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A Woman Who CARES
by Ginny Robertson
When
faced with personal tragedy we have two basis choices. We can let the
tragedy and the resulting loss consume us and leave us bitter, angry,
hurt and unable to move forward. Or we can move through the grief, begin
to heal and recognize that our greatest gifts can come from our personal
pain.
Stephanie Poplar believes that the pain of losing her
grandmother and her sister on the same day in 1998 and the loss of her
newborn daughter the day she was born in 2001 was preparing her to take
on the challenge of helping others deal with their personal pain. She
began to assist those who lost loved ones and especially those who were
dealing with the added burden of not having money for funeral expenses.
In January 2003, while helping a woman who had just
lost her son, Stephanie received the confirmation she needed that this
was her life work. She founded WE CARE BALTIMORE, Inc. that same month.
WE CARE BALTIMORE, Inc. is a non-profit organization
whose goal is to connect those in the community with resources that will
help them maintain or become self-sufficient despite a traumatic
experience. They provide a holistic approach to problem-solving and
collaborate with other organizations to reduce barriers that individuals
may face. Some of their programs include:
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Stephanie will have a booth at the CCBC Women’s Expo and will be
doing workshops on both days. Check the program guide or go to
www.WomensExpoMd.com for more information. |
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Employment and Networking Services, WE CARE Expo—An
Annual Job & Health Fair, Workshops on Resume Writing & Career
Readiness, Support Services to Employers (Via Job Posting Service,
Prescreening, Staff Development Training), Job Placement, Financial
Services, Burial Assistance for the Uninsured, CPR Certification
Training, First Aid Certification Training, and Life Insurance 101
Workshop.
And Empowerment
Programs
Y.I.E.L.D. (for 10–17 year olds), P.R.O.J.E.C.T. G.I.R.L., and Give
Birth to Your Purpose Empowerment Conference.
With two offices in Baltimore and one in Prince Georges County they are
expanding their services to the comm unity.
Stephanie holds an A.A. in General Studies from Villa Julie College as
well as a B.A. in Government & Public Policy and an M.A. in Legal,
Ethical & Historical Studies, both from the University of Baltimore. She
is a licensed real estate agent as well as a licensed life insurance
agent.
She is also the co-host of A Woman’s Journey to
Wellness and Success, a weekly radio talk program on WOLB 1010 AM
from 2–2:30 PM every Friday. The purpose of the radio show is to build a
support network that will uplift the community and provide individuals
with the necessary resources and tools that will help them grow
spiritually, get in shape physically, expand economically, and be
successful on this journey we call, “LIFE”. The hosts have adopted the
seven guiding principles of Kwanzaa and, in the spirit of unity, they
empower the community. It is through sharing their stories, providing
educational forums, seminars, and being a voice in the community that
they address the ills and offer working solutions to change conditions.
Stephanie and her co-hosts end each show by saying the
following:
It is a new day...
Don’t let opposition knock you
It’s a new day...
Don’t let fear deter you
It’s a new day...
Don’t let pride, rob you
Today, is your day to embrace the
journey we call “life”.
It’s a new day
That just about sums it all up!!
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