APPROACH:
Starting this year and through 2014, ANN INC. commits to provide leadership training to at least 50 new ANNpower Fellows annually. After completing leadership training, each Fellow will be eligible to apply to receive an ANNpower Project Grant to put her ideas into action. We commit to fund new Project Grants to all qualifying Fellows to invest in their communities, which will be awarded in the fall 2012. ANNpower Grantees will have the school year to work on their projects and will measure and provide reports on how their projects have affected change in their communities. ANN INC. commits to add a mentorship component to the program, where employees will have the opportunity to mentor ANNpower Fellows as they implement their projects.
We commit to create an ANNpower Advisory Council, consisting of well-known female celebrities, media personalities and other influential women who have displayed leadership in areas they are passionate about. The Council's principal role will be to review, score, and recommend outstanding grant proposals as part of the final ANNpower Grantee selection process. Council members may also have the opportunity to serve as mentors or role models to Grantees, as well as ambassadors of the ANNpower Initiative to the public.
We commit to provide additional leadership training to all ANNpower Grantees by inviting them to join 300-500 of the most active and engaged international women leaders at the first Vital Voices Global Summit in December 2013. These leaders will come together to discuss strategies, share challenges and successes, and strengthen the Vital Voices Network through trainings, networking and building consensus on solutions to address pressing issues that women face across the globe. Our Grantees will attend the Summit to not only learn from these leaders but also to share their own experiences and offer insights into America's future leadership.
ACTION PLAN:
Phase 1:
June 4-7, 2012 - First annual ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum attended by the first class of 50 ANNpower Fellows. Fellows obtained leadership training and mentorship in the Vital Voices Leadership Model from 12 global women leaders and ANN INC. executives
Summer 2012 -Fellows work on developing projects that will affect change in their communities
Phase 2:
8/31/2012 - ANNpower Project Grant applications due from Fellows
9/15/2012 - ANNpower Advisory Council selected, and reviews grant applications
9/23/2012 - ANNpower Advisory Council announced
10/1/2012 - 2012 ANNpower Grantees announced
Fall 2012-Spring 2013 - Grantees work on implementing projects and are mentored by ANN INC. employees
June 2013 - Grantee final reports due, measure impact
Phase 3:
January 2013 - Application opens for 2013 ANNpower Fellows
March 2013 - 50 new ANNpower Fellows announced
April 2013 - Second annual ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum
Summer 2013 - ANNpower Fellows work on developing projects
August 2013 - ANNpower Project Grant applications due from Fellows
September 2013 - ANNpower Advisory Council reviews grant applications
October 2013 - ANNpower Grantees announced
December 2013 - 2012 and 2013 ANNpower Grantees invited to attend the first Vital Voices Global Summit, obtain further leadership training, and teach international women leaders about young leaders in the U.S.
Fall 2013-Spring 2014 - Grantees work on implementing projects and are mentored by ANN INC. employees
June 2014 - Grantee final reports due, measure impact
Phase 4:
January 2014 - Application opens for 2014 ANNpower Fellows
March 2014 - New class of ANNpower Fellows announced
April 2014 - Third annual ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum
Summer 2014 - ANNpower Fellows work on developing projects
August 2014 - ANNpower Project Grant applications due from Fellows
September 2014 - ANNpower Advisory Council reviews grant applications
October 2014 - ANNpower Grantees announced
Fall 2014-Spring 2015 - Grantees work on implementing projects and are mentored by ANN INC. employees
June 2015 - Grantee final reports due, measure impact
The ANNpower Vital Voices Initiative is a partnership between ANN INC., the parent company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, and Vital Voices Global Partnership that aims to train and empower young women in the U.S. to begin their journey as the next generation of leaders, and to invest in their communities.
In 2011, a pilot program was developed with the intent for ANN INC. to commit to invest $1.3 million in 2012-2014 to the ANNpower Initiative if the pilot was successful. Thirteen ANNpower Grantees, who were rising high school juniors and seniors, were selected through a competitive application process. With small ANNpower Grants, they successfully completed projects that affected change in their community. These projects touched on a number of challenges in their communities, from increasing participation in community service activities, to using the arts as a way to empower teenagers who have been affected by domestic violence.
With the success of the pilot, ANN INC. expanded its commitment in 2012 to conduct a national search and, through a competitive application process, provide fellowships to 50 young women who are rising high school juniors and seniors. The 2012 ANNpower Fellows were chosen from 24 states across the U.S. These Fellows attended the ANNpower Vital Voices Leadership Forum in June, a three-day leadership training program in Washington, D.C. The Forum's curriculum is based on the Vital Voices Leadership Model. Fellows were mentored by 12 global women leaders who are part of the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network, as well as executives from ANN INC. After completing the leadership training, the 50 ANNpower Fellows were challenged to go back to their communities to create a project that will affect change at the local level. Categories where the Fellows are encouraged to work on include: Awareness, Community Service, Education, Empowerment, Literature, Mentorship, and Outreach.
