Women's Education & Leadership League

Friday was truly something special.

Our WELL Leadership Team had the honor of being invited to the Stanislaus County Office of Education Employee Development Retreat, where we spent the day pouring into the incredible SCOE family through three Living WELL sessions—each one rooted in growth, connection, and transformation.

Emotionally WELL (10:15am-11:45am)
We explored science-based, interactive practices designed to help navigate stress, build emotional awareness, implementable strategies for more intentional responses in everyday life. The level of openness and engagement in the room was powerful.

Physically WELL (12:45pm-2:15pm)
Together, we dove into the research from the HeartMath Institute and experienced the Heart Lock-In technique—moving beyond theory into real, felt experience. We also introduced Amy Cuddy’s work on how shifting our physiology can positively impact our nervous system and resilience. And in true WELL fashion… everyone leaned in, participated, and showed up fully.

Financially WELL (2:30pm-4:00pm)
We guided participants through building a compelling financial foundation—budgeting with purpose, creating a sold emergency fund, debt reduction strategies, planning for the unexpected, retirement planning, financial goal setting, and creating their financial action plan. Each person walked away with a personalized financial action plan and a renewed sense of clarity and empowerment.

It was a long—yet fulfilling day!

We were deeply moved by the breakthroughs, the vulnerability, and the willingness of the SCOE team to invest in themselves and each other. This is what transformation looks like.

At WELL, we believe that when organizations invest in the well-being of their people —emotionally, physically, and financially—everything changes. Teams become more connected. Stress is managed more effectively. Productivity rises. Sick days decrease. Longevity increases. Turnover decreases. Loyalty improves in unmatched levels. And most importantly, people feel valued, supported, and inspired.

SCOE is leading the way by prioritizing the wellness of their team, and it was an absolute privilege to partner with them in this meaningful work.

Our president, had the honor of speaking to over 100 .leadership.25.26 students this morning on leadership, contribution, and living a life of fulfillment.

She was blown away by the dedication, passion, and commitment these students possess.

The students asked compelling questions, shared some of their dreams and goals, and one even asked if she could volunteer for —-keep your eyes out for a positive, well spoken high school student, Anna at our WELL programs.

leadership.25.26 keep up the good work! Go Eagles! 💜🦅

We would like to take this moment to wish our youngest Living WELL Graduate, Sophia and very Happy First Birthday!

Sophia attended and participated in every class of her entire Living WELL Program mostly snuggling in her mom, Megan’s arms with the occasional “pass around the room snuggles.”

Sophia earned her Living WELL Graduation Certificate and her walk “carry” across the stage in front of 300+ community leaders on her Living WELL Graduation day at the The Century back in October 2025.

This was a very special graduating class with some of the most inspiring moms who have overcome some of the most imaginable odds.

We are so proud of you, Sophia! Spending time with you each with and watching you grow before our eyes was such a pleasure. We are all here for you and excited to see where you future takes you! Thank you for taking nearly a third of your life to learn and grow with us and your mom at WELL!

Sophia’s Living WELL class was sponsored by and Dawn Cunningham and in partnership with

We appreciate Phil, Dawn, and Center for Human Services for making it possible for us at WELL to serve Sophia, her mom, her classmates, and her classmates’ incredible children!

We would like to take this moment to wish our youngest Living WELL Graduate, Sophia and very Happy First Birthday!

Sophia attended and participated in every class of her entire Living WELL Program mostly snuggling in her mom, Megan’s arms with the occasional “pass around the room snuggles.”

Sophia earned her Living WELL Graduation Certificate and her walk “carry” across the stage in front of 300+ community leaders on her Living WELL Graduation day at the The Century back in October 2025.

This was a very special graduating class with some of the most inspiring moms who have overcome some of the most imaginable odds.

We are so proud of you, Sophia! Spending time with you each with and watching you grow before our eyes was such a pleasure. We are all here for you and excited to see where you future takes you! Thank you for taking nearly a third of your life to learn and grow with us and your mom at WELL!

We are so excited to share that has been nominated for the Distinguished Service Award Hosted by the Modesto Chamber.

We are asking all of you, our incredible community to join us in VOTING by clicking the link in our instagram story or you can vote by clicking this link as well….

https://tinyurl.com/ff9uzvbb

It will take you less than 20 seconds.

Voting closes on Friday, January 9th.

We appreciate you so much and we are excited about all the additional opportunities we are bringing to the WELL Women we serve because of all of your support!

Thank you soooo much!!! 💜💜💜💜💜

We are so excited to share that WELL-Women's Education & Leadership League has been nominated for the Distinguished Service Award Hosted by the Modesto Chamber.

