Programs
The types of program that may be offered by Women in Bloom include (but are not limited to) the following:
● Training and counseling services
● Bilingual and translation assistance
● Coordination with interview coaches to prepare applicants for interviews
● Pre- and post-placement follow-up services for employers and employees
● Workshops to teach skills such as resume writing or how to start a small business
● Assistance in the completion of government and private-sector employment forms
● Training of applicants to develop successful interviewing strategies
● Training in writing successful business communications
● Assistance in projecting an appropriate workplace image
● Scholarships
● Dressing for Success clothing drives
Events...
PTSD Awareness Month Program -- June
June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, and we want to raise awareness on this serious condition that affects many war veterans. PTSD is a type of anxiety that occurs in many different ways. It can begin after you experience extreme trauma, some examples are: exposure to combat, being involved in a serious accident, an assault or abuse, a natural disaster, or an act of terrorism.
It’s estimated that at least 20% of the soldiers who have been deployed in the past 6 years have experienced some type of PTSD and many other Vets can be experiencing signs of PTSD from previous deployments. PTSD is the third most common mental condition among veterans who use the VA hospital system.
June 14 from 9-11, 2019, an awareness program to assist families and veterans was held at StoryPoint, Chesterton. StoryPoint Chesterton graciously donated a light breakfast. Our 2020 event was postponed due to the pandemic. We hope to continue this program in the future.
Jesse Meredith Memorial 5K Soldier's Shuffle
Women in Bloom partnered with USA Cares on April 28, 2018 (Pines Village Retirement Community Weekend Sponsor) and April 29, 2019 (Urschel Laboratories Platinum Patriotic Sponsor) to host an annual 5K Run-on-Run. For the first two years we held the event at Sunset Hill Farm and Park in Valparaiso, Indiana. Family events included a bouncy house, DJ, face-painting, and post-race BBQ sponsored by the Pines Village Retirement Community.
We also partnered with the local motorcycle club, Sanctified Souls, for the motorized 50-mile run. A special appearance by the Colts Cheerleaders was a fun addition and tradition we hope to keep. The pre-race pasta dinner was held the Saturday evening before the race at the VFW 2511 in Porter, IN, who graciously sponsored the venue and the meal with all proceeds being donated to the race. The race was post-postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic. We hope to host another race in 2021. The next event will start and end at the VFW 2511 in Porter, Indiana. Stay tuned...
Amanda Bach Forum "Let's Start Talking"
On February 8, 2019, WIB proudly partnered with the Amanda Back Forum to sponsor the 2019 NWI Regionwide "Let’s Start Talking" Youth Leadership Conference. This one day event addressed teen dating violence and prevention. The day included peer-to-peer activities and guest speakers.
Women in Bloom Annual Holiday Expo
We held our 4th annual expo at the Valparaiso David Butterfield Pavilion on October 17, 2019, from 4:30 to 7:00.. The year prior, our 3rd annual expo, was held at the POCO Expo Building, which included over 75 vendors. The Great Lakes Harmony Region 17-Sweets Adelines provided the entertainment both years and it was catered by B and J catering, Jill Riggs. The night was a huge success with over 200 people attending, $2500 in scholarships given to Indiana Wesleyan students, and we netted over $6,000. Thank you to our attendee, volunteers, and vendors. Also, special thanks to McCready Law-Platinum Sponsor, StoryPoint-Gold Sponsor, Mossberg & Company-Silver Sponsor, Indiana Wesleyan Merrillville-Silver Sponsor, and Stradella Reeds-Bronze Sponsor. We had to postpone our 2020 event due to the pandemic and hope to resume this wonderful annual event in late 2021 or the spring of 2022.
Crossroads Chamber Reality Store
WIB assisted in various opportunities with junior high students at this event. The purpose of the Reality Store is to teach students about the impact of the decisions they are making right now and how those decisions will affect the rest of their lives. Students are provided with an occupation and a budget and different scenarios, i.e., college vs. no college, married, kids, pets, etc., and they visit the many booths, which include banks for mortgages, car loans, utilities, insurance, child care, clothing, food, veterinarian, gym memberships, entertainment, etc. They get a feel for life in the “real world.” Women in Bloom sponsored and participated -- we would love for additional volunteers to join us in 2018!
WIB assisted in various opportunities with junior high students at this event. The purpose of the Reality Store is to teach students about the impact of the decisions they are making right now and how those decisions will affect the rest of their lives. Students are provided with an occupation and a budget and different scenarios, i.e., college vs. no college, married, kids, pets, etc., and they visit the many booths, which include banks for mortgages, car loans, utilities, insurance, child care, clothing, food, veterinarian, gym memberships, entertainment, etc. They get a feel for life in the “real world.” Women in Bloom sponsored and participated -- we would love for additional volunteers to join us in 2018!
Hour of Coding
Women in Bloom in partnership with Valparaiso University for our young female careerists (14-22). The event was free. This event involved professionals on site to talk about this field, as well as some fun exercises. Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented minorities. Their vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science, just like biology, chemistry or algebra. Code.org organizes the annual Hour of Code campaign which has engaged 10% of all students in the world and provides the leading curriculum for K-12 computer science in the largest school districts in the United States.
Women in Bloom in partnership with Valparaiso University for our young female careerists (14-22). The event was free. This event involved professionals on site to talk about this field, as well as some fun exercises. Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented minorities. Their vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science, just like biology, chemistry or algebra. Code.org organizes the annual Hour of Code campaign which has engaged 10% of all students in the world and provides the leading curriculum for K-12 computer science in the largest school districts in the United States.