchen Table to The Community Table

From home makers to community builders

Photo curtesy of ggjalliance.org

CMWS Out and About Tuesday brings the power of kitchen table networking into the 21st Century! The group calls these events, Netweavings, which is simply networking the women's way. From the days of the original 13 colonies to the towns and cities of the 20th Century, women mostly volunteered as think tank incubators and groundbreakers for the work that the founding fathers, community leaders and family providers would manage in the broader community, business and government systems.

CMWS, One Billion Rising— let's talk about it

Valentines Day 2012, rise up and dance with one billion women and those who love them. One Billion Rising, a global dance to rise up and demand an end to the violence, start the healing, be the voice for — the one billion women on the planet who’ve been raped or beaten. One billion women and those who love them, whirling and twirling in a powerful dance, a healing dance, a woman warriors dance to say NO MORE violence against my mother or yours, my mommy or yours. 

Photo of Anne Hathaway, Glamour Mag
Jan, 2013 Dancing for One Billion Rising

CMWS and You in 2013

You may have heard the city of St. Cloud is going through a "branding" process in 2013. What is unique about this community? Do you consider your smaller communities — within and beyond the city limits to be a part of the Greater St. Cloud Community? What is the thread that binds us? Are you ready to explore the connections and weave the threads of all that is possible in 2013?

At CMWS we believe that each of us is part of the solution and that through joyful sharing of creative ideas and determined actions we will realize our goals for self, family, community and the greater society. Join CMWS out and about Tuesday — a social hour and open forum — to grow and tweak your own branding at home, in your career, your community and in the global marketplace. It's a simple 4 step, 4 facet process to re-create your life from the inside out with I Game Attitude.

Christiane Lavanoux

Photo curtesy of I Game Attitude