On this episode we learn about the Rotary for Network Empowering Women with Anastasia V. Persico. You won't want to miss her compelling story.
Welcome to this episode of talking Rotary. I'm Peter Tonge and I'm a member of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg Charleswood.
Mandy Kwasnica:And I"m Mandy Kwasnica the past president and also a member of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg, Charleswood. We are so happy you joined us here and I are so excited for this new podcast and thankful to our many listeners. Let's start talking Rotary.
Peter Tonge:Mandy, this is an exciting interview we just did with Anastasia Persico. Her new group, the Rotary Network, Empowering Women sounds like quite the force.
Mandy Kwasnica:Absolutely. I think our listeners are going to really appreciate Anastasia's openness and sharing her story of why she is so passionate about this topic. And I think it's gonna really expand our minds and just thinking the way we can do it rotary different.
Peter Tonge:Exactly. Once again, we get to talk to a guest who's doing Rotary differently. I love to share these stories.
Mandy Kwasnica:Absolutely. So get ready and hear this wonderful interview with Anastasia.
Peter Tonge:Hi, everyone. I'm Peter Tonge Welcome to another episode of Talking Rotary.
Mandy Kwasnica:And I'm Mandy Kwasnica.
Peter Tonge:And we're herewith Anastasia V. Persico. And she is from the Rotary Network for Empowering Women. We're speaking to her today for Woodbury, Connecticut. Hi, Anastasia. Welcome.
Anastasia Persico:Hello, Peter. Hello, Mandy. Thank you for inviting me. And I'm so happy to be part of this podcast.
Mandy Kwasnica:Thank you.
Peter Tonge:Thank you. We're so excited to hear about this initiative. So can you tell us about the Rotary Network for Empowering Women.
Anastasia Persico:So the Rotary Network for Empowering Women was a passion and a vision that I had that I wanted to actually establish quite a few years earlier. But as anyone knows, starting a nonprofit from scratch is very difficult ordeal financially and energy wise, I guess, to put in and to do it by yourself. So while I was a Rotarian prior to starting my own Rotary group, and what happened was one day I presented to members of my traditional Rotary group, I said, you know, I really have a passion for human trafficking. And I really would like to do something with that. And they all looked at me like I have three heads. So I said, Okay, so we kind of let that sit in and it didn't go anywhere. And then one day, another Rotarian who was a Past District Governor says to me, in Anastasia, you have such passion, he goes, Why don't you just start your own Rotary group? I said, I can do that? And he goes, of course you can. So I said, that's a good idea. And I really didn't want to have it local. I want it to be broad or global. So we decided to go with the idea of an E club, and to have it as a cause based club because cause based clubs were what was coming as a new trend now with Rotary. So you know, we went back and forth. And I know that Minnesota had done a lot of ventures with educating people on human trafficking were inspired. And Tom Gump who is was actually the District Governor at the time. He is an amazing man and he helped us continuously and never challenged us on anything and he embraced our vision. And we continue to create and charter this rotary for empowering women. What was that drive that made you want to do the effort of making your own Rotary group? Well, I think I needed a place that I can share my story as well as create a safe space for other people who have had similar situations or have known someone with similar situations, to be able to share the commonality and embrace friendships and be able to help others grow path. The points of being in traumatic situations,
Peter Tonge:right? And how much of your story do you want to share with us? I don't want you to share anything that you don't want to share. But do you want to share some of your story with us?
Anastasia Persico:So I would love to. I am a survivor of both child molestation, and I'm a survivor of sexual rape. One at the age of nine, and the other one at the age of 14. And I still battleit, I'm sorry. I still battle it. But for years, I had to kind of retain it internally. Because back then, you know, it wasn't. I guess what people, you know, my parents were the type of traditional parents where, you know, people couldn't know what happened, you know, it was like hidden, it was taken care of, on their own. But even though they took care of the situation itself, they didn't help me through it. So I didn't really have any counseling back then I didn't have anyone to share it with. It was sort of like a secret I withheld for years until probably I want to say, My late 20s, when I decided to get help for myself, and I decided to put myself through therapy. And for years, I probably went through therapy for 15 years. And, you know, sometimes I'll go in and out of therapy at this point, but I've gotten to the stage of my life where I can share my story, I can understand it, I can accept it. But I want to be able to bring that to light with other people in the group, whether it's the same situation as I went through, or if it's a different situation. And I want to be able to let people know you can still live, you can still be beautiful, you can still go out, you can still have success in your life, and you can still feel like a real person. Because I know for me, I had years of where I felt that people could see what happened to me through me. And I just came to the realization when you are able to get support and share that it helps you overcome. You know, that insecurity or that pain, I guess, that you've held all these years, and it's almost sort of a regretful pain, because you're angry at the world for not only what happened to you, but having to withhold it from the world. And, you know, and I really, I mean, no, I wasn't trafficked. I mean, this was all a personal, you know, friends of the family, which is basically the biggest types of groomers. It's always somebody that somebody knows, and I feel that I human trafficking really I feel like people live in a bubble, and they don't see they think human trafficking only happens, you know, in countries that there's poverty, but it doesn't, it's happening right here in front of us. And people don't want to accept it. But the thing is that our society is so busy today, and people have needs and these young kids are not getting what they need. And there's someone else that's giving it to them and it's misleading. And then they get caught up in these situations. And I am a mother of four children myself, and I feel that you would never want to see your child be taken or be sold for sex or be sold for service or any type of labor. And it's just it's an awareness, you need to bring awareness and I think the more we bring awareness, just like rotary stopped polio up to a certain percent and it took him 45 years. This may take us 100 years, but eventually I think we can put an end to human trafficking and you know, even cases of domestic and child abuse
Peter Tonge:Yeah, you're right. In other groups that we've talked about other people, we got to, we hear over and over again, that an issue like human trafficking, in the general public's presumption is oh, that happened somewhere else. Right. But we know that's not true. But we seem to push it to the background.
Anastasia Persico:Yes, Mandy, do you had a question?
Mandy Kwasnica:I want to first of all, just thank you for being so open and transparent and sharing your story, I know that that definitely will have an impact on people and you are making a difference. So I want to thank you for what you're doing. Want to I guess, ask a couple questions about the, there was a Rotary Club, a club that we had talked to that was about human trafficking. And have you connected with them? How does your club kind of work differently? Like, what how does it differ then, like the rotary network of Empower empowering women? What how does that different than the human trafficking?
Anastasia Persico:Okay, so with our Rotary club, we actually decided to have four components to it, because there's a lot of different passions in the club. So we separated the year by quarters, and we do human trafficking the first quarter. So to minimize and educate people, and and now just realize we're the third, we're like the middleman, we don't actually have doctors on our group and this and that, that actually, you know, we're the type of people that are trying to get funding and resources to try to help or collaborate with another group, that is the bigger picture that can actually help these victims, or survivors of trafficking. And then our second component is micro financing for international projects, you know, women with children overseas, and that really hits home to me. I mean, both my parents were immigrants, and they came here for a better life. And I feel that, you know, sometimes I've traveled all over the world, and I see how lucky we are, even our homeless are lucky compared to what other people are like in other countries. And the thing is that you know, these women don't have that opportunity, they don't have the chance to get educated, they don't have the chance to be able to even something simple, like, you know, we're working with a group in Malaysia to purchase beads so that women can make beads to make money. We've considered even, you know, purchasing like sewing machines, so they can sell things to sell. Because if they're able to make a living on their own, then they don't have to feel the need to be dependent on the government or on a man that can take advantage of them or their children, and, you know, bring them into some kind of slavery and, Then our third component is women in the military. And I have two children in the military right now. So it's very big. And we have a lot of military people. We have two military people on our actually three on our board, Air Force, Marines army. And they're actually two of them are colonels, so a retired colonels. And there's just so many things and stories that I've heard how women are treated in the military, even though they become more equal with men, but there's still the challenge. And then there's a challenge of the rapes and the trauma. And, you know, so we try to support that. And then our last quarter is domestic violence and child abuse. And domestic violence isn't just a spouse or a partner, it could be a parent towards a child, a child who is a parent, it could be, you know, a whole family component. But even though our title is network for empowering women, we think of it as if we're empowering the woman than the woman can empower her children and it doesn't exclude boys, it doesn't exclude men, inclusive to everyone, all races, all genders. And, but, you know, we came there with that idea.
Mandy Kwasnica:Love it. So it's encompassing way more than just the human trafficking part that you started talking about? How many members do you currently have? And what's the demographic kind of like?
Anastasia Persico:Okay, so we have, I want to say we have about 54 members, but they're not all active, like we want them to be. I think we're gonna have to take on a little bit more of a we're trying to bring some new ideas to reengage some of the members but you know, people have lives people are kept busy. They, you know, or maybe the timing doesn't always work or the idea doesn't work for them or they you know, maybe one likes that human trafficking chapter will be more You know, likely to come to that as opposed to military or vice versa. And, you know, we're working with some new creative things. And our members are all over the United States, we have members from besides Connecticut, we have New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, Texas, Ohio, Minnesota, Kansas. And then we also have members in the in Thailand, Malaysia, Poland, Greece. And I think the Philippines was the other one. Yeah, we're trying to bridge we want to have more diversity, and be able to engage in you know, reaching out to more people,
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Peter Tonge:So with such a large and diverse group, how do you stay connected?
Anastasia Persico:So all our meetings of yours, I'm sorry, via zoom. And we try to do two different meetings, we do two meetings a month. One is on a Saturday at 9am. Eastern time. And the other one is Monday, the third Monday of the month at 7pm. Eastern. So it's the first Saturday of the month at 9am. Eastern the third Monday of the month at 7pm. Eastern, and we figured well, if somebody can't come to the morning, one, because of the time change, sometimes people are 10 hours difference, or they're sleeping, then they can come to the evening one. And yeah, so and it's good. And we're consistent with that. And, you know, we have some great speakers try to keep our speakers in relation to the quarter we're in. And, you know, we have a lot of people that are really engaged and they ask questions. And we've done quite a few fundraisers so far, I mean, we've raised, we just closed on a grant for Poland, we work with Poland, and one of the Rotarians over there, and we were able to raise $14,000 for them and a project that's 18,600. And they're going to come up with a difference in their rotary groups. But it's for a terminally ill, or hospice type Hospital for Children. And so that's our first grant. And then we are co collaborating with a Minnesota group to do a grