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Community conversation for girls and women.
Women of Banglatown is an all women’s community space offering free programming for neighborhood girls and income generating activities for immigrant women in Hamtramck, Michigan. Our programming includes art education, exercise classes, homework help and movie nights. Our mission at Women of Banglatown is to empower girls and women through diverse programming while creating a comfortable space for community conversation.
WOB was started by Ali Lapetina, a documentary photographer and educator who lives in Detroit, Michigan. While photographing the Bengali immigrant community, she noticed men playing cricket in the parking lots, soccer at the nearby school and carrom at the local corner stores but didn’t see many girls and women gathering outside of their homes. This inspired her to create a space that provided neighborhood girls a place to call their own.
Yoga taught by holistic health coach Jacklyn Renee.
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Join the Team
Grant Writer
Description
Research grant opportunities. Write, proof read, and edit grant proposals. This position begins with a 1 month trial period. The goal of this time is to pressure test the fit for a part-time position on the team.
Start Date March 2018
Qualifications
- Masters
- 3+ years experience writing grants.
- Cover letter and résumé/CV required
- Educated on art grants and communities in SE Michigan.
- Passionate about women + immigrant rights.
- Outgoing and self directed.
- Bonus: live in Hamtramck.
Apply by email: hello@womenofbanglatown.com
Artist Internship
Description
A stipend based internship for a recently graduated or an upper level college student pursuing a degree in printmaking or fibers. The 3 month internship is a unique opportunity to work side by side with immigrant women and design high quality patterns for screen printing and/or block printing. Patterns will then be printed by local women to textiles, fabricated into products and sold at Women of Banglatown's store in Hamtramck, Michigan.
Start Date: Spring 2018
Qualifications
- Portfolio
- Bachelors of Fine Arts
- Cover letter and résumé/CV
- Two recommendations
- Experienced in screen printing and/or blockprinting
- Impressive attention to detail
- Available 10 hours a week.
- Bonus: live in Hamtramck
Apply by email: hello@womenofbanglatown.com
Girls paint with mulberries at our old location in a donated garage.
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SUPPLY donatIONS
Books for library
At Women of Banglatown we are working on building a social justice library for young girls and teens. Together we can inspire future leaders by educating them on unique narratives — by writers of color and/or authors who can speak about social issues through their own experiences.
Art supplies
We can never get enough of art supplies. We are in need of a new sewing machine, cotton yarn and organic cotton fabric. We also love markers, paper and embroidery string.
Drop off items at our location: 11500 Joseph Campau St. Hamtramck, Michigan
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BEcome a SponsoR
Afternoon Snack
Sponsor healthy snacks for girls who participate in weekly programming. If you are a local company, a mother or a neighbor who's wants to lend a helping hand by sponsoring one meal or many we'd love to hear from you.
Transportation
Transportation is one of our biggest obstacles. As we have recently expanded our outreach there are girls attending from over 5 different schools in Hamtramck/Detroit. We are always looking for volunteers or a transportation sponsor to help transport girls to and from Women of Banglatown. Have an idea, what to volunteer or make a contribution, send us an email.
Skill Training Day
Help sponsor a skill training day for local immigrant women to learn new skills around traditional textiles and weaving. We offer income generating activities to women who live in Hamtramck/Detroit. The more skills they learn, the more products Women of Banglatown can create, which will allow us to hire more women. Together we can begin to see how job skill training is an alternative to a college degree and can contribute to supporting a families income.
hello@womenofbanglatown.com
Rajna collects squash blossoms in a beautiful handwoven basket. She learned to weave as a young girl in Bangladesh from her grandmother.
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OUR PRODUCTS
We are working on our new online store. Stop by our little store located inside of the Woodward Throwbacks showroom, 11500 Joseph Campau St. Hamtramck, Michigan.
Online purchases will be available end of April.
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CONTACT US
We'd love to hear from you.
hello@womenofbanglatown.com