Best for Women
Learn more about Soroptimist
Soroptimist Raleigh: We Empower Girls & Women
Soroptimist Raleigh is a local club of Soroptimist International. Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. The name, Soroptimist, means “best for women,” and that’s what the organization strives to achieve. Soroptimists are women at their best, working to help other women to be their best.
Our service projects collaborate extensively with women’s groups, governmental agencies, educators, international and statewide coalitions, and concerned citizens. In terms of our local service projects:
Live Your Dream
The Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education & Training Awards
for Women program is our signature service project. This award aids women who are the primary wage earners for their families and are seeking to improve their economic status by gaining additional skills, training and education.
Live Your Dream Plus
In our “Live Your Dream Plus” program we follow up with our awardees for up to three years, mentoring them to afford ongoing support both non-financial as well as financial. With our Live Your Dream Plus program, our awardees know that there is a network of women who are ready to help in any number of ways.
Dream It Be It
Dream It Be It targets girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success. It provides girls with access to professional role models, career education and the resources to live their dreams.
Real Stories
Here are a few stories of some recipeints of the Live Your Dream Awards. Perhaps they will encourage you to take the steps to achieve your dreams, big or small.
Erica – 2024 Live Your Dream Awardee
Erica embodies the Be, Know, Do attitude. She graduated in December 2023 with her associate degree in human services from Wake Tech Community College (WTCC), however she did not rest long. She is currently enrolled at WTCC taking a prerequisite course to attend the...
Mia – 2024 Live Your Dream Awardee
Mia is enrolled at Wake Technical Community College, expecting to graduate in May 2025 majoring in human services. She works part-time and has a 1 year old daughter. Growing up in foster care, Mia didn’t see many individuals like herself graduating or pursuing a...
Maggie – 2023 Live Your Dream Awardee
Maggie is pursuing an associate degree in surgical technology at Durham Tech Community College. She works part-time and is the mother of 2 children, aged 7 and 2. Maggie has faced plenty of adversity but her commitment to her personal growth and her lifelong dream of...
News and Events
Live Your Dream Award Recipient Receives Promotion
Congratulations to Latisha Wooten, center, a 2021 Live Your Dream Award recipient, for being promoted to a testing teacher assistant (with her own office!) at Ligon Magnet Middle School. The well-deserved promotion recognizes Latisha’s talents, especially working with...
Raleigh Soroptimists at Dress For Success
Above image: Sarah, Mary Ann & Karen (l-r) helped staff the Fall Boutique Sale. At SI/Raleigh, we are deeply committed to our partnership with Dress for Success, a remarkable organization in Raleigh that has been integral to our mission for many years. In 2001, we...
SIA 48th Biennial Convention
In July, Soroptimist Raleigh members Carolyn Skowron and Lashonda White traveled to Bellevue, Wash., for the Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) 48th Biennial Convention. The inspiring event brought together nearly 700 members representing 360 Soroptimist...