Women Helping Women Projects

Christmas in July, 2008 – Hiland Mountain Correctional Center

As a part of Shirley Mae's sixty-first birthday, she asked friends if they were donate “You are Enough” and “You Are Beauty” chocolates to women at Hiland Mountain Correctional Center, the State of Alaska’s dedicated facility for housing female prisoners. While giving chocolate may seem frivolous, consider for a moment how meaningful such a simple act of kindness was extended to the women who received the gift.

2008 Success Inside and Out Conference

"You Are Blessed" chocolates for the 2008 "Success Inside and Out" conference. The program, inspired by Alaska's Chief Justice Dana Fabe, is designed to help women inmates nearing their release date prepare for the transition to life outside prison.

Strength + Beauty: The Empowerment of Young Polynesian Women

"You Are Special" chocolates were donated to this event. Sponsored by Polynesian College Council, this program was conceived by UA Scholar Elisiva Maka. She did thesis level research to gather photos, history, poems, and other information on the history of Pacific Islander woman with an emphasis on gathering the research on women from each of the islands who were queens, who reigned with a King's Authority. This project is of great importance to the young women from the community who struggle with a new found identity and role in U.S. Culture.

Spirit of Giving

Students and family members from the Home Base After School program received “Happy Holiday” chocolates.