WEEE Care
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our community pledge underwent a pivotal transformation. Leveraging our well-honed outreach and community engagement capabilities and recognizing the urgent necessity to boost vaccination rates within Black and Brown populations, we strategically redirected our focus to becoming a prominent sponsor of mobile vaccination clinics. Through our tireless efforts, we have organized hundreds of vaccination events spanning Allegheny County ‘s marginalized communities. The impact is undeniable: thousands have received their vaccinations within the very neighborhoods they call home – where they reside, worship, and engage in their daily lives.
Over the preceding decade, our unwavering dedication has revolved around upholding our mission as a trusted source of information and guidance, primarily catering to the smallest businesses – microenterprises. This is where the seeds of entrepreneurship are sown, and our primary objective has been to invigorate sustainable economic growth and prosperity within this segment. Our ethos, grounded in extensive research and hands-on experience, is firmly rooted in recognizing the indispensable role we play in bridging vital gaps for marginalized entrepreneurial women. These women are instrumental contributors to their families, communities, and the national economy.
While Women Empowered for Entrepreneurial Excellence has remained steadfast in its mission over the past three years, we have harnessed our talents to address the evolving needs of our community. Within our nonprofit framework, we established a social enterprise known as WEEE Care.
WEEE Care has deployed its resources across three critical domains; Firstly, by developing plans for strategic redirection to navigate COVID-19, it has helped businesses weather uncertainties, ensuring their continuity and resilience. Secondly, through strategic support of food services, WEEE Care has addressed food insecurity while simultaneously bolstering local economies. Lastly, WEEE Care’s commitment to community wellness is exemplified through its success in vaccinating communities and leading educational campaigns, which have played a pivotal role in safeguarding public health and fostering informed decision-making.
Strategic Redirection to Navigate COVID-19
Our journey for the concern for the health and wellbeing of our constituency began with the need to help our small businesses to continue to activate revenue at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We helped them strategize ways to stay open and continue servicing their clients.
I A.M. Fitness and Nutrition owned by Amanda Martin expressed concerns about the mandate to close her business, so she took it to the street. We supported her business with a grant from the Highmark Foundation a program called Pathways to Fitness.
Supporting Food Services
Caterers and food services businesses were also impacted by COVID-19 and many lost their entire book of business in 2020 including wedding receptions, graduations and even funeral repasses. With the support of the POISE Foundation, we were able to support these businesses to address food insecurity with hot meals in marginalized communities. Businesses included Cobbler World Baked Goods, House of Soul Catering, and Roux Orleans.
Vaccinating Communities
The need to increase the vaccination rates in Black and Brown communities lead us to pivot our organizational and marketing skills to work in the mobile vaccination clinic arena. We have supported the organization of hundreds of clinics throughout Allegheny, Beaver, and Washington Counties.
With our efforts and commitment to the health and wellbeing of these communities, thousands of people have been vaccinated right in the neighborhoods where they live, worship, and play.