This is a program that was inspired by the tragedy of the Atlanta Spa Shootings, which occurred on March 16, 2021. Six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent, and not only was our local community hurting, but the pain was also felt across nationally. I received calls from friends and supporters to see if I was ok and I did the same for others. None of us could make sense of it all and I felt numb.
That weekend, I went to downtown Atlanta, as our community came together in support of one another. There were many speeches made. As we were getting ready to march around the Capitol, I received a call from the Walmart Center for Racial Equity (they finished their five-year commitment as of 2025). Knowing CAPAW’s focus is on Whole Person leadership development, the question was asked… is there anything program or space we can provide to bring people together from different communities to create solidarity? My answer was YES. Even before this tragedy happened, my board members had discussed how we could share our resources with other communities and uplift more people.
I thought about what so many women had shared with me over the years on their challenges and barriers, and especially the feeling of being alone. Over the weekend, I created the Unleash the sHERO in You! Program for early career women who wanted to invest in themselves. Though the program was built with women in mind, the content is applicable to anyone interested in learning and development.
This program is for individuals who are considered early career. (Ex. Five years or less experience) Our goals are to:
We have learned more about our programs and their impact. Now, we have divided the sHERO Discovery Program into Part 1 and Part 2.
Join us now and let’s make a difference in your life and the lives of others.
Sue Ann Hong-Whitkater
President & CEO
| Target Audience: | Women of Color – Cohort Limit: 16 per class |
|---|---|
| Status: | Accepting Applications |
| Frequency / Time: | Start Time 6:30-7:45 PM ET Every other Tuesday evening for 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Required Project: | Create, implement, and positively impact communities by addressing issue(s) around racism. |
| Selection Process: | Process through referral and interviews. |
| Two-Part Program: | Part 1 offered twice, followed by Part 2 |
| 2025 -26 | sHERO Discovery |
| Options for Part 1: | Part 1 Option 1: 9/9, 9/23, 10/7, 10/21, 11/4, 11/18. 12/2, 12/16 – 2025
Part 1 Option 2: 1/6, 1/20, 2/3, 2/17, 3/3, 3/17, 3/31, 4/14 – 2026 |
| Part 2 Dates:
(Part 2 is predicated on taking Part 1) |
5/5, 5/19, 6/2, 6/16, 6/30, 7/14, 7/28, 8/11, 8/25, 9/8 and project due by 12/31/26 |
| Platform: | Zoom |
| Duration: | 3 Months |
| Tuition: | Part 1 Free / Part 2 $200 |
| Facilitator: | Michele Burris |
Please reach out to info@capaw.org if you're interested in the program.
