Meet Juanita: In her own words – ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “What are you? Throughout my entire life as a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic person, I have repeatedly been asked this question. I might be studying, shopping, or in route to school or work, and people I had never met before would walk up to me and ask: “What are you?” When I was a little girl, this question puzzled me. And I would ask myself: Does “what” I am ultimately define “who” I am? As I grew older I figured I should find a genuine response to this question, and in my fierce quest to find one, I came to realize that people who asked me this question were asking for the purpose of compartmentalizing and conceptualizing their own mental schema. They had the correct interrogative, but not necessarily the applicable perspicacity or insight. They were inquisitive about my ethnicity or what I do. Yet, “what” I am to them, in this respect, cannot be defined any other way than by them incorrectly projecting their own personal perspective onto me, and that is not “who” I am. It would be limiting to allow their perspectives to define “what” I am. I had become aware as a young girl that I cannot be defined by how society identifies me by race, as the ambiguity of my color and ethnicity was highly contrasted within my childhood environments. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I grew up in a rough neighborhood which consisted of all black people. Conversely, I attended a prestigious college prep high school, with few to no other children of color. I was well accomplished within these groups, achieving a nomination for Minnesota’s Dave Winfield Award for outstanding Academic and Athletic abilities for students of color, yet I did not fit within these stereotypes. We moved to an affluent neighborhood before my father moved my family once again to live in Uruguay to learn my grandparent’s native language of Spanish. Interestingly, not one person in Latin America asked me “What are you?” as they were simply inquisitive about my life story. U.S. society seems to regulate that I cannot be reared in a tough neighborhood and be highly educated, and that I cannot be Spanish, Black, White, and Indigenous all at the same time. So which race, group or experience defines who or what I am? My quest to understand identity led me to read scores of books and attend seminars on this topic. One of the most impactful books I had read is Eckhart Tolle’s: “The Power of Now” teaching me that we are all simply a being with stories. Another person’s attempt to define me can never be accomplished without them actually being me. I also studied the amazing Nichiren Diashonin’s Buddhism and became inspired to affect a positive bearing on our world with compassion and understanding. This would require me to execute courage with compassion, in part, by not limiting myself to constraints of societal labels. Both of these doctrines taught me that we are neither our ethnicities, nor what we do for a living. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “Who” we are is not how others define you. And “What” we are changes country to country, and even moment to moment. We are ever evolving stories and each of us is enriched by the insight, understanding and compassion they provide. How we impact the world with those stories is “What” we are. Inspired to enlighten others, the next time someone on the street asks me “What are you?” I might just have to caution them that – it’s a long story.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Juanita. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 44 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!** #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #amyboylephotography #Dressforsuccess

Meet Julie – In her own words… “Most of the time, I’m referred to as “Mom” or “Attorney.” But during basketball season, I’m referred to as Coach Workman. In my little corner of the world, I’m trying to instill confidence and passion in the girls I coach, both on and off the basketball court. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I was a college athlete (basketball and softball) and have always been passionate about sports. After college, I played recreational softball until I was eight weeks pregnant with my first daughter. When she turned five, I started coaching her through our local YMCA basketball program; ten years later, I’m still coaching. Eventually, I coached my older daughter’s travel team, and then my younger daughter’s YMCA teams and travel team. My coaching philosophy is simple. Work hard, have fun and don’t take the easy way out. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Girls benefit from being athletes in countless ways. Sports teach discipline, time management and a powerful work ethic. Sports teach girls to be competitive, proud and strong. Sports give girls tremendous self-esteem. The girls I’ve been fortunate enough to coach develop confidence and passion; they are hard-working and energetic. They stand up to bullies. They may not win all of their games, but they learn from their defeats. Every minute on the court makes them better players and better people who are equipped to challenge the status quo. I am inspired by our United States Women’s National Soccer Team and their fight for equality in pay. I don’t buy the argument that ‘the women’s team does not deserve equal pay because they do not generate the same revenue that men’s teams generate.’ Women’s teams have been sidelined by society for generations and therefore have not had a meaningful opportunity to generate a fan base until now. Having strong women on the world stage who are willing to risk everything for equal treatment may be just what the world needs for female athletes to get the attention and opportunities to which they are entitled. If we can inspire our girls to pursue their passions, they and their fans will demand equal court time, equal media attention and equal opportunities well beyond their grade school travel ball days. Like the USWNT, girls who work hard and push back will change the world. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I have no doubt that having been a college athlete gave me the confidence to graduate from Northwestern University School of Law, to embark on a successful career in the male-dominated commercial real estate industry and to have the self-awareness and discipline to prioritize coaching alongside my challenging work schedule and wonderful, crazy family life. I hope that my passion filters through to my teams and that, through the work ethic and competitiveness they absorb, they will pursue their dreams and refuse to take “no” for an answer. I am grateful for the opportunity I had and for what it taught me, and I hope to show that gratitude by instilling my love of sports in the next generation of female athletes.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Julie. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 45 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!** #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #amyboylephotography #Dressforsuccess

Meet Kim: In her own words… “I believe… happiness is both a choice and a practice creativity can transform lives smiles are contagious in kindness everyone is worthy, including myself (such a hard-fought belief for me) I am right where I am supposed to be – and so are you in Brene Brown and Dr. Seuss that everyone has a story to tell… Here is mine… ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 For me, the path to where I am now was a circuitous route. I never expected that I would call myself an artist. In fact, there was a point and time in my life when I didn’t even think that I was creative! In high school, I enjoyed art classes, but never excelled. Pursuing art, as a career, didn’t even cross my mind. Instead, I went to college and on to graduate school and then worked on college campuses in the residence halls and student activities. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Then, I met my husband. We got married. A year later we had our first child and I decided to be a stay at home mom. Fourteen months later, our second son was born, and I was fully entrenched in motherhood. Being a mother of two little ones is wonderful – and it’s also SOOO hard and consuming! I felt like I had lost a little bit of myself in the muck of motherhood. Creativity became my escape, a stress relief, and the path to caring for myself and my dreams. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 So, dabbled in jewelry making, scrapbooking, home decorating, drawing, painting, illustrating, graphic design plus much more. I started blogging and writing and eventually I wrote a children’s book. On a whim I doodled the illustrations and to my surprise, they weren’t half bad. The thought occurred to me that “maybe I could illustrate my book” – and, after lots of battling with that mean little voice inside my head, I decided to do it. In 2013, published my book, Moments Meant to Savor. I did the illustrations in paper collage and I loved the medium! So, I kept doing collage art. And I am, happily, still at it! By using everyday items, like magazines, newspapers, books, tissue paper, postcards, maps, ledger paper with colored pencils, paints and glue, I create pieces that are colorful, whimsical, and HAPPY! My mission for my art is to bring a little bit of HAPPY into the world, one piece at a time. In today’s world we are so divided, surrounded with lots of anger and fear, and grappling with hard issues like racism, xenophobia, and misogyny it is hard to feel optimistic and positive at times. The negativity can be overwhelming, and the creative process is my way to practice and choose happiness. And, the bonus, is that I get to share my art with others! We all need happy little reminders of the good that is all around us. It is my hope that my art brings smiles to faces and adds a little bit joy into the world!” See more of Kim’s art – http://www.kimdettmer.com/ and on Instagram – Process video below… *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Kim. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 46 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!** #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #amyboylephotography #Dressforsuccess

