A MessageFrom our Founder
I am an artist and dancer by trade. When teaching dance, I focus on building the confidence of women through movement. In other art mediums, I express the world around me – much of which is painful, as my sister was born with multiple rare disabilities. Protecting her and watching her daily struggles has been a continuous fuel source for fighting the injustices I see every day, and what undoubtedly gave me the drive to form this nonprofit.
I founded WomenMove in 2010 with the primary mission of empowering women and girls. We received our tax-exempt status in 2011. Very soon after, instead of completing preparations for our launch, I was in the hospital with medical complications.
After years of aggressive treatments and several surgeries, I was finally able to return to work in December of 2018, as well as volunteering for WomenMove. As I read through statistics listed in our original brochure, I saw that the numbers pertaining to inequality and abuse are exactly the same as statistics of today.
In almost ten years, the numbers haven't changed. Women still earn $.81 on the dollar, and 1 in 3 women and girls globally are still raped and/or abused. The amount of awareness across the globe has grown exponentially, but the statistics haven't changed. This realization shifted the mission of WomenMove. We are now here to educate on the injustices of the world, as well as train women and men of all ages on what needs to be done, and how to do it.
We will approach school boards and fight for our programming to be implemented into school curriculum as mandatory course requirement. Our goal is to ultimately have appropriately tailored versions of our programming accepted at each level of education – elementary, secondary, and college. We believe that everyone needs to be taught the importance of eradicating inequality and abuse, not just those who are naturally inclined to care. If more children are reached through mandatory curriculum, and at earlier ages, we believe change will occur.
WomenMove will officially launch in 2020 with fundraising events to cover costs of building our educational and training programs. 2020 is also the centennial anniversary in America of women winning the right to vote. The opportunity to celebrate how far women have come offers us the platform on which we can remind people how far we have yet to go. One hundred years later, women are still fighting inequality, but the face of feminism is changing. Men are beginning to realize how important it is to support the fight for women's rights. When women and girls have confidence, knowledge and a safe environment, they can participate fully in society – and their participation is key to solving the problems of the world.
The name WomenMove was founded as a statement, a belief, and a call to action. I hope you will feel the call as I have and move with us on this journey to a better tomorrow. Please join our mailing list to receive developing details, and to find out how you can help as we near our launch date.
Sincerely,
We are a tax-exempt not-for-profit. Our EIN # is 27-1614843. Our operations rely on the donations of others - no amount is too small. Thank you for your support.
The BoardMeet our Board Members.
Lurainya Koerber, President/Artistic Director
Lurainya Koerber began her professional career as a dancer in 1999. At that time she also embraced her entrepreneurial spirit and began her own dance production company. Her experience has since included the creative and business aspects of teaching, performing, lecturing, choreographing, directing and producing.
Having always been focused on empowering women and girls through her art, Ms. Koerber felt the need to take her vision to the next level, and so founded WomenMove, Inc in 2010. In 2011, just before launching the initial programming, Ms. Koerber needed to put her work on hold while she was dealing with sudden medical problems. She is returning now (December 2018) and looking forward to continuing the efforts of WomenMove and fulfilling her desire to make a difference in the world.
Elijiah L. Gray, Treasurer
Elijiah Gray is a Partner at B2b CFO. She is a seasoned financial professional with over 20 years of experience specializing in helping small to mid-sized businesses achieve success. After 15 years in the C-suite at various companies, Elijiah went on to found a bank focused on serving businesses and non-profit organizations. Her experience building a start-up paired with her experience serving as CFO and COO helps bring a unique strategic perspective to her clients. Elijiah is recognized as a visionary leader who optimizes company potential.
Elijiah earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Finance from Northeastern University located in Boston, MA and her MBA with New England College of Business located in Boston,MA.
Elijiah resides in the Doylestown area of Pennsylvania. When she is not working with clients, Elijiah enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, golfing, exercising, and collecting wine. Elijiah is also a board member of JEVS Human Services and a former board member of Doylestown Athletic Association and Pennsylvania Bankers Association.
Donald Langsdorf, Secretary
Don has been working in the Legal, Healthcare and Pharmaceutical space for more than 15 years in a variety of roles that span the gamut of creative and professional services; as a designer, creative director, technical illustrator, technologist, trial strategist and UI/UX specialist. At present, Don is the Director of Digital Solutions & Strategy for eHealthcare Solutions in Ewing, NJ.
Don’s knowledge of design, visual and verbal communication, and technological expertise combined with his capacity to work with multidisciplinary groups make him a valuable member of the WomenMove board.
Dr. Angela Bell
Dr. Angela Bell currently works as attending physician at a regional medical center in Northern New Mexico. She graduated in 1997 from the University of Colorado with a BA in Environmental Biology. She continued her education at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine becoming a Doctor of Medicine in 2006. She completed specialty residency training in Emergency Medicine in 2009.
She is an active volunteer in many areas for the underprivileged and rights of women. Currently, she works in an underserved, multicultural area helping to serve the Navajo Reservation; she sat as Medical Director for Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico; she’s participated in the teaching program called “Growing up Healthy”, educating children how to be safe and strong; she also currently works in an underserved multicultural area helping to service the Navajo Reservation; and she volunteered at a free medical clinic treating indigent patients of New Mexico. Dr. Bell deeply believes in what WomenMove stands for, she’s thrilled to join the team and be a part of this rising new nonprofit.
Ms. Alison Pitt
Alison Pitt holds degrees in Biology, Psychology, and Wildlife Conservation and Education. As an active educator for over 20 years, Ms. Pitt has worked in both traditional and non-traditional education institutions. She is the former Head of School at a private K-12 institution in New York City which caters to students in the entertainment business. Currently, Ms. Pitt is co-owner of a film development company and is president of a private educational consulting firm. Ms. Pitt looks forward to working with an organization that understands the value of utilizing nontraditional educative modalities in conjunction with conventional curriculum.
Advisory Council
Dr. John R. Woznicki
Dr. John R. Woznicki is the Dean of Graduate Studies at Delaware Valley University. A long-time professor of literature, he is the author of numerous scholarly books and articles, and holds a Ph.D. in English from Lehigh University, an M.A. from The College of New Jersey, and a B.A. from Worcester State University. In addition to his academic work, as a former two-term member of the Lambertville Public School Board of Education and board member of the Lambertville Area Education Foundation, Dr. Woznicki is a strong supporter of innovative educational programs. He also devotes time to the community by coaching youth baseball, softball, football, basketball, and soccer—he currently manages the Next Level Soccer Academy U19 women’s soccer team.
Ms. Dawn Prall George
Ms. Prall George is a results-oriented and dynamic fundraising professional known for her ability to optimize an organization’s charitable profile. A member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Prall George’s dedication to serving others transcends her professional commitments.
Her leadership capacity extends to a range of community and civic groups as a volunteer including; former Board President of the Philadelphia Senior Center, Board Vice President of The Birth Center and serving on several committees of not for profits and political organizations throughout the region. Prall George earned a master of business administration degree in marketing and economics and a bachelor of science degree in international marketing and French from Northwest Missouri State University and the University of Missouri. She has a lifelong commitment and passion for women’s issues and empowering women and families.
Mr. Jon Wilner
Mr. Wilner is newly retired from his position as Executive Director from The Arts Center, a multi-disciplinary non profit arts center located in Carrboro, NC. He was an integral part of their many programs serving over 60,000 people each year, approximately 30,000 of them children. Mr. Wilner has a degree from the University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton School, and an MFA in Film/Screenwriting from the University of Miami.