We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Betty Purkey-Huck a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Betty, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Back in 2003 one of our founders, Marsha Wallace had a birthday party and invited friends. At the party she suggested that it would be a nice idea to take whatever money you would spend going out and instead give it to a charity. All of her friends agreed and they did just that. As a result our charity, Dining for Women was born.

Chapters formed across the US and during chapter meetings potluck dinners were held and in many cases the dishes served were native dishes from the grantee of the months country. However, over the years we looked at our name and decided that perhaps our name didn’t reflect what who we are and what we’re doing.

In 2021 we decided to change our name to Together Women Rise. Together Women Rise when – every girl can get an education; quality health care is accessible to all women; gender based-violence is eliminated; women have equal economic opportunities; there are no more child brides; women have a seat at the table and equal representation in all governments; the stories of women and girls are heard, and we all come together to create a more equal, just and sustainable world.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up in a family with 2 parents and a sister without much money in a small town in northern Wyoming. We didn’t have a car, hunted for our meat, raised a garden, and my mother made my dresses from flour sacks. We didn’t buy much from the grocery store or go out to eat or to shows and went on vacation once every 5 years if we could afford it. We never did take any assistance money. At Christmas we felt happy to get an orange, our winter coat and a small gift. We didn’t have material things but we did go to church and we had love.

I attended public school and became a Girl Scout, a candy striper at the hospital and graduated from high school with honor roll grades. From the time I was twelve I knew if I wanted any material things I needed to have my own money so I started babysitting. I worked babysitting, car hopping, and cleaning rooms at a motel to earn money. I knew that if I wanted to get ahead I needed to work hard and early on I knew I wanted more than what I had. I hate to admit it, but I was ashamed and embarrassed by what I had.

I got pregnant my senior year of high school and back in 1964 that was totally unacceptable. I graduated before it was obvious and went to Denver and to the Salvation Army Booth Memorial Home for Unwed Mothers. There in 1965 I gave birth to a baby girl and gave her up for adoption to give her a better life. This was the hardest thing I’ve done. Thankfully the baby girl found me when she grew up and we’re very close.

I returned to my hometown and go a job at the library and enrolled in the junior college. I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but started questioning that. I had wanted to go into the Peace Corps but felt I didn’t have the necessary skills so when I heard about Vista I decided that would be a good opportunity for me. I signed up for and became a Vista Volunteer.

I was sent to Sarasota Florida for training and during training I was exposed to a whole new world. I had had no experience with blacks and had been taught God is Love, not hell fire and damnation. I was also exposed to migrant workers and their plight in life. After training I was sent to Moultrie, GA and assigned to a childcare center and lived in government housing. This was 1966 and integration had just been started and we weren’t welcomed since we worked for the federal government. Signs of whites only and tokenism of one black teacher in our white center was prevalent.
I had a bad motorcycle accident and was forced to resign early from my Vista assignment.

I married and started working and went back to school and got my bachelors and masters degrees. I participated in volunteering as a master gardener and a docent for the Museum of Science and Nature, and served on my HOA Board but my journey began to what has become my life’s work in 2012 when I joined Dining for Women. Helping others who need a hand up as well as working to assist in organizations and communities where things need to be done, organized, or improved is my passion. In 2012 I was listening to NBC’s Making a Difference and heard about Dining for Women, an organization helping women and girls living in extreme poverty. I immediately signed up.

I started a Rise chapter in Sedalia, CO in 2012 and have anywhere from 5-11 members and we meet monthly. We, as all the other chapters, learn about the grantee and the help they are giving to improve conditions, as well as the culture of the country. Many times I think “Except for some quirk of fate, that could be my story we’re talking about – the color of my skin, my parentage, where I was born. I give thanks when I turn on the water, turn on the heat, get in my car, have money to pay bills. We are in community with our sisters around the world and are thankful that we can help them.
I have also been a Regional Leader for the Rocky Mountain and Southwest Regions for the last seven years. We have 13 regions. In that capacity I support the team of chapters in that area, help grow new chapters, provide liaison between the chapters and home office, and provide support to home office through the Regional Leader Team.

Dining for Women, now called Together Women Rise, believes that every woman and girl deserves the opportunity to live freely, pursue her dreams, and reach her full potential. All over the world inequality, oppression and exploitation hold women back, and women living in extreme poverty face even more barriers. The first time I read about the mission of Together Women Rise (or sometimes called Rise), I felt an affinity with these women. They were in a situation beyond their control and they have no one to help them. I had been there but I had an opportunity and support, I felt and still feel a deep desire to help give them a leg up. They’re not asking for a handout they’re asking for a hand up.

Rise is a community for those of us who share a goal of a more equitable world for all. We recognize the value of different perspectives and strive to foster a diverse and inclusive community where everyone feels safe, respected and heard.

We have chapters across the US who meet, usually monthly, to learn about barriers facing women and girls and through collective giving we support grants making life changing differences for these women and girls living in low-income countries. We fund a range of projects related to maternal and child health, girls’ education and empowerment, preventing gender-based violence, and supporting women-led businesses to name just a few. We harness great power with collective giving and community building with agents of change and make a powerful impact. It is exhilarating to see that even as an individual you can make a difference.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I don’t know where it comes from but I have a drive that keeps me motivated. People question me about how I do it? The only thing I can relate it to is my life’s story. First I was in a motorcycle accident at age 20 and was reported as dead. They determined I wasn’t but I did have a fractured skull, broken eardrum, concussion and contussions, and all this with a helmet on. I recovered completely.
Then in 1997 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a mastectomy and had a breast implant and no other treatment was necessary.
Then in 2010 I was diagnosed with unrelated breast cancer in the other breast. I had a mastectomy and had a breast implant and no other treatment was necessary.
I feel very blessed and I also feel that there have been 3 times when I might have died, but I didn’t. There is obviously something that I am supposed to do and I am here trying to do it, whatever it is.
Part of it probably also goes back to my growing up and seeing that if you try hard and don’t give up things beyond your imagination are possible. My belief is if there’s a will there’s a way.

Any advice for managing a team?

I have been in several jobs where I have had a team, sometimes with members I have chosen and sometimes with members I have not. Obviously it’s much easier if your team is made up of chosen members.

Twice I have had a team of members who didn’t want to be on my team and worked against me at every turn. This made the two year assignment very hard. In this case, I tried to reason with the members and was always honest and very upfront with them and tried to work out a solution that worked for all of us. I was fortunate that the community was involved and they were on my side and I was in a lead position so it made things much easier.

In a good situation where members are all on the same page I feel that it is key to show respect to your team members, give them responsible assignments, don’t quarterback them, make sure they know that they can come to you and have your support, Make sure you don’t overload or overwhelm them. Thank them and reward them, and most of all be a good manager so they respect you. Be sure and train them so they can replace you and offer them learning opportunities. Listen to them. Being a leader is fun, show them that it is fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: Togetherwomenrise.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/togetherwomenriseorg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TogetherWomenRise.Org
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1563349/admin/feed/posts/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/togetherwmnrise