We honor the multicultural and diverse stories of rural women, resource their needs, and remain a presence that can bring transformative and systemic change to women and their communities.
Our Mission
Wisconsin Rural Women’s Initiative empowers women primarily living in rural areas. The ultimate goal is to effect systemic change within families and their communities through a unique Gathering Circle process. WRWI promotes wellness by developing personal skills and cultivates transformation in a safe environment.
OUR VISION
To provide programs that will encourage and build self-esteem and help develop skills for coping with change. We honor participant's stories, determine their needs, and remain a presence that offers support and resources to rural women and, by extension, their communities.
OUR objective
To develop self-sustaining women's circles that maintain healthy practices and connections fostered by our program. It is our hope that through our Gathering Circle process we can foster networks of support, see the faces of those hesitant to ask for help, and hear stories of strength and great resilience from women who so often struggle to find easily accessible resources for coping with stress, isolation, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and low self-confidence.
our history
Research has shown that health disparities exist between rural and urban populations, with rural residents more likely to be uninsured and report fair to poor health status than their urban counterparts. Because of the geographic layout of rural areas, those who live there can experience geographic isolation, which poses challenges in managing chronic illnesses and locating mental health professionals.
Established in 1996, Wisconsin Rural Women's Initiative was developed in response to the lack of support that rural and farm women were receiving in regards to self-nourishment, self-esteem, accessible mental health resources, and the ability to seek out and attend events that would otherwise be unattainable due to financial and time constraints.
Our founders strived to bring programs and services to those who rarely had the financial or time resources to seek them out in more metropolitan areas, and so developed the concept of the Gathering Circle; the building block of our programs. In our Circle, women are encouraged to share their stories and envelop themselves in a community that is uniquely qualified to understand their burdens and offer support.
What We've Achieved
Members of Wisconsin Rural Women's Initiative have traveled to 67 rural counties in the state of Wisconsin, gathering women in ways that allows for engaged dialogue that promotes wellness and cultivates transformation in a safe environment..
WRWI has helped over 3,500 women achieve personal wellness through our Gathering Circle Program.
WRWI has hosted events in various establishments across the state of Wisconsin.
Our quarterly heart-to-heart newsletter, which details articles from various members of our programs, keeps everyone connected through inspirational quotes, poetry, photographs, and personal experiences.