We are asking all of you, our incredible community to join us in VOTING by clicking the link in my instagram story or you can vote here:

https://tinyurl.com/ff9uzvbb

It will take you less than 20 seconds.

Voting closes on Friday, January 9th.

We appreciate you so much and we are excited about all the additional opportunities we are bringing to the WELL Women we serve because of all of your support!

We are so grateful for 2025 and we are inspired for What’s Ahead.

We couldn’t be more grateful for 2025 and the true honor of serving some of the most remarkable women in our community through WELL.

This year, we had the privilege of celebrating two WELL graduating classes at our 10 Year Anniversary Rising WELL Event—a moment that reflected not only how far these women have come, but what’s possible when our community shows up with purpose and heart.

Behind the scenes, we’ve also been working diligently on something we’ve dreamed about for years: our WELL Mentorship Program—an ongoing opportunity for WELL graduates to rise above life’s challenges and pursue their goals alongside dedicated, values-driven leaders in our community.

As a 100% volunteer-run organization, supported by generous attorneys, CPAs, and professionals across California who donate their expertise largely pro bono, we’re able to ensure that every dollar given goes directly to the women we serve through our Living WELL Program and now our long-awaited mentorship initiative.

We are deeply grateful to our community for showing up in a major way at the Rising WELL Event and making it possible for us to begin building the infrastructure, design, and programming for this next chapter. While we originally hoped to launch this program in 2029, the extraordinary generosity of community leaders—specifically .hawn.1024 and —has allowed us to move forward with a pilot launch in 2026.

This is how ripple effects begin.
This is how generational poverty is broken.
This is how new paths are created—for women, and for the children whose futures are forever changed because their moms chose to rise through WELL.

Thank you for believing in our mission, our women, and the power of community. 💛
Please follow along for updates on this truly life-changing program.

A Heartfelt Thank You to Phil and Dawn

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Phil and Dawn for sponsoring our Center for Human Services Living WELL graduates and for their continued belief in the transformative power of this program.

Phil and Dawn joined us at the Rising WELL graduation celebration, and while they had to leave early and weren’t able to share their remarks on stage, their message—and their heart—truly capture what WELL stands for.

Phil had prepared these thoughtful words:

“It’s a joy to be here with you to celebrate this graduation.

My wife and I have supported this program for many years, and the reason is simple. We have three daughters who had every advantage—a safe and stable home, positive role models who believed in them, loving encouragement, good
schools and enrichment opportunities, social connections, and the confidence that doors would open if they worked hard.

But not everyone starts with those same advantages—things like stability, encouragement, and opportunity are
often missing for many women—and without them, talent can too easily go unnoticed.

That’s why this program matters so deeply to me. It doesn’t hand out success—it creates the space for it. Programs like this don’t give people talent—they give talent room to flower. They open doors that capable, determined women were already pushing against. It gives women the tools, knowledge, and support to build a different future, not only for themselves but for their families and communities.

And for those of us who care about opportunity, it’s worth saying that this organization has earned a reputation for reliability, integrity, and measurable results. In a time when grants and other sources of support for programs like
this are declining, that kind of steadfast, community-based effort is more important than ever.

To the graduates: what you’ve done takes courage, commitment, and faith in yourselves. You’ve invested in your own future, and that’s something to be proud of. Congratulations—and thank you for inspiring the rest of us to believe in what’s possible.”

✨Rising WELL is almost here!✨

We at the Women's Education & Leadership League are thrilled to announce that Dr. Jas Grewal will be joining our LeadERship Panel at Rising WELL!

(Check her bio out below)

This year's event features two powerhouse panels:

LeadERship Panel Focus: Community, Overcoming Obstacles, Leadership & Mission

• Dr. Jas Grewal
• A'Kia Walker
•Marian Kaanon
• Leia Porges

Community Champions Panel: Focus:
Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Defying Odds

• Evan Porges
• Brad Ardis
• Supervisor Mani Grewal

💜Most importantly, we will be honoring our WELL graduates-the women whose stories of resilience and transformation are the heartbeat of Rising WELL.

💜And of course, our incredible venue Century and their talented chef will be serving a gourmet lunch to make this celebration as delicious as it is inspiring.

🚨Tickets close TOMORROW🚨

We're already over capacity, but Century has generously expanded so we can welcome even more of you-with plenty of room, food, and fun. Don't wait— this is your last chance!

Secure your ticket today →

https://givebutter.com/54FFxN

Check out Dr. Jas’ Bio here and read about on of our exceptional panelist….

Jaskiran K. Grewal, DDS, of Modesto, was appointed to the Dental Board of California by Governor Gavin Newsom on August 8, 2025.

Dr. Grewal earned a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in India in 2002 and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry in 2005, where she currently serves as an Associate Professor.

She has also served as Managing Dentist of SmileShine Family Dental since 2006, operating multiple practices across rural communities in Stanislaus County, including Patterson, Riverbank, and Ceres.

Her clinical expertise spans general dentistry, orthodontics, implants, oral surgery, endodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and comprehensive treatment planning.

Dr. Grewal completed fellowships at the California Implant Institute and Engel Institute for Implant Dentistry, as well as advanced certifications in orthodontics and prosthetics. Since 2005, she has maintained her California dental license.

Dr. Grewal serves as an Associate Faculty Professor in the Department of Preventive & Restorative Dental Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, where she provides implant-based rehabilitation through the Faculty Group Practice and mentors dental students and recent graduates.

She is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and Stanislaus Dental Society, and has been active in the California Dental Association’s CDA Cares program since 2006.

Dedicated to community service, she has provided dental care for homeless populations and distributed dental hygiene kits to children. She has also been recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation from the California Department of Rehabilitation.

Women's Education & Leadership League We provide free financial, emotional and physical resources for women. We support women's personal growth to become leaders in their career and community.

Every great movement is powered by people with heart…and this group has HEART!

We are beyond grateful for this incredible crew—our Rising WELL Leaders—who are pouring their energy, passion, and creativity into bringing this event to life. They’re the heartbeat of Rising WELL.

On Wednesday, October 15th, join us for an afternoon of connection and inspiration. Come experience the magic they’re creating and be part of the Rising WELL story.

How your life with change by attending Rising WELL…

You will hear from dynamic community leaders:
Evan Porges
Victoria Popoff
A’Kia Walker
Marian Kaanon
Brad Ardis
Leia Porges
Supervisor Mani Grewal
Jaskiran Grewal
and more

This event is so much more than a gathering; it’s a day of hope, triumph, and transformation. You’ll hear from the powerful speakers mentioned above, witness inspiring stories from our Living WELL graduates, and join us as we celebrate their incredible journey with a heartfelt graduation ceremony.

These women have faced unimaginable challenges—homelessness, adversity, and years of hardship—but they refused to give up. Through courage, resilience, and the tools they’ve gained in Living WELL—from financial literacy and leadership to wellness education and mentorship—they are now equipped to rise and thrive.

We invite you to stand with us as we honor their strength and cheer them on into this next chapter. Your presence sends a powerful message: “You are seen. You are supported. You are celebrated.”

📅 When: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

📍 Where: The Century, Modesto

Prepare for an unforgettable afternoon featuring:

✨ A gourmet meal and beverages

✨ A champagne toast

✨ Uplifting music from Sound In Motion DJs

✨ Networking with amazing community leaders

✨ And stories that will move you to your core

Early bird tickets are almost gone—don’t wait! This event will sell out, and you’ll want to say you were part of this moment. Click the link below to reserve your ticket before prices go up.

Get your ticket at the link in our bio and we will see you there! 💜

Join us Wednesday, October 15th for our FIRST ever Rising WELL event

🌟 When Women Rise, Communities Thrive!

Ready for an afternoon of inspiration, connection, and real change? Join us as we celebrate unstoppable women leading with resilience, compassion, and purpose!

✨ What’s in store?
✔ Dynamic speakers:

Evan Porges
Brad Ardis
Jas Grewal
Marian Kaanon
Mani Grewal
Victoria Popoff-Ardis
Leia Porges
A’Kia Walker

✔ A powerful Living WELL graduation – women rising from homelessness to leadership

✔ A decadent lunch (because good food = good vibes)

✔ Networking with an amazing community of changemakers

🎯 Why come?
Because your ticket isn’t just a seat—it’s a lifeline. Every ticket funds the next class of Living WELL graduates, giving women facing housing insecurity a 5-week program of financial literacy, leadership skills & mentorship to rewrite their future.

👊 Be part of the movement. Show up. Cheer them on. Change lives.

📅 Event Schedule

Wednesday, October 15th

10:00 AM – Doors Open & Networking
10:45 AM – Welcome
11:00 AM – Inspiring Panels
12:30 PM – Graduation Celebration
1:00 PM – Lunch

🎟 Grab your ticket today and help women rise by clicking this link: https://givebutter.com/54FFxN

Women's Education & Leadership League Join us Wednesday, October 15th for our first ever Rising WELL event and prepare to be inspired. Click the link to register:

https://givebutter.com/54FFxN