Women's Empowerment Week coming to Montclair in April

• Week to kick off with a self-defense workshop at the Montclair YMCA on Park Street
• Donations being collected throughout the week for the Family Service League/SAVE of Essex County

April in Montclair begins with a focus on women.

Organized by the Montclair Center Business Improvement District and presented by Schumacher Insurance, Montclair's second "Women's Empowerment Week," from April 1 to 9, will include a forum in the Wellmont Theater, a schedule of talks by experts from diverse fields, a self-defense workshop, and more.

“We have assembled some of the leading experts on empowerment, entrepreneurship, health and personal fulfillment to speak throughout Montclair Center,” stated Israel Cronk, executive director of the Montclair Center BID. “It really speaks to our community that so many accomplished people want to volunteer their time to sharing their stories and helping others.”

"The momentous time of celebrating women is now,” stated Honey Correia, president of Schumacher Insurance Agency.

Throughout the week, locations throughout Montclair Center will collect funds, clothing and personal hygiene products for Essex County’s rape care center, SAVE of Essex County, a program of the Montclair-based Family Service League, according to a release. The collections will fund work providing rape care packages to sexual assault victims, a 24-hour emergency hotline, and victim counseling and support.

Last year's initial event focused just on gathering donations for  the Family Service League and SAVE of Essex County. This year's week has "grown exponentially," to include a host of events, according to Ann Marie Sekeres of the Montclair Center BID.

"The whole idea of having events and talks is completely new," Sekeres told The Montclair Times.

More than $3,000 and more than 1,000 items for rape-care packages were donated last year, according to Christine Ferro-Saxon, executive director of Family Service League/SAVE of Essex County.

The packages for victims of sexual assault include things like clothing, snacks and toiletries, and are given to victims at the hospital, as they are often required to give up their clothes for evidence and they can't eat, drink or bathe before they're examined, Ferro-Saxon stated.

Unlike last year's Women's Empowerment Week, held in the summer, this year's will directly tie in with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is April, she noted.

“As the county’s designated rape care center, we really appreciate the support and interest from the community to keep our vital work going,” stated Ferro-Saxon.

The week’s events will begin on Saturday, April 1 with a self-defense empowerment workshop in the YMCA, 25 Park St., at 1:30 p.m. The workshop is a $10 donation, with all proceeds going to SAVE of Essex.

To register for the workshop, visit familyserviceleague.org.

At 2 p.m., Montclair Riding Company will host a talk by Shari Ives, owner of Motorcycle Training Schools, about the freedom of motorcycle riding. The talk is free, but donations to SAVE of Essex are encouraged.

Sunday, April 2, will feature an evening event at Studio Air Aerial Dance and Fitness Center, 180 Bloomfield Ave. The event, Strength in Silk, will be a one-hour aerial silks class for the community to come together and support SAVE of Essex. The class is a $25 minimum donation, and all proceeds will be donated to SAVE. The class is open to all levels. RSVP at StudioAir.rocks.

The Women’s Empowerment Forum on Tuesday, April 4, will include enlightening and inspirational stories from local women of distinction, including WOR radio host Joan Herrmann, career and life coach Laura Berman Fortgang, Montclair Township Councilmember Renee Baskerville, producer and activist Peg Cafferty, business owner and teacher Omni Kitts Ferrara, and Masiel Rodriquez-Vars, executive director of the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence. The event will be hosted by local entrepreneur Donna Miller.

For tickets, visit montclaircenter.com or tiny.cc/womenforum.

From Wednesday, April 5, through Friday, April 7, more than 30 talks have been scheduled throughout downtown Montclair Center by women professionals, health and nutrition experts and entrepreneurs.

These talks include Elisa Charters of Latina Surge speaking about empowerment and equal pay, Virginia Cornue and Linda Lombri discussing life after retirement, artist Stephanie Spitz and artist/owners Amy Tingle and Maya Stein sharing about their lives in art, and Serena Chen, M.D., discussing IVF and talks about entrepreneurship, surviving trauma, fitness and health.

Check montclaircenter.com for the developing schedule of talks.

Attendees will be asked for a small donation ($2-5) to benefit SAVE of Essex.

Ladies Night Out on Friday, April 7, includes events and specials throughout downtown Montclair and "selfie stations."

More more information, visit montclaircenter.com/newjersey/women-empowerment-week/.