Circles of Empowerment
Melissa Wilde is a Noonday Ambassador, social justice lover, and City Councilwoman in her city of Pickerington, Ohio. Today on Flourish, this smart and savvy woman is sharing how her Noonday Ambassador business helped her find the courage to get outside her comfort zone–and inspired her to empower women in her own community (as a local female politician) and in communities across the globe.
Empowerment is one of those words that we often throw around without truly understanding. It was one of the words that I heard over and over when I became an Ambassador two years ago and something I knew I wanted to be a part of. During my first year with Noonday I learned about some amazing people were doing incredible things in their communities. A couple in Uganda building a flourishing business that has created opportunity for hundreds. Women in the US advocating for social change in their cities and abroad. A woman in India who has spent decades changing the lives of women. I continue to be completely amazed at what these individuals are doing!
I didn’t think much about what empowerment looked like for me two years ago. Somewhere between babies and PTO’s I tucked away some of my dreams. Then a year ago as I scrolled through my local news I came across an article saying that a local elected official would be leaving his seat. My first thought was “I hope a woman runs, but they never do.” I am lover of politics, and hold the degrees and the magazines to prove it. I am a cheerleader for women in all areas of my life, but especially when it comes to government. I wanted to see more women run and lead, but I didn’t see myself in that position. I always thought there was a woman out there with more experience and credentials who could do a better job.
This particular morning I listened to a podcast from Noonday Founder Jessica Honegger on being bold. As I sat at the table I happened to look down at my bracelet, the Sofiya Wrap. Sofiya is an Indian Artisan with a passion and a desire to make jewelry and have a job in a country where women do not work. She had systems working against her and yet she pushed ahead. I was sitting here with a desire to empower women like her, but I myself did not feel empowered. I am a woman who loves the political process and people, but I had disqualified myself because I was never able to get a law degree or do a fancy political internship. I had disqualified myself because I am a stay at home mom who doesn’t like public speaking.
I woke up the next morning, put that Sofiya Wrap back on and drove to the board of elections. I paid my fees and walked out with petitions to be signed. I spent the next week going door to door asking for people to sign my petition to gain ballot access. I started a campaign that put me in front of large groups of people and gave me plenty of vulnerable opportunities to ask for help. On election day, I couldn’t help but think of all the women who had come before me to make this moment possible. I kept thinking about all the women who made me realize that I could do this.
This is what Noonday Collection is to me. It isn’t just about pretty jewelry. Noonday empowers women across the globe. We are empowering women in Guatemala, Uganda, India, Ethiopia, and eight other countries across the globe. For our Artisan Partners, these jobs represent a way to move to ahead and find their own strength. Here in the US, we have women working in the Noonday Home Office who are able to buy homes for their families. We have Ambassadors who are able to send their children to dance classes, pay for adoptions, pay off debt. All of these women are able to take control financially, but the empowerment is much bigger than that!
Some of the women we partner with across the globe are learning that they have a unique set of gifts that are needed. Those women who are teaching other women how to make jewelry matter. Those women who are teaching business skills matter. The women who are offering encouragement and a listening ear matter. All of our dreams and talents matter and are important to our families and communities as a whole.
In our Noonday Ambassador community, I watched as each woman ran her race and encouraged the woman next to her. I realized that so many of us feel like we aren’t good enough. I watched women cheering others on when they didn’t feel strong enough. The community we choose matters! Our Artisan Partners and my fellow Ambassadors empowered me so that I could fulfill my desire to empower women coming behind me here in my city and to empower women across the globe.
I was sworn in as a Councilwoman for the City of Pickerington in January. This wouldn’t have happened had I never become a Noonday Ambassador. In my two years as an Ambassador I have realized that we are much more effective at empowering other women when we ourselves feel empowered. Each of us matters in our communities—and we truly are stronger together!
