Larissa Lamarca
Contributing Writer
Entering the new year, createHER is looking to connect with students and spread their mission. Many students have not yet heard of the group or are uncertain about its goals. Therefore, as the group continues to make its mark on the Wooster community, it aims to open up safe spaces that include everyone.
The groups name reflects one of the missions of building each other up and not tearing others down. As said by Entrepreneurship Intern Dana Smith ’18, “We want to not only inspire women to lead, but to lay the foundation for students who participate in createHER to feel comfortable encouraging those around them to be more confident, take more chances and support the women around them.” At two years old, createHER is still a young group and continuously looking for new ways to shape what they represent. For one, the group is getting more people involved through the new Campus Advocate program, which has less of a time commitment than the Leadership Team but still has students taking important initiatives within the group.
The official mission statement for the organization is as follows: “CreateHER’s mission is to inspire women to become leaders in both their professional and personal lives through education and mentorship. CreateHER accomplishes this by connecting young women with trusted advisors and resources in a safe and supportive environment and is committed to helping the next generation of women leaders succeed.” It is primarily about helping women become strong leaders but fosters an open space for everyone.
Marina Rosales ’15 is the founder of createHER. She began the project in the fall of 2017 out of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “We are astounded and grateful for the support we’ve received from the Wooster student community over the last year and a half. I think something that makes createHER special is that it’s not necessarily a club or group — it really is this mindset that we want to promote on campus and for students to learn to carry with them as they graduate and go out to make their mark in their own communities,” Smith said.
There are currently nine students on the Leadership Team. These students play a vital part in planning events and helping connect createHER with the community. This semester, there will be many events, including a personal and a professional event each month. There will also be an open monthly meeting where topics such as gender-neutral inclusion on campus will be discussed. Additionally, there is an Internship and Funding Workshop off campus which includes a “meet, greet and eat with an alum, Galentine’s Day Karaoke and two spring break programs focused specifically on women’s experiences in the workplace and starting their own businesses,” said Smith.
The biggest event of the year will be createHER Day, on Saturday, April 13, which is an annual conference where female community leaders and business owners run workshops for students and share their stories. It will take place in Williams Hall with speaker Kimothy Joy, an artist and social activist and the group’s first keynote speaker. For more information on events, createHER can be followed on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.