Here are show notes for this archived episode:

Women of the World Podcast — Episode 1 Release Date: April 26, 2016 Hosts: Mary Dixon, with Samira Harnish and Sydney Grosbeck

Episode Summary: In the inaugural episode of the Women of the World Podcast, host Mary Dixon sits down with WoW founder Samira Harnish and team member Sydney Grosbeck to discuss a wave of new volunteerism, a powerful story of connection with a woman in crisis, and the journey of Leila — a Moroccan mother who earned her dental assistant certificate with WoW's support.

Topics Covered:

The "I Was a Stranger" Initiative — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched a new program encouraging members to support refugees through local organizations. Since the announcement, Women of the World saw volunteer numbers jump from roughly seven per year to 45 new volunteers in just two months. Samira shares what this outpouring of support means for refugee families navigating Islamophobia and isolation.

Samira Receives the Ruby Award — Samira was honored with the Ruby Award for Excellence in Women's Advocacy from the Soroptimist Club, a worldwide organization with 80,000 members across 132 countries. She also spoke on a panel at Utah Valley University's Peace and Justice Conference on the unique challenges facing refugee women.

"Stepping Back from the Ledge as Sisters" — Samira recounts a moving encounter with a Congolese mother who was brought to the WoW office by a stranger she met at the DI. The woman, in deep crisis with her two children, found an immediate sense of family and support through Samira's attentive listening and care.

Mothers of the World Art Installation — Sydney announces a special Mother's Day collaboration with the Leonardo Museum's Community Connections program, featuring the unveiling of a new art installation called Mothers of the Worldon Sunday, May 8, 2016.

Success Story: Leila — Originally from Morocco, Leila dreamed of becoming a dental assistant but feared failure. With encouragement from Samira and case manager Abby, she completed her studies, earned her certificate, and brought it straight to Women of the World to celebrate. The team was actively working to help her find employment at a local dental office.

New Website Launch — WoW debuted a redesigned website at womenoftheworld.org with improved navigation and mobile experience.

Links & Resources:

1. Women of the World: womenoftheworld.org
2. I Was a Stranger: iwasastranger.lds.org
3. The Leonardo Museum: 209 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT

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