GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 24
Feature
The Power of Play
Keynote speaker Strother Gaines encourages exploration
through play at W2W's Evening of Empowerment
By Rachael Romig, Senior Director of Events & Special Programs, GRCA
T
From left to right: Michelle Beltran-Soto, Nelsa Paulino and
Brenda Rosado, all from East Penn Manufacturing, Inc.,
enjoy some time together before the keynote presentation.
2
empowerment
the
evening of
he event began with champagne and appetizers, networking
and big smiles. It ended with insights into
bringing play into everyday life and work.
The engaged and dynamic group of women that make up
the special program of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
(GRCA), Women2Women (W2W), enjoyed an in-person
evening together at the annual Evening of Empowerment.
More than 120 attendees gathered at the Reading Public
Museum Stone Terrace Tent, which was lit up in purples
and blues by VA Productions and featured stunning florals
by Sarai Flower Shop. But attendees weren't there for the just
décor, they came for the experiences that W2W provides.
" I think it (W2W) offers an elite personal and professional development
experience and networking opportunities that you don't have
to go to big cities to get, " said Caitlin Long, O'Pake Institute for
Economic Development & Entrepreneurship, Alvernia University.
The event's VIP guests gathered in the museum's atrium
where they mingled with the keynote speaker, Strother Gaines,
entrepreneur and owner of " But I'm a Unicorn Dammit! "
Gaines, whose drag queen name is JoAnn Fabrics, took the
stage at 7 p.m. with a commanding presence. He kept attendees
laughing while asking them to question their strengths.
He gave the audience permission to pretend or " act as if, " so
that they could better find themselves through play.
" I hope that people walk away and realize that play, and the extra
time to sort of explore character and narrative on your own, is
Keynote speaker Strother Gaines encouraged attendees to be authentic
and not shave off the edges to make everyone happy. " Find the
people that you naturally make happy and lean into them, " he said.
24 COMMERCE QUARTERLY FALL 2021
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 1
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 2
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 3
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 4
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 5
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 6
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 7
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 8
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 9
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 10
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 11
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 12
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 13
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 14
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 15
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 16
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 17
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 18
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 19
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 20
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 21
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 22
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 23
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 24
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 25
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 26
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 27
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 28
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 29
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 30
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 31
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 32
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 33
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 34
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 35
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 36
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 37
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GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 39
GRCA Commerce Quarterly Fall 2021 - 40
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Fall2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Summer2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Spring2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Winter2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Summer2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Spring2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Winter2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Fall2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Summer2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Spring2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Winter2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Fall2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Summer2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Spring2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Winter2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly_Fall2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly_Summer2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/hoffmann/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly/GreaterReadingChamber_CommerceQuarterly_Spring2017
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