Social media such as facebook and twitter have played instrumental roles in the development of small businesses, building relationships, sharing ideas and most importantly, forming communities and sub networks.
Women On The Move is the brainchild of Leslie Harris, an Indiana native and Boynton Beach based registered nurse. Leslie utilized the tools offered by facebook to create a network of women helping women in a positive and uplifting way. The new network aims to serve as a support system highlighting the positive experiences of women and their many passions. Women from different locations, backgrounds, and cultures, have all come together to promote the sharing of ideas, advice, and support through various social media (blogs, facebook and twitter), on the website, www.mywomenonthemove.com, and events, to support various charities. Leslie Harris is the woman who has brought them together.
After working in the medical field for 20 years, and supporting her daughter who now attends NYU, Leslie wanted to offer something more than what she offered to patients as a nurse. In creating the Women On The Move platform, she was able to bring women from all walks of live together to support each other. Lawyers, doctors, nurses, students, and women from varied professions use this platform to communicate with each other by offering advice, and network all for free.
When positive women bond together they can create powerful relationships that become infectious, and spread like wildfire. With a strong network of over 3,000 members, Women On The Move is spreading one word at a time and gaining strength woman to woman.
Leslie Harris is determined to spread positivity among women. To prove her devotion and dedication she will officially launch the Women On The Move Network with the “Unveil Your Pink” Event to benefit the South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For The Cure. The event will be held on March 20th, 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida, at the Boca Resort & Club. Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta, Lisa Wu Hartwell, will host the inaugural fundraiser. Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, as well as other breast cancer survivors will be honored. Prominent and respected community leaders will also be in attendance, including Mayors of WPB, Boca Raton, and Boynton Beach, as well as several County Commissioners.
Daedrian McNaughton of Premier Guide Miami conducted a one-on-one interview with Leslie Harris, founder and President of Women On The Move. Leslie shares her passion and offer advice to women.
PGM: So tell us, who is Leslie Harris?
LH: I am the mother of a beautiful daughter who is currently attending, NYU. i am originally from Indiana and a registered nurse for 20 years working primarily in the cardiovascular unit care. I am a woman who like to promote positivity among women. We are all out here trying to make a living for our families that we have to support. a lot of times various resources are not available to us and I think that the world being more than 50% made up of women it shouldn’t be that way. We should have resources available to us immediately. So with that being said, I decided to form Women On The Move. we are always on the move one way are another. It gives women across the country and eventually across the world a means to network, ask advice, share ideas and their life stories with one another.
PGM: Why did you choose the title Women On The Move?
LH: Women are always on the move. We are always taking care of our homes, ourselves, our children, working and making things happen.
PGM: What is the main purpose of WOTM?
LH: To provide a place for women to go, to share ideas, to network, ask questions and promote positivity between each other.
PGM: How has the response been so far for WOTM and your fundraiser “Unveil Your Pink”?
LH: The response has been overwhelming. Currently we have over 3,300 members for a group that was just started three months ago. We have been receiving positive responses. Our network encompasses women from all walks of life, all cultures, and backgrounds coming together to one place and sharing and doing it in a positive way. The responses have been tremendous.
PGM: You have been a registered nurse for 20 years. How does this tie into your network?
LH: Typically, nurses are women and we work together on a daily basis in our career. We see each other everyday, and we know that as a nurse anything is possible. We help keep people alive, we work with doctors, and we need to rely on each other a lot. Over the 20 years, I have met some fabulous women who I have learned a lot from and shared alot. I just want to share that positivity with everyone, not only nurses.
PGM: You will be hosting your first fundraising event for Women On The Move, “Unveil Your Pink”. Tell us about that and why you choose Unveil Your Pink as the theme.
LH: For a couple different reasons. First and foremost, we will be doing an alter ego photo shoot of various breast cancer survivors with Representative Debbie Wasserman-that will be done by photographer Derek Blanks. These photos will be shown the night of the event to be held on March 20, 2010. Proceeds of the event will benefit the South Florida affiliate of Susan G. Komen for breast cancer. Everyone knows that the color associated with breast cancer is pink. For me, breast cancer has a personal meaning, as I have lost several family members to breast cancer. As far as the cancer goes, breast cancer affects African American women more so than anything else. If I can do anything to help raise money to continue the fight against breast cancer, continue the research that has been done to find a cure, then I want to do that. Susan G. Komen is the leader when it comes to breast cancer research and programs to assist people who do not have insurance or under insured, in getting the care that they need. It is a tremendous organization, and I will do anything that I can do to help them.
PGM: Would you say Susan G Komen organization has backed you 100%?
LH: I would absolutely say, they have backed me 150%. They are running their organizations and events, but any questions or assistance that i need I can always call on them. They have been very supportive. I am very pleased to be working with them.
PGM: Who are some of the other supporters for WOTM and Unveil your Pink event?
LH: The main supporter is GLHomes, a major builder in South Florida and the country. When I first approached them with the idea, they were 100% behind me as well. They support everything that helps with the screening and care for different things that affect women. I am very proud to have them as our title sponsor. Other organizations such as JFK Medical Center, and Barefoot Wines. Everyone that we have approached have been pretty much open and receptive to helping this event and to raise funds. MAC Cosmetics have been very supportive as well.
PGM: I understand that Versace also donated Internships for the Women On The Move, “Unveil Your Pink” auction. tell us about that.
LH: The Versace group has donated three internships with their New York office, and those have gone over over well. People know alot about the fashion house, the close and all of that, but what a lot of people do not realize is the philanthropic work they have done. They have done a lot for us and I think they will continue to work with us in the future. I would also like for people to know that they have given their full support to breast cancer research.
PGM: Was it challenging getting together all these powerful sponsors?
LH: When we first started, i thought it would have been. However, Susan G Komen has a very strong and respected reputation, so people were very receptive. People have genuine care and concerns to find a cure for breast cancer, so it was not a difficult decision for them to support.
PGM: What do you see in the future for WOTM? It is already getting a lot of exposure. Do you think it will go on a national level where everyone across the US and maybe other countries will be apart of it?
LH: Absolutely. We have members right now from all over the US as well as outside the US, and everyone is asking for a chapter in their respective area. I am hoping that we will be able to have a chapter of Women On The Move in every state, and have our activities accessible to everyone. We will also support other charities, not just breast cancer, but other issues across the country. I see WOTM going national and hopefully, global. Women On The Move is in the process of offering health insurance under a group plan for it’s members. As a Registered Nurse, healthcare is one of the most important things for Leslie Harris. She has seen the effects of pre-existing conditions on individuals trying to get health insurance on their own, for their families, or for their small business.
PGM: It was brought to our attention that you were invited by Naomi Campbell to her Fashion For Relief Benefit in New York. Will you be attending?
LH: I am very excited to be invited to Naomi Campbell’s benefit event, and yes I will be attending.
PGM: What advice would you give to a small business owner who is just getting her business started?
LH: First sit down and evaluate what direction you would like to take your business.
>Be aware that there are alot of people out there who will take your money and do not deliver.
>Do your homework
>Check references, when you employ people to help get your business off the ground.
>Speak to people you can trust.
>Look into organizations like the small business association and Score.
>Keep the faith, hope and your dream alive, and just know that hard work pays off.
>Finally, reach out to the Women On The Move Network. We will keep logs of various businesses and organizations that can help and the women’s network will offer advice and help.
PGM: Is Leslie Harris a Woman On The Move?
LH: Yes!
For more information, please visit www.mywomenonthemove.com.