As published March 2023 in the International Women’s Month edition of the Beacon
Written by: SOFIA GARCIA VARGAS, CENTRO Tampa
Gretza Colmenero came to Florida from Puerto Rico more than 10 years ago with two kids, $300 and a dream.
When she was younger, Colmenero had to drop out of school to take care of her mother, and when she came to the U.S., she had to work three jobs to afford one class a semester, as out-of-state tuition costs kept her from taking more than that.
That was until she heard about Women on the Way.
What started as a simple coffee run to the organization’s office with a friend, turned into a journey of opportunities and resources that brought Colmenero to within two months of graduation.
Women on the Way is a resource and support program at St. Petersburg College designed to meet the educational needs of enrolled students seeking to complete a college degree or certification. Its mission is to empower students to academic, professional, and personal success.
WOW offers a wide variety of services including academic advising, a clothing boutique, college and community resource information,
conferences and workshops, scholarships and textbook and equipment lending.
The program was founded in 1981 by SPC’s first female provost, Dr. Vilma Zalupski, along with Bobbie Hinson, career center director, and Maria Nieves Edmonds, a psychology instructor who became an associate provost and WOW’S first coordinator.
WOW started with 15 young women, which has now grown into having over 500 students enrolled per semester, said Shirley Crumbley, coordinator of the organization since 2009.
As society still holds some type of discrimination against women, according to Crumbley, women are still not equal to their counterparts. However, WOW aims to transform and change lives through power to engage, passion to encourage and purpose to persevere throughout women’s college career and beyond.
Crumbley shared a similar experience to Colmenero, as she was also a single mom, working two jobs and going to school at night.
“(Female students) face many challenges, including homelessness, food insecurity and domestic violence,” Crumbley said. “I feel good giving back as WOW is a home away from home.”
She also explained that many students don’t have a strong support system around them to help them succeed, so as coordinator she wears many hats as a mentor, advisor, mom and sometimes disciplinarian.
Colmenero expressed similar feelings and called the organization a “sisterhood” where students encourage, help, and support each other.
“They have given me a family I have never found in any other place,” she said.
Besides a family, WOW has provided her with resources to help her inside and outside the classroom, including textbooks, scholarships, tutoring, and even clothes for interviews.
Colmenero, who is in her late 40s, often finds herself being one of the oldest ones in the classroom.
“You always feel like, I should just stop and stay home and get a job and forget about everything because I don’t know how much I can take,” Colmenero said.
However, her peers at WOW have taught her that age shouldn’t be an issue.
“It is not where you start, it is where you end,” Crumbley said.
Colmenero agreed and said that this journey has inspired her to be a role model for her kids to show them that it doesn’t matter how long it may take, as long as they complete their dream.
Set to walk the stage in May, Colmenero said she can’t wait to get a job and come back to WOW as a donor and be there for the next generation.
“I think I can never give back to what they gave me, how they rescued me, how they trans-formed me and molded me into who I am today,” she said.
WOW functions through a foundation that takes care of fundraising. However, members highly encourage donations from anyone who is able to. The organization has several ways people can help, including: • Adopt-a-Family holiday program • Clothing boutique donations • Facilitate a workshop • Gift baskets • Gift cards • Scholarships • Sundry items