Easterseals Thrive Massachusetts Retreat

On April 30, 20 women of varying ages and disabilities came together for a weekend retreat hosted by Easterseals Massachusetts Thrive, whose mission is to empower young women with disabilities through face-to-face mentorship. The retreat started with an hour-long “speed dating without the dating,” where six strong women presenters with disabilities talked to participants at stations around the room; they shared their personal expertise with employment, online dating, entrepreneurship, social media, advocacy, and raising a family. Erin Hawley, the manager of Thrive online, was one of the presenters, Skyping in from her home in New Jersey.

The theme of empowerment continued throughout the retreat with workshops on the benefits and challenges of living independently, the importance of civic engagement, and the ability to make your perceptions a reality. Speakers included Sandy Ho (the founder of Thrive), Monique Johnson, Colleen Flanagan, and more. The retreat was also a safe environment for women to share their stories about personal challenges and triumphs.

After a long day, there was plenty of time to relax with movie night and an evening swim in the hot tub. Overall, the event was a huge success - what a great way to kick off Thrive MA's 6-month mentorship program! A huge thanks to Desiree Forte for hosting and organizing this event.

Want to stay up-to-date on Thrive events? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr, or sign up for our mobile community by texting THRIVE to 80077! (Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Terms: mGive.com/E)