Femergy, a Columbus nonprofit for women and girls, now has location Downtown

The idea for Femergy was sparked following a chance meeting and a conversation over coffee.

The nonprofit, which celebrated the grand opening of its first physical location at the end of March, offers girls and women resources, tools and skills to overcome gender barriers.

Back in 2010, Christina Vera and Maylin Sambois met at a Latina leadership development event they both almost skipped, which culminated in the two having coffee and talking about their similar upbringings.

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The conversation kept coming back to things they wished they’d known earlier in their lives, said Vera, co-founder and director of operations at Femergy.

They never intended to create a nonprofit organization, but wondered how they could take their experiences and what they’d learned along their journeys as young professionals and use it to create opportunities for other women.

An event that changed everything

Then, the 2013 Women’s Fund of Central Ohio Keyholder event changed everything for Sambois and Vera. The two went together, and actress America Ferrera, who Vera and Sambois had always loved in movies, was the speaker.

“We kept hearing America talking about the importance of, as women — yes, we’re making all these great strides but we’re obviously still seeing a lot that needs to happen,” Vera said.

“If we’re not taking the time to educate young girls about their contribution in that change, or if they don’t understand what women before us have gone through to even get the rights and the opportunity we have now, this work could all go away.”

Sambois and Vera looked at one another in that moment and felt like Ferrara was talking right to them.

“We took that as a direct charge,” Vera said.

Soon, they’d gathered seven girls from sixth to 11th grades together to try to prepare them for what had caught them off guard as young professionals. The group attended different events, including tea, conferences and etiquette classes. As they saw the experiences change the girls, Sambois and Vera realized they wanted to do something bigger than themselves.

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“We didn’t know how, but we knew we were charged to do that," Vera said.

The next year, in 2014, they formed the nonprofit.

“It just has continued to kind of unravel year by year, as to what do the girls need? What do women need in our community?” Vera said. “For us, it’s just really being able to listen to those needs and adapt where needed.”

Femergy's physical footprint

The organization's new space, The Femergy Center at 49 S. Grant Avenue, Downtown, opened on March 30. It has already been host to some events, including one May 6 where girls in one of its programs presented final projects on community issues and possible solutions, such as the gender pay gap, recycling and community beautification.

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The center is meant to be a a restorative place, Vera said, and features a Zen room, training areas and a creative event space.

"It's a place our girls and women and allies can come and receive all the services I outlined, but in a space designed with them and for them in mind," she said. "It's geared toward them being able to rest."

What programs does Femergy offer?

• GHRO (Girls Heart Reading Ohio) Your Future: This program, which was Femergy’s first, is for girls in ages 12 to 18, and offers them a chance to explore and develop themselves. They get to connect, explore and support one another so they can grow in school and life. Each girl gets a mentor and attends workshops and programming to help them overcome barriers.

• ​Chica Sports + Fitness Camp: This camp, with day and overnight options during the summers, is for girls ages 11 to 18. Its goal is to help girls build a safe community through mini-clinics, nature exploration, organized sports and learning about fitness, nutrition, wellness and more.

• Enrichment Institute for Women: This program offers leadership training and support for entry-level professional women who want to create change in their jobs and communities. There are 13 sessions to prepare women in personal development, financial fitness, organizational leadership, board governance and wellness.

• Femergy® Gives Back: This experience focuses on service learning and offers students a chance to reflect on community needs and what could help.

Who does Femergy serve?

Femergy serves middle- and high school-aged girls from all over central Ohio, as well as entry-level professional women.

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For the girls and women who participate, the most important thing is that they know they are seen and valued, and that they've contributed to the community's and the world's needs, Vera said.

How can you get involved with Femergy?

All services are free for women and girls, who can also "pay what you can." More information is available on the organization's website, femergy.org. Registration is now open for the Chica program; there is a mixer for young women on June 1; and other programs open up at different times. Signing up for Femergy's email newsletter is a good way to keep up, Hawkins said.

There are different ways to get involved with Femergy, including volunteering, mentoring, donating and spreading the word about the nonprofit, said Emma Hawkins, director of development.

Those interested in volunteering with Femergy can fill out an interest form on its website at femergy.org/volunteer.

dking@dispatch.com

@DanaeKing

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What is Femergy? Learn about the Columbus nonprofit's impact