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Letter from the Editor
On July 10, 2026, my world changed quietly when my mother passed away peacefully in her sleep at 93 years old. As I navigate this profound loss, I find myself reflecting on the incredible woman she was, because she was, and will always remain, the true inspiration behind everything I do here at WInC.
My mother had only a third-grade education, yet her life was a masterclass in resilience, capability, and brilliance. With those three years of formal schooling, she managed to raise 10 children. Even more astonishingly, she possessed a natural sharp wit and determination that allowed her to out-earn my father, who was a college graduate and a Lieutenant Colonel. She defied every limitation society tried to place on her.
More than her incredible resourcefulness, she showed me the true meaning of unconditional love. She was my biggest champion. Every time I was fortunate enough to receive an award or recognition throughout my life, I would immediately print a copy and give it to her. I knew deep down that those achievements weren't just mine, they belonged to her. She was, in every sense of the phrase, the wind beneath my wings.
Whenever I walk through the doors of the Center, I think of her. I often close my eyes and imagine: how far could she have gone if she had a place like the Women's Intercultural Center when she was young? What could she have achieved if she had a safe space to learn, resources to grow, and a community of women lifting her up?
That "what if" is the fuel for my work. My mother didn't have a WInC, but because of her legacy, we get to build that space for other women today. We get to be the place that opens doors, breaks down barriers, and nurtures the boundless potential of every woman, mother, daughter, and neighbor who walks through our doors.
Thank you, Mom, for your unconditional love and for inspiring a legacy that lives on in our WInC community every single day.
Mary Carter
Editor & Executive Director
Women’s Intercultural Center
From Farm to Table
Community nourishment is at the heart of everything we do, and we had a fresh reason to celebrate this past week! Thanks to our wonderful partners at La Semilla, a delivery of 27 boxes of fresh, locally grown vegetables arrived at the Women's Intercultural Center.
These boxes were packed with beautiful, wholesome produce ready to inspire family meals. Our community participants hopped right on the opportunity, and the boxes were snapped up in no time!
Cultivating Joy in the Kitchen
We love seeing how our participants transform these fresh ingredients into delicious meals at home. One of our community members, Connie, shared a wonderful update (and a mouthwatering photo) of what her family created with their bounty:
"Thank you for the vegetables! My husband made pasta using the vegetables."
Seeing our community coming together to share, cook, and nourish one another was the perfect highlight to our week. A huge thank you to La Semilla for making this distribution possible, and to Connie for sharing a beautiful peek into her kitchen!
Kindness: The Ultimate Micro-Habit for a Stronger Community
When we think about building a stronger community, we often imagine massive projects or grand gestures. Yet at the Women's Intercultural Center, we see a different truth unfold every single day: the most powerful force for change is actually found in our smallest choices. Kindness is the ultimate micro-habit, a simple and accessible practice that builds trust, dignity, and belonging one tiny moment at a time.
Walk through our doors on any given day, and you will witness the power of these micro-habits in action. It lives in the welcoming smiles that greet you at the entrance, the patient guidance offered in our learning spaces, and the quiet generosity that connects us all.
These small acts seamlessly weave themselves into everything we do:
- In our classrooms, it looks like sharing supplies and lifting each other up as we learn.
- At our community events, it looks like sharing food and breaking bread together.
- In our organizational partnerships, it looks like an unwavering commitment to our shared vision.
Together, these daily micro-habits cultivate a culture where everyone who steps into WInC feels seen, supported, and truly encouraged to grow. Kindness doesn't require wealth or status; it is powerful precisely because it is accessible to every single one of us. It is a habit that multiplies, ripples outward, and transforms communities from the inside out.
WInC thrives because of these everyday acts. We want to extend a massive thank you to every volunteer, participant, donor, partner, supporter and neighbor who embodies kindness in our space, you are the ones who make our mission a reality!
Alek Wek: Redefining Beauty and Courage
Alek Wek shattered old beauty standards and became a global symbol of strength and representation. Her rise in fashion opened doors for dark‑skinned African women, and her advocacy for refugees and South Sudan shows her impact goes far beyond the runway. Her story is one of fortitude, leadership, and the power of embracing who you are. This is part of a WInC series of stories of women who have changed the world.
Fueling the Dream: Celebrating Elvia’s Impact in Our ESL Class
For a while now, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes have been right at the top of our community’s collective wish list. We knew the desire to learn was there, yet we needed a passionate, dedicated guide to step forward and make it happen. We are so incredibly blessed to have found exactly that in Elvia!
When Elvia retired from her teaching career, she decided she wasn’t anywhere near done sharing her incredible gift of knowledge. Instead of slowing down, she walked right into the Women's Intercultural Center and simply asked how she could teach and give back.
Today, that simple question has blossomed into a beautiful reality. Elvia is currently leading vibrant, focused ESL classes, where she is effortlessly breaking down the basics for her students and helping them build confidence in their conversational English. Her classroom is filled with energy, growth, and the joy of connection.
Elvia, you are an absolute force of nature and an incredible instructor. Thank you for your selflessness, your time, and for turning our community’s dream into this beautiful, active reality. We are so profoundly grateful to have you in the WInC family!
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
One of the most beautiful parts of the Women's Intercultural Center is how our community naturally functions like a family. On any given morning, you might walk through our doors to drop off a donation, yet you'll almost always leave with a story, a laugh, or a helping hand.
This week, Elsa brightened our morning when she stopped by to drop off a series of generous donations. Despite walking in with her trademark warm smile and uplifting energy, she casually mentioned she was dealing with a bit of an unexpected buzz at home, a sudden, tricky bee situation!
True to the WInC spirit, our team jumped right into problem-solving mode. We were incredibly happy to connect her with the local team at the Anthony Fire Department, who could help guide her toward a safe removal.
At the Women's Intercultural Center, looking out for one another goes far beyond our classrooms and official programs. It is in everyday conversations, the shared resources, and the reassurance that you never have to navigate life's unexpected surprises alone, even when those surprises come with wings!
Thank you, Elsa, for your wonderful generosity and for showing us what it means to be a true community.
Crafting Joy: Isabel Sparks Young Imaginations Through Her Workshops
Creativity has a beautiful way of connecting generations and building pure joy right here at the Women's Intercultural Center. Yesterday, the Center received a wonderful burst of artistic energy thanks to Isabel, one of our deeply dedicated WInC volunteers.
Isabel dropped by to show us her colorful "Octochain,” a cheerful, vibrant octopus with chain tentacles. This delightful creation is the prototype for an upcoming arts and crafts workshop she will be leading for children next week. Designed specifically to spark imagination and play among our youngest participants, every detail of the project reflects Isabel’s genuine enthusiasm for hands-on learning and community art.
We are incredibly grateful to volunteers like Isabel who bring their unique talents and passion into our space. Her workshop promises to be a fantastic experience, and we absolutely cannot wait to see the children’s own vibrant versions of these creations coming to life next week!
Step by Step: Our Citizenship Students Advance to Interview Simulations
There is a unique kind of energy that fills a classroom when it is fueled by pure determination, and our English Citizenship class has had that in abundance. This week, our hardworking students reached a major milestone in their journey toward becoming United States citizens.
We have officially completed learning all 128 civic questions! Mastering this dense history and government material takes incredible focus and study, and we could not be prouder of the dedication everyone has shown to get to this point.
With the civics foundation firmly in place, the class is now moving on to the final phase of preparation: full interview and exam simulations. Over the coming weeks, students will practice the exact formatting they will face on the big day, including the crucial reading and writing portions of the exam. These realistic run-throughs are designed to build confidence, ease test-day nerves, and ensure everyone is fully prepared for their official interviews.
Congratulations to our citizenship students on reaching this wonderful milestone, we are standing right behind you as you take these final steps toward your dreams!
Creating Memories in Color: The Magic of Painting Together
When a family sits down to paint together, something truly magical happens. Often, we don't even have to say a word to build beautiful, lasting bonds; the shared quiet, the rustle of brushes, and the strokes of color on canvas speak entirely for themselves.
We witnessed this beautiful silent language in action recently when Alicia brought her grandchildren to our art class. Together, they spent the session huddled over their artwork, completely immersed in the joy of creating side-by-side.
It was one of those rare, grounding afternoons that you just know will become a core memory, the kind of special moment you look back on with a warm smile as you get older. At the Women's Intercultural Center, our classrooms are spaces for learning new skills, yet more importantly, they are spaces where families can slow down, connect, and print beautiful memories together.
Thank you, Alicia, for bringing your family's wonderful energy and creativity into our gallery!
A "Terrifying" Guest at the Center!
At the Women's Intercultural Center, we pride ourselves on creating a safe, vibrant, and welcoming space for absolutely everyone in our community. Our doors are always open to neighbors of all ages, though one visitor this week certainly tested our limits!
For a moment, a wave of sheer "terror" swept through the Center as this fierce little guest made his presence known. Fortunately, the panic quickly turned to laughter when we realized our formidable visitor, little Zeke was just having some playful fun.
His dad, Omar, shared in the laugh, telling us:
"So scary!! He's been scaring everyone at home lol It was good to see you all today!"
We love that WInC is a place where families can bring their full energy, imagination, and joy, even when it comes with a side of spooky fun. Thank you to Omar and his little monster Zeke for stopping by and giving us all a wonderful reason to smile!
Nutritious and Creative: The Children in Our ICAN Class
Our ICAN class has been absolutely buzzing with energy this week as our youngest learners dove into some incredible hands-on experiences.
The week was packed with delicious discoveries as the children learned how to prepare their own nutritious foods and healthy snacks, building great habits that will last a lifetime. Yet the excitement didn’t stop in the kitchen! The kids also tackled a little bit of homework, getting the chance to explore the absolute best part of any assignment: diving into fresh boxes of crayons.
We are so proud of these creative little chefs and their dedication to learning!
Celebrating Saif: A Heartfelt Birthday Surprise from Our ESL Class
At the Women's Intercultural Center, our community thrives on the endless kindness and dedication of our volunteers. This past week, our ESL class found the perfect opportunity to give back a fraction of that joy by coordinating a very special surprise luncheon for our beloved volunteer, Saif, in celebration of his birthday!
The room erupted into cheers when Saif walked in, and his heartwarming reaction was a moment none of us will soon forget. In true WInC fashion, students quickly filled the space with laughter, gratitude, and an incredible abundance of delicious, hearty homemade dishes, as everyone wanted to share something special for the occasion. Alongside the festive food and a beautiful birthday cake, the class presented Saif with thoughtful gifts to express just how much he means to everyone here.
Saif's steady support and constant encouragement have helped so many of our learners find true confidence and joy in their educational journeys. He truly is the heart of our group.
Thank you, Saif, for sharing your time, your heart, and your endless kindness with our community. We are so incredibly lucky to have you with us. From all our volunteers and participants: Happy Birthday, Saif! We hope this year brings you as much joy as you continuously give to us.
