The Institute For Economic Empowerment of Women Celebrates International Women's History Month

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, March 10, 2013 (Press-News.org) The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) (http://ieew.org), a nonprofit organization that encourages the empowerment of women through education and mentorship, celebrates International Women's History Month this March. For more than six years, IEEW and its CEO Dr. Terry Neese have supported and educated women to grow their businesses, pursue greater entrepreneurial ventures and become public policy advocates through the organization's PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program.

The PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program was created to educate women who have suffered oppression and marginalization, and whose homelands have been devastated by war, genocide and poverty. With three major components - In-Country Education, Leadership Development and Train the Trainer - the program trains women entrepreneurs in war torn countries, specifically Afghanistan and Rwanda, in basic business practices, then provides mentorship for those women with American business owners.

During the first component, 30 women from Afghanistan and 30 women from Rwanda participate in an eight-week in-country course taught by a former PEACE THROUGH BUSINESSTM alumnae. The curriculum is provided by Northwood University. The 60 participants in the present course will graduate during International Women's History Month on Thursday, March 28. The top performing women in the course will then come to the United States in early July for the second component of the program, Leadership Development. Here, they will attend classes at Northwood University in Texas on specific business, leadership and public policy topics, which they will then turn around and apply to real life as they follow a mentor for seven days.

After attending the International Women's Economic Summit, these women will graduate from the program on Tuesday, July 30 and return home for the final component, Pay It Forward. . Graduates will take their newly acquired knowledge of entrepreneurial tactics and become the change agent needed to revolutionize the economy in their country. Each of the graduates will donate her time to mentor other women and men business owners and advocate economic issues, while continuing mentorship via email with her own American mentor.

The PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program has graduated over 250 women to gain the tools and knowledge needed to spark economic change in their countries. IEEW works to help women in other countries fight oppression and be successful, which aligns with the celebration of International Women's History Month. March became International Women's History Month in 1987 when Congress expanded the previously declared International Women's Day, March 8, and Women's History Week. Celebrated in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, International Women's History Month honors the contributions of women to events in history and their continued efforts to better contemporary society. Women in the United States have come so far and are able to own their own businesses, but women in other countries are still facing oppression. IEEW and Neese are continually working to help better the lives of women all over the world and many others like them are striving to help women in other countries reach their full potential.

QUOTE:
"Women are a driven force, constantly creating change around the world," said Neese. "The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women is honored to join in the celebration of International Women's History Month to pay tribute to past generations of women who have made their marks on history and those who are doing so now—whether through our PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program or on their own."

DETAILS:
- IEEW is supported by these National Presidential Level sponsors: The T. Boone Pickens Foundation, the AT&T Foundation, Office Depot, the Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation, Northwood University and The Hill newspaper.

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:
IEEW Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/IEEW.PTB

IEEW Twitter Page:
https://twitter.com/ieew_ptb

ABOUT IEEW:
Established in 2006, the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, based in Oklahoma City, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that encourages the empowerment of women economically, politically and socially by focusing on their education and mentorship. The IEEW strives to help women in the United States and abroad who want to gain entrepreneurial skills that will help them start and grow a business, which will in turn help them to become more active and effective public policy advocates. Working on the forefront of these efforts, the IEEW believes in the power of women as a driving force in the development and stability of businesses in emerging economies. Through its dedication, hard work and PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program, the IEEW helps provide women with a voice in their fight to establish peace and free market economies. For more information, visit http://www.ieew.org/.

Caitlin Russell
MMI Public Relations
(919) 233-6600
caitlin@mmipublicrelations.com
http://www.twitter.com/MMIPR
http://www.mmipublicrelations.com