Women, Words and Wisdom Organization Makes Lasting Impact on Region
A group picture of attendees at the Women, Words and Wisdom organization’s brunch, titled Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future. Photo by Tina Markoe
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was produced as part of the South Jersey Emerging Journalists Project (SJEJP), an independent initiative dedicated to supporting content creators and emerging journalists from underserved communities across Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, and Atlantic counties.
BY KADAYSHA LITTLE | For AC JosepH Media
EVESHAM — Women Words and Wisdom is an organization founded by Jo-Ann Weiner, dedicated to educating and providing resources to women with events and scholarships.
Weiner, award-winning tax and forensic accounting professional, author, and owner of J. L. Weiner and Associates, created the organization with a clear two-part mission in mind. Her work has garnered honor and attention around South Jersey. Most recently, she received a Game Changer award from the Gloucester County Branch NAACP last November.
“The two pillars of the mission are to give scholarships to students in financial need, so they stay in school and don’t drop out,” Weiner told Front Runner New Jersey.com.
This year, the organization achieved the first pillar of their mission through their annual scholarship brunch. On March 28 at Marco’s Restaurant in Marlton, Women, Words and Wisdom awarded $14,000 of scholarship funds towards college students’ tuition.
The two Caldwell University recipients, Kenisha Thapa and Prakriti Lama, shared their scholarship essays which addressed this year’s theme “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future”.
“The students who are applying, address this question: How can women shape a sustainable future in at least two of the following areas? Environment, inclusivity in society, finances, leadership and becoming change makers,” Weiner said.
The scholarship is named after the late Dr. Marian Moore who made incredible strides in leadership and medical education. Weiner said she had worked closely with Moore.
“Marian was on our board,” Weiner said. “And she was one of the ones who was instrumental in helping us to share the word to all of us at our meetings about women’s reproductive rights.”
Moore worked in a lot of different roles, including as a professor. According to Weiner, Moore would educate others in the organization about women’s health issues, such as the growing Black maternal mortality rates.
Dr. Marianne Moore, who was born in 1959 and passed away in 2024. Photo from https://www.womenwordsandwisdom.org/about-us
“She worked hard. She worked for hours. She worked for women. She’s one of those women who didn’t just talk it, she did it. She lived it,” Weiner said.
She was an incredible influence on the organization and appreciation of her contributions are honored through the scholarship.
“The second pillar of the mission statement is to bring women together,” Weiner said. “Annually for a panel of power luncheon, celebrating women, where we have experts talk about issues that affect women negatively in our country, in the world, so that women can make beneficial life choices moving forward.”
An educational panel will be happening at Marco’s Restaurant at a to be determined date in October. Typically, more than 100 people attend the celebration with balloons, vendors and raffles. The focus of the event will be educating and building community amongst women of New Jersey.
In addition to the two events this year, Women Words and Wisdom is planning to extend their outreach by launching mentorship programs for young women and men in college. Jo-Ann Weiner was inspired by her experiences as a guest speaker at several universities and is excited for the organization to work closely with youth.
To gain more information about Jo-Ann Weiner and the Women, Words and Wisdom organization visit https://www.womenwordsandwisdom.org.
Passionate about storytelling and public engagement, Kadaysha Little has been in several roles involving communications since graduating from Thomas Jefferson University. She flourishes in the opportunity to combine voice, values, and vision to make an impact. She can be reached at kadaysha.sjejp@gmail.com
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