Ashley Cecil

I just spent an inspiring first half of my day at the “political skills campaign school” put on by the Metropolitan Louisville Women’s Political Caucus. An array of workshops informed and counseled an ambitious crowd of attendees on the basics of running for office 101.

Our first keynote speaker was the well posed Dr. Leslie R. Wolfe, president of the Center for Women Policy Studies in Washington DC. Dr. Wolfe, like many of today’s speakers and panelists, told her compelling story of overcoming sexism of the 60′s to work her way up to now empower other women in her current role as president of the nonprofit feminist policy research and advocacy organization.

For any woman pondering the thought of running for political office, this seminar was an ideal opportunity to learn from, and network with, participants including:

• Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Mary Noble
• Mayor of Bowling Green, Ky Elaine N. Walker
• David V. Hawpe, VP and editorial director of the Courier-Journal
• Rick Howlett, host of WFPL‘s Morning Edition
• Jim Cauley, campaign manager who ran Barack Obama’s successful bid for the US Senate, and current manager for the Beshear-Mongiardo campaign for Kentucky Governor
• Kathryn Groob of The Women’s Network

Congressman John Yarmuth also stepped in at the end to offer words of encouragement to hopefully female political leaders. With the influence of major players in Yarmuth’s life such as his wife, speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi, and several of his work colleagues, he acknowledged the vital role of women in his own life and to society at large.

For anyone interested in finding out more info about the Metropolitan Louisville Women’s Political Caucus, I’m sorry to say that I’m not aware of any website they have up. But if you email me, I’ll be happy to put you in touch with the appropriate person.

I just spent an inspiring first half of my day at the “political skills campaign school” put on by the Metropolitan Louisville Women’s Political Caucus. An array of workshops informed...

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As I’ve been sorting through hundreds of photos from Venezuela, trying to select the best ones to translate into paintings, I wasn’t sure what to do with the one I used for this sketch. I’ve been on the fence about painting it, but as luck would have it, the image was perfect for today’s drawing in recognition of International Women’s Day. I think it’s very endearing image, and very much speaks to the importance of family in Latin America.

These two women stood beside me as we listened in a larger group to members of their communal council speak about their fishing community in the small rural town of Caruao. It wasn’t in my group’s usual meeting surroundings, which typically consisted of an air-conditioned office in an urban area.

We gathered in a circle by the bank of a river, feeding into the ocean, in the middle of a much larger and lively crowd celebrating carnival before Lent. It was hard to hear our translator describe changes the community has undergone in recent years over salsa music and kids scream as they fled from incoming water balloon attacks. I got still got the message, and then we all put our notebooks and questions aside to celebrate with them (and get hit with water balloons).

SOLD As I’ve been sorting through hundreds of photos from Venezuela, trying to select the best ones to translate into paintings, I wasn’t sure what to do with the one...

8″ x 10″ oil on canvas
Not for sale
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What better way to pre-celebrate March 8th, International Women’s Day, than honoring the woman for whom I am most grateful? As fate would have it, I get to celebrate twice with this woman, since today is her birthday. She supported my artistic talent as a child and encouraged me to pursue it as I thought about college when everyone else patted me on the head and said, “That’s nice dear.” Because of her confidence in my ability, she always busted my bubble with “of course you did!” when I came to her overwhelmed about my latest accomplishment. Most importantly, she taught me how to balance deep compassion and love for others while maintaining an impenetrable wall of independence and self sufficiency. Maybe it’s so obvious that I don’t need to tell you this woman is my mother.

As long as this painting isn’t still wet by dinner tonight, it will be her birthday gift (but you can still order a print of it by clicking here). Although I practically boycott pink, she holds the belief that you can never have too much of it. She embodies all that is feminine, chic, and frilly, which is why I call her Barbie. I’m banking on the unfortunate fact that my mom doesn’t follow my blog regularly, and therefore won’t see this painting before our dinner date.
Back to the boarder issue, tomorrow’s day of recognition is a worldwide celebration acknowledged everywhere from the corporate world to rural villages. I encourage you to visit the International Women’s Day website to find something of specific interest to you for March 8th. There are a multitude of events: religious services, seminars, rallies, and so on. If nothing is going on in your neighborhood, heck, start something yourself.  It’s a great reason to get your girlfriends together to have meaningful a reflection (and a drink).

8″ x 10″ oil on canvas Not for sale See all paintings available for sale. What better way to pre-celebrate March 8th, International Women’s Day, than honoring the woman for...

8″ x 10″ oil on canvas, $220 ($50 donated to the Center for Women and Families
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See all paintings available for sale.

It’s 3am, your spouse has just given you a black eye in front of your young child, you have no one to turn to and nowhere to go; or at least that’s what you assume. In the Louisville area, there is support for just such an individual regardless of who, when, and how. But more than just an emergency care center, “the Center for Women and Families engages individuals and community in the elimination of domestic violence, sexual violence and economic hardship through service, education and advocacy.”

I recently had the pleasure of a private tour with the center’s president, Denise Vasquez Troutman (who, by the way, is gracing the cover of this month’s Today’s Woman magazine). Once again, Denise’s enthusiasm knocked me over and made me feel like I was moving at a glacial pace. She walked me through the halls of a strange mix of a lock-down facility still maintaining the warmth of home. Motivational quotes inspiring strength and hope are painted on the walls next to bright artwork. This is a safe place for victims and their families to heal, grow, and recover.

But the painting above was not from one of their multiple centers, but rather from 2 nights ago when 20 years of “service and survival” were celebrated at a gala dinner. Approximately 1,000 guests gathered in a ballroom filled with these white floral arrangements to support the organization that supports so many in their own community.

Ps – For those of you anxious to get out in your gardens as a result of this painting, stop by this popular gardening blog, whose author is graciously helped me spread my work throughout the blogoshpere by posting this painting. Thanks Tricia

8″ x 10″ oil on canvas, $220 ($50 donated to the Center for Women and Families SOLD See all paintings available for sale. It’s 3am, your spouse has just given...

7″ x 9″ watercolor
SOLD
Sell all paintings available for sale.

Non-profits are often beholden to donors and outside sources of income, which can limit their ability to execute their mission. I’ve talked to many non-profit staff members frustrated to no end because they can’t afford the employees they need and many other financial short comings. This unfortunate state of affairs leaves them running on fumes and passion. But the last organization I’m highlighting from my recent visit to Houston has found a way to shift that dynamic.

The Rose is a full service breast cancer facility offering screening and comprehensive treatment to those who cannot afford it, but they also offer it to those who can. Services offered by The Rose are so advanced, thorough, and sensitive to the patient that paying customers are storming their doors. Although the organization does run in part on donations, it offers services highly in demand by an audience with means to pay, positioning The Rose to run its own show. And since breast cancer has such a high profile, soliciting outside contributions does not seem to be a problem.

Revenue is split approximately 58:42 between program service revenue (direct pay for services, insurance reimbursements, and contracts for services) and contributions (from corporations, foundations, organizations, individuals, and special events) with an annual operation budget of $5.033 million.

It’s no surprise there is never an appointment slot left unscheduled with such a unique array of breast cancer fighting tools like:

• Breast Specific Gamma Imaging
• a Mobile Mammography Outreach Program
• the Young Women’s Clinic
• the Personal Boutique (illustrated above) where wigs and prosthesis are made available to patients at no cost.
• a network of 500 health care providers each donated their services, free of charge, to one patient of The Rose per year

My favorite of these services is the Patient Navigation Program, in which a sponsored patient receives “one-on-one advocacy and mentoring support to overcome barriers such as language, transportation, and childcare. This program guides patients through the entire process of diagnosis, to physician referral, to treatment.”

It was wonderful to step into the waiting room where patients from all walks of life were receiving equal excellent care, and not knowing which was paying, and which was not.

7″ x 9″ watercolor SOLD Sell all paintings available for sale. Non-profits are often beholden to donors and outside sources of income, which can limit their ability to execute their...

Relatively new to Louisville, the Troutman family has quickly made their mark in the community with careers leading the way to a healthier, happier population of residents. Earlier this week I nearly passed on a YPAL luncheon, threatening to consume 2 very precious hours of my time. But I had already paid to attend the event, so with paint still on my hands, pencils stuck in my hair, and well, less than a young-professional’s presentation, I headed to hear Denise Troutman give an enthusiastic talk. President of the Center for Women and Families, Denise stirred energy in her audience, similarly instigated by a double shot of espresso, with her animated stories.

I was especially pleased to hear that Denise spent her very first days at the center meeting individually with each and every employee so that she would “know who’s on her bus.” A leader should know that the people they’re leading are on the same page and headed in the same direction. Simple, yet accurate, Denise offered the analogy of a flight attendant announcing “this plane is headed for Denver. If you’re not going to Denver, this would be the time to exit the plane.”

After the talk, I introduced myself to Denise in pursuit of an opportunity to do a piece on the Center for Women and Families for this site. She loved the idea as much as she loved my purse (apparently she remembers seeing my purse, and not me, at a fund raiser the week prior).

Low and behold, after the luncheon, I was graced with Mrs. Troutman’s presence a second time that day at a University of Louisville women’s basketball game. I have to admit, I was always the athletically challenged girl who was told by my soccer coach that my clumsiness was due to my abnormal height (6′ 0′) pulling me away from my center of gravity. This has partially contributed to my disinterest in sports, but Denise had enough cheer for the both of us (and maybe everyone sharing the court side row with her). I think even her husband, Dr. Adewale Troutman (director of Louisville’s health department), felt he was left in her robust cheer-leading dust.

The whole day was tied together when a half-time video about the Center for Women and Families, narrated by Mrs. Troutman, was played for the sports fans. To take it a step further, Denise is also involved with Women 4 Women, which works in collaboration with U of L student athletes, such as the players we watched that night, in a program called “Fit 4 Me”. Small world!
What a day, and what a woman!

Relatively new to Louisville, the Troutman family has quickly made their mark in the community with careers leading the way to a healthier, happier population of residents. Earlier this week...

8″ x 10″ oil on canvas, NFS

Born from a golf tournament benefiting women’s causes in 1993, Women 4 Women has since exploded into a mature organization funding, and otherwise supporting, women’s services in Louisville Kentucky. In their first year, $60,000 was raised for their cause, and they’re now on their way to raising $10million by 2010.

“Our work is twofold: we raise funds and we raise awareness about issues that affect women and families. Our job is to give women and families the tools they need to help themselves.” -founder, Cissy Musselman

As their name grows and changes are seen as a result of their work, Women 4 Women is more frequently talked about at the dinner table. While recently at a party in Columbus Ohio, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that a local resident I was speaking with knew of the organization well. Clearly, more and more interested ears are becoming acquainted with the comprehensive list of issues tackled by Women for Women. I hope that as awareness snowballs, Women 4 Women’s imprint on the lives of women in Louisville follows in measure.

While sitting in on Women 4 Women’s first board meeting of the year, I got inside details about one of their most current endeavors. The National Center for Family Literacy will receive funding from Women 4 Women for the “Financial Education and Coaching Program” to meet the financial literacy needs, with a focus on family stability, of under-served families with extremely low levels of income. This seems to be an ideal form of intervention to cure a problem rather than manage it. When given the tools to help themselves, such “under-served” people will show their potential has merely being laying dormant, awaiting the opportunity to rise above the hardships holding them down.

8″ x 10″ oil on canvas, NFS Born from a golf tournament benefiting women’s causes in 1993, Women 4 Women has since exploded into a mature organization funding, and otherwise...

Yesterday I had the honor of being in the presence of over 20 of Louisville’s most distinguished professional women. Women 4 Women graciously invited me to their first ’07 board meeting where I was able to listen in and meet the group of female superstars. “Inspiring” comes to mind when I think about the influence and power these women have to offer the cause they share in common – “improving the health and economic well-being of women and girls [in the Louisville community].”

When I first spoke with Ann Coffey (Women 4 Women’s executive director), I disclosed that I often make people uneasy by sketching them and taking pictures (for a painting to soon follow). Without skipping a beat, Ann assured me that this group would not mind. Ann could not have been more right, as I was welcomed with the same strong enthusiasm that each member applies to their involvement with Women 4 Women.

These ladies, spanning careers of president of a major bank to academic dean, worked the itinerary before them with efficiency and collaborative decisiveness that spoke to their experience and professionalism. With anything less, Women 4 Women surely would stumble in attaining their ambitious goals:

The details of implementing these goals are where their impressive ambitions truly shine. An example of one such tactic (of achieving the first “Bold Goal” listed above) was the focus of yesterday’s meeting. But, I’m going to use my witty ways to hold your interest and save the details for the accompaniment of the corresponding painting in the works.

Yesterday I had the honor of being in the presence of over 20 of Louisville’s most distinguished professional women. Women 4 Women graciously invited me to their first ’07 board...