Katherine Olson
Katherine Olson currently works as a Finance Manager at a boat dealership in Bakersfield, CA. Becoming a single mother after a divorce, Katherine had to give up her dream of attending college to pursue a career to provide for her children. Several years later with her second marriage, Katherine became a mother of 10, having given birth to 4 and "marrying into 6 more". Her husband encouraged her to pursue her dreams and return to school. She is enrolled in college and her aspiration is to become a Certified Respiratory Therapist and then a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Her long-term goal is to become a neo-natal pulmonary specialist working in a children’s hospital and caring for children in the neo-natal, and pediatric ICU.” |
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Nicole Pratt
Nicole Pratt's life as a disabilities advocate began 11 years ago when her daughter developed a condition called Pulmonary Bronchial Dysplasia. Six years later, her son was diagnosed with retinopathy stage 3 in both eyes and later cerebral palsy. Working to learn as much as she could to help her children, she attended a program called Partners in Policymaking where she focused on learning about all aspects of disability legal rights and programming for adults and children. She uses this knowledge in her job with Special Child Health Services, an agency serving children 0-22 and their families. With both of her children doing well, Nicole believes she has "found a true calling and career objective in assisting parents and children with or without disabilities." She attends Thomas Edison State College and is seeking a Social Service degree with a focus on special education. |
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Ruth Harris
Ruth Harris Shortie spent many years struggling to find adequate assistance, funding and consistent school programs to help with her son’s ADDH and dyslexia diagnosed when he was 18 months old. As a single mother with a limited education, limited income and no ability to send her son to a private school, over the years Ruth worked tirelessly to train herself on the latest information and self-help ADDH and dyslexia techniques but knew she needed more help. When her son was 16 years old she made up her mind to "stop being angry at the lack of money and support and decided to use her energy to help her son and help others." She founded Independent Living Housing, Inc. in 1998, a non-profit, community based organization that provides workshops for disabled students. Ruth is enrolled at Wayne County Community College seeking an Associates Degree and continuing education to enhance her speaking and writing skills to be more effective in running and expanding ILH to help many more children in the city of Detroit. |
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Denise Frank
Denise Frank left home and dropped out of school at the age of 15 with less than six years of formal classroom education. She was raised by a single mother in a home where education was not a priority. She was married to an abusive husband and had two children by the age of 23 and still did not have a high school diploma. She left her abusive husband, received her GED shortly thereafter, and immediately went to a vocational school to begin to work on her long time dream of becoming a nurse. She graduated that program as valedictorian becoming a Patient Care Assistant. Denise is enrolled at Maric College where she is pursuing a degree as a Registered Nurse working in pediatrics. |
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Kaneetria Parker
Kaneetria Parker is seeking an undergraduate degree in Sociology leading to her ultimate goal of becoming a child advocate attorney for the Department of Children and Family Services. She is the oldest of six children who were abandoned by their drug addicted mother. Their grandmother raised them for a short time until her death, at which time they became wards of the court and were placed in different foster homes. Kaneetria was determined to reunite the family after she experienced abuse at the hands of her foster family and was successful in gaining custody of her siblings. Kaneetria is intent on helping others like herself who are a part of the system she and her siblings experienced. Kaneetria is enrolled at the California State University, Domiguez Hills. |
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Deborah Bryant
Deborah Bryant has been a self-employed massage therapist for 7 years specializing in clinical sports massage. She left home at the age of 16 after having been abused from the age of 7. Although she loved school, she quit to get a job but her lack of education "haunted" her for many years. She obtained her GED several years later. Deborah knew she had to continue her own education to fulfill her dreams and to serve as a positive role model for both of her daughters. She is enrolled at TWU pursuing a degree in Psychology. Ultimately, she wants to attend graduate school and become a marriage and family therapist to help women and children who are survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. |
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PWFI is a 501(c) 3 non-profit foundation that gives scholarships to women and is funded solely through contributions. Although both organizations were founded by Linda Wind, The Possible Woman Foundation International and Wind Enterprises, which conducts the Possible Woman Leadership Conferences, are separate entities with no financial or legal affiliation. |
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