B.E.E.

As many of you know, I started a ministry several months ago. The ministry name was, "MRS" (Mothers Returning to School), and the aim was to assist mommies who wanted to go back to college! While I believe this is still on my heart, we ran into a number of obstacles that led me to realize the constituency we were working to reach was, perhaps, too narrow. I am so thankful for the education I continue to receive at Regis, where I study nonprofit management, because it has taught me that projects will continue to grow and adapt.

If not approached correctly, or with the right team, growth can feel like failure. Growth often takes its form in "scrapping the board", "starting over", or "admitting you're wrong". And, in a fast-food world where dreams are supposed to come true, we often don't take the time to realize how wonderful these bumps in the road are for our path, and how strong they are making us. I can think of the parallel to my marriage, or my relationship with Christ; the temptation is to think laterally, to assume that I must live always in the crescendo of life – when the reality is that my growth has often been born of the jagged, up-and-down, dots on a crazy chart.

And so, I rejoice as I begin to adapt to a broader need, and explore new ways to reach individuals seeking to further their education. On the 17^th, I was so privileged to meet with some outstanding women in my community who sat with me and discussed growth. I am proud to announce the formation of Beautiful.Educated.Empowered., "B.E.E.". The organization will aim to serve all women seeking higher education, which will encompass mothers. Our mission statement is, "B.E.E. will assist women in preparing for college planning, enrollment, and completion – through access to information and scholarship distribution".

B.E.E. will offer three programs: college-planning seminars, college-application tutoring, and a scholarship program. I am also excited to begin spreading the word about the Queen BEE Competition, which will give women in Colorado a chance to get involved by competing to be the organization's school presenters. Fundraisers in the future will include talent shows, Avon campaigns, and benefit concerts. I prayerfully ask you to consider becoming involved with this movement. If nothing else, check out the website today and learn more about what B.E.E. is up to!

My knowledge and my skills are incredibly limited, and it is for that reason I am indebted to the work of our new Board of Directors. Please join me in giving a shout-out (from your work desk, school desk, or home office!) to: Brenda Fletcher, Belkis Clark, Yvonne Franco, Anne Yeldell, and Laurie Pierce. These women represent wise council, and will be the backbone of all that B.E.E. accomplishes. I will be serving as their executive director, and am so honored when I think about carrying out the work they will set before me.

Thank you to all who know my background and are supporting these endeavors. I thank my Savior for the opportunity to have served as a inner-city recruitment specialist in Kansas City, where I learned of the deep need to provide specific information and guidance to those seeking post-secondary education. May He bless our humble efforts to place diverse leaders in front of a diverse audience as we spread the simple message and women can succeed in college.