Meet Basia. In her own words. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 “It’s a WONDERful life! I am not your typical woman, but I am living a WONDERful life! How is this possible? It all began with a tv show and a movie star but, it was deeper than that for me. Most girls in my generation grew up playing with Barbie dolls and dressed up as a princess waiting for her prince to come. Not me. I grew up playing with chickens and horses. I also dressed up as a different kind of princess. Dreaming of a prince was not my thing. Saving one was way cooler. Or fighting crime with him was just as cool. I was told back then I was not normal. Not normal? I watched every possible episode of Wonder Woman I could get my hands on. Little did I know what being obsessed with Wonder Woman would turn into. My mom wanted a better life for her children. We were immigrants from Poland. All I was ever told was to “be normal & don’t embarrass me. We are guests in this country. We only get one chance.” Isn’t being like Wonder Woman as normal as it gets? I was bullied for being me so I became what she wanted me to be, someone “normal.” That eventually destroyed me. Torn between being kind and fitting in was challenging. But I tried to be both, Mom’s dream for me was to marry someone and have children. That was the definition of success back then. If not, I would be a failure. Basia holding a photo of her and her mother – ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Being like Wonder Woman did not sit well with mom. So I became obedient. I hid my weirdness. Later I discovered that I WAS normal. I WAS AN ARTIST. I did everything to hide this from mom. I was at the peak of my career when I was told that mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers and that we had to put everything on hold to care for her. I was told it would be two years max, I did not hesitate …it was my mom. It is just what you do. 12+ years later, I was drained. I became a sandwich mom. That meant working, caring for my own family and caring for mom 24/7. I was willing to help my mom, but I was exhausted. Everyone around me was living their best life. I was functioning on 4 hours of sleep every day. Angry, bitter and crying out “ when will MY happiness finally come? “ She eventually passed away and I was empty and tired inside. Her last words were, “Do not mourn. Live your life to the fullest, but ALWAYS be kind.“ I did not know what that meant until recently. I was confused. But even in her death she taught me the secret to life. To be kind, be WONDERful and you will have a WONDERful life. And so I did. WONDERful women continue show up in my life and I am one for others. I am finally happy. Don’t give up, whatever the challenge!” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Basia. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 47 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!** #Dressforsuccess #52PWP #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen #wonderwoman

Meet Tamara: In her own words… “I have always been a caregiver at heart and have always enjoyed helping those that aren’t able to help themselves. That’s why I became a registered nurse and that’s why I chose to start my career working on the frontlines of the AIDS crisis. There was so much need for nurses and so few willing to do the work. My mother– also a nurse– taught me that if someone needs help, you help them. After two years of rewarding work with people with AIDS, I transitioned into working with seniors. I fell in love with the work immediately and knew that providing care for seniors was my calling. I realized that many of my patients required long-term, ongoing care and there were no reliable caregiving agencies to refer them to. This absence was hurting seniors and hurting families. When Mom or Dad falls or becomes confused, most families don’t know what to do. I knew that Chicagoland needed a reliable agency to provide that needed care. I decided if not me, who? ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 That’s why in 1994, I founded Custom Home Care on a simple principle: improving the lives of seniors by matching them with kind, dependable, honest caregivers. For that last 25 years, I’ve done just that. I now employ over 300 wonderful caregivers, all helping to improve the lives of hundreds of seniors across Chicago and the North Shore Suburbs. My success has been built on treating my clients and caregivers the way that I would want my family to be treated. That’s why I make sure that every caregiver is well-trained, respected and supported. Even though they fill one of the most important roles in society, caregivers have too often been deprived of insurance and benefits. Not on my watch. Tamara also works with one of her sons also a RN – ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 The current caregiver shortage brings difficulty to many families and agencies, but Custom Home Care has found that a fulfilled caregiver leads to excellent senior care. By supporting and enriching the lives of our caregivers we have cultivated a loyal and dedicated work force of caregivers from all over Chicagoland. The world tells women that we can’t have it all, but I’ve got two grown sons and a successful company that beg to differ. I’ve got a message to any young women reading this: go for it. I know that many of you have an idea or a passion that you’re too afraid to chase. Chase it. The world will be a better place if more of us refuse to trim our sails and limit our ambitions. I know it’s easier said than done, but that’s all the more reason to get started!” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Tamara. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 48 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!** #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #amyboylephotography #Dressforsuccess

Food for Thought: Nutrition is a form of self-love – Meet Aileen – In her own words… “My prior relationship with food may resonate with you. I was going through life on autopilot, eating what I wanted without much thought. I had a relatively high metabolism as a kid and grew up in the 80s so indulged in lots of sugar, particularly of the Hostess variety (Ding Dongs, anyone?). But from the time I can remember, I always had issues with my gut. I distinctly recall my dad having to take me to the hospital when I was 4 because of mysterious stomach pain due to something I ate. Stomach aches were common and became a part of my life, getting worse with age (and in college, with beer). ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 A few years ago, I was given the opportunity to change my relationship with food, to follow a path that allowed me to optimize my energy, clarity and overall well-being. In 2013, I got sick. Very sick. Seemingly out of the blue. I started exhibiting symptoms I’d never felt before – extreme fatigue, brain fog, depression, muscle pain, stomach pain, rashes. The list goes on. After a few years of misdiagnoses, and trial and error, I took my health into my own hands and uncovered a cure for my mystery symptoms – the cure was food. I realized that certain foods were causing more pain while others seemed to heal the pain. I studied clean eating, and noticed what foods were life-giving and energy draining for me. I tried different ways of eating and cooking and realized that the type of food I ate had a profound effect on my overall well-being. That in fact, food could heal me both physically and mentally. My nutrition is not perfect, but now I know how to take care of myself to feel energized and happy most of the time. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Because of my wellness journey, I am compelled to share the importance of nutrition with everyone I meet. Food can cure – food heals. Choosing to nourish yourself is an act of self-love. And who can argue with that?” ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Aileen. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 49 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!** #Dressforsuccess #52PWP #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

“Pain has a Purpose: From Surviving to Thriving” Meet Trupti: In her own words… “I believe that pain has a purpose. The purpose is to guide us to be more connected with ourselves and thus less connected with the demands of world around us. I believe this is true, because this is my story. ©Amy Boyle Photography My life began in survival mode. After being smuggled out of Africa at the tender age of 6 months, my life began in Chicago with very few resources. My mother’s mantra was “Work hard and you will survive in life”. With that mantra instilled in my head and a background fear that life could suddenly shift in a moment’s notice, as it did for my parents, I focused on hard work and education. As I pushed myself to succeed and made my way into medical school, I found myself entering a state of perpetual rushing. I was serving, doing, and pleasing every waking moment. I don’t think I ever gave myself a moment to catch my breath and pause. Survival mode at its best, right? With this intensity and drive, I developed an incredibly disabling case of insomnia. Nights went by where I laid wide-awake wondering if I would ever sleep again. It was in this moment of desperation that I sought out an alternative solution to solve my woes. Western medications I tried left me feeling tired and uneasy. ©Amy Boyle Photography I stumbled across textbooks about an ancient healing practice and began practicing the principles on myself. I began to understand the purpose behind the insomnia and the message the universe was giving me to connect with myself. To slow down, breathe and connect with self. Soon enough, I was sleeping soundly again. This painful cycle of sleep disturbance allowed me to see the truth that life was not to be for for surviving, yet for thriving. After finishing Neurology residency, I found myself being drawn to the patients who suffered with severe headaches. These mysterious attacks of migraines that often left the sufferer incapacitated and wondering why they struggled with such discomfort in life. As I started caring for patients in pain, I realized the similarity of their story to the story of my struggle with resolving my insomnia. Even though they may have asked for medications to quiet the pain, each patient was seeking the truth behind why they suffered. The cycles of pain, similar to my cycle of insomnia, were a wake-up call to get into alignment of mind-body and spirit. I felt the pull to share the wisdom I had used for myself a decade prior. ©Amy Boyle Photography Using the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda I helped them see the purpose behind the pain and encouraged them to slowly shift from living life in survival to living life with presence, understanding, and depth. They began to see pain as their friend, not their enemy. As they moved into a mindset of thriving and connection with self, the pain began to dissipate. With this philosophy, I have helped countless individuals shift their perspective of pain and understand the truth behind it.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Trupti. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 50 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!** #52PWP #WomenonFire #Chicago #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Meet Barbara: In her own words… “Is There a Joiners’ Anonymous? My uncontrollable joining was surely pre-ordained. I am the middle daughter in a family of 5 girls, raised in the 50’s and 60’s. That “middle-ness” is a part of who I am. Comfort and stability are there – in the middle of a group; preferably a group of women. The occasional snags notwithstanding, I love being in the middle. And Joining is what gets me there. My early Joining efforts were an extension of my life focus at the time; the Nursery School board, the PTA, Scouts. Then I gradually moved forward with community and civic organizations, local politics, and so many book groups – in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio and New York in my 44 years of married life. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Each group I Joined brought me the middle-ness I love… to be part of a diverse group of people, united by a common interest or purpose. Friendships flourish in such settings, and I appreciate the opportunities to learn from the shared foundation of each group. I imagine that at some level I am ever re-creating the spot that was uniquely mine during my early years. Some amateur Joiners might take time to contemplate the act of Joining, do they want to commit to this group? Does the group add something to their full and busy life? What would they get, and what would they need to give? Not me… I sign up! Join now, evaluate later! (The sign of a Professional Joiner.) And there are so many invitations to Join! With free e-newsletters, YouTube video subscriptions, private Facebook groups, gurus and “influencers” building their brand by increasing their followers and likes are more than happy to add my digital identity to their roster. With my Inbox overflowing I am gradually pruning the results of all my Joining. Each group is a tribe. Which ones matter most? Which ones offer me that middle-ness I seek? The online book group hosted by the podcaster; the decluttering organizers; the minimalists; the people who use Bullet Journals; the favorite authors who have created inner circles… all are competing for my attention. It’s time for me to conduct an Attention Audit to determine which groups are in synch with me now. ©Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Of all the Joining I have done since my retirement five years ago, there is one tribe that sets the gold standard. One group of women that is extraordinary. Do you have a Tribe like that? Women on Fire (womenonfire.com) is the magic that matters to me. And we will welcome you… if you Join! To be in the middle-ness of this group has inspired me to set goals and reach for what’s next; given me strategies for improving the quality of my life; and offered support along the way. I’ve learned so much; experienced so much and benefitted beyond what I can articulate.” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Barbara. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 51 of 52. Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!** #Dressforsuccess #52PWP #amyboylephotography #52PhenomenalWomen

Meet Wendy: In her own words: “I grew up in a very loving nurturing middle class family in Queens, NY. I am the oldest of 4, my mother was a stay at home mom and my father was a hardworking roofer and owned his own business. Every day at 5pm we sat down as a family to a delicious home cooked meal. ©️Amy Boyle Photography 2019 Growing up I always did what was expected of me; I got good grades in school, I stayed out of trouble, I went to college, I got a good job which lead to a career in my field of interest, I traveled with my girlfriends and I got married and moved to Chicago. Life was PERFECT, so it seemed! There was a big void in my life and when I looked around I had everything I wanted and more than I needed. I didn’t know how to shake this feeling or what to do. So, I started drinking a glass of wine every night to relax. This went on for some time, but eventually the wine turned in to rum then vodka. I had never been a heavy drinker, but now I was drinking every day by myself at home and that was all I wanted to do. I had fallen into this hole of hopelessness and depression. I lost my job, and I was about to be evicted from my apartment, so I went home and moved in with my father in Queens, NY. This was the lowest point of my life and I was so full of shame and remorse. ©️Amy Boyle Photography 2019 January 2001, I began a new journey. My life changed forever and I had no idea where I was headed. I remember praying to God and asking for help me out of my current situation. After praying, the next day I joined a 12 step program, I went to therapy and continued to pray and meditate every day. I took the time that needed for me to heal. During the process of rebuilding my career, I was referred to Dress for Success for professional attire and career coaching. I was suited at Dress for Success for my job interview at a non-profit organization called Eviction Intervention Services. God has a funny sense of humor, anyway I got the JOB working with their Development Director! I returned to Dress for Success for my employment suiting (a weeks’ worth of clothing), joined their professional women’s group (PWG) and got a career coach. At Dress for Success, I was always treated with dignity and respect and you could feel that they really wanted you to reach your full potential. They also had AMAZING clothing! With my background in fashion merchandising, retail management and development in September of 2006, I joined the Dress for Success Worldwide team as the Manhattan Branch Manager, I was promoted to the Director of East Coast Operations and in 2015, I was promoted again to the Director of Dress for Success Worldwide-Central and returned to live in Chicago. Dress for Success empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the developmental tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since 1997 Dress for Success has provided services for over 1,000,000 in 154 affiliates in 28 countries all over the world. ©️Amy Boyle Photography 2019 I have always wanted to help others so for the past 13 years, with the support of an AMAZING staff, DEDICATED volunteers and GENEROUS donors it’s been my JOY to be able to provide programs and services to over 2000 women a year. Today, I no longer feel a void and life is beyond my wildest dreams!!!” *** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Wendy. This year for my birthday, I am embarking on a weekly photo essay project highlighting 52 Phenomenal Women. This is week 52 of 52… We did it!!! Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Year 2 begins September 18, 2019 Tell your story!** #Dressforsuccess #52PWP #Chicago #amyboylephotography #newyorkcity #52PhenomenalWomen

On the evening of Thursday, September 26, 2019 at The Dawson in Chicago, a celebration was held to honor the first year of the 52 Phenomenal Women project. On display were the images made of all 52 women from the 2018-19 edition. The event was generously hosted by Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC. 52PWP Year One Celebration – Photo by Colin Boyle 2019 This is a phenomenal project and we are thrilled and fortunate to be a part of Amy’s creative vision and participation in community. The beauty and spirit of each woman honors our global mission– to empower women to thrive independently. Joi Gordon, CEO, Dress for Success Worldwide Amy Boyle – Photo by Colin Boyle 2019 Over half of the women featured in year one of the project attended to meet each other and share their experiences. Julie Workman, partner at Levenfeld Pearlstein, introduced the project’s creator, photographer Amy Boyle, to describe her personal mission for the project. Wendy Wilkins, Director of Dress for Success Worldwide-Central was also present to graciously receive a donation of over $4,000 from the project’s supporters. Dress for Success serves hundreds of women annually throughout the Chicago area with workforce development and employment retention program services. Finally, Barbara Hogan, one of “the 52” in attendance, presented a poem created by another of the 52. Other guests included key supporters, representatives from Dress for Success, event sponsors and members of the media – all gathered to celebrate the phenomenal women in our lives. Wendy Wilkins and Amy Boyle – Photo by Colin Boyle 2019 Poem by Laura Tiberi read by Barbara Hogan Weekly project created by photographer Amy Boyle honors, elevates women: What would happen if once a week we recognized someone who we think is phenomenal and shared her story with our community? Just imagine the list of inspiring women we’d have at the end of the year and how those connections can inspire others! Each week for an entire year, Amy Boyle photographed a phenomenal woman and featured her personal narrative through the 52 Phenomenal Women Project. Participants, who were nominated by their peers, hail from ten different U.S. states and range in age from 21-83. The project began in September of 2018 and due to popular response, Amy Boyle Photography is planning to extend the project for a least one more year. Gallery – Photos by Colin Boyle About Amy Boyle: Photo by Colin Boyle 2019 Amy Boyle is an internationally published photographer and passionate visual storyteller. She graduated from Northwestern University with a focus in business and art history, and her love for art has brought her to work with multiple large organizations both in Chicago and around the world, such as Broadway in Chicago, and Fortune, Playbill, among others. Amy is part of multiple female empowerment-focused groups, such as Women on Fire and O, the Oprah Magazine as a brand ambassador. Along with her husband, Amy has proudly raised four sons in Chicago. More info on project: Amy’s birthday wish from 2018 was to encourage others through the stories that have been featured on my blog and social channels. To start a dialogue of inclusion, support and recognition by celebrating the phenomenal qualities within us all. There is no better time than the present moment. The best way to describe the project Amy embarked on is #WomanCrushWednesday meets Humans of New York. Amy’s goal of the project is to start a dialogue of inclusion, by supporting and recognizing the phenomenal qualities within all women. Why only women? Amy says, “I am continually supported and loved by my husband and four sons, but what I know in my heart is many women are not so fortunate. I want to support women, who – whether they realize it or not – are phenomenal. I am amazed at how many women have stories they just have to get out – to be heard – to be seen.” Participants in the project are asked to donate to support Dress for Success Worldwide Central. To date we have exceeded our goal of $3,000 for Dress for Success for the first year, but to continue the project for a second year, the 52 Phenomenal Women project needs your help. We are stronger together. Amy would love to be able to reach an even wider audience. More information is located here on how you can support year two: https://www.patreon.com/52PhenomenalWomen You may follow along on the blog (www.amyboylephoto.com) in addition to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP www.amyboylephotography.com – amy@amyboylephoto.com #52PhenomenalWomen #52PWP #amyboylephotography

On the Brink – a podcast #amyboylephotography #BrookBelden #onthebrink #podcasts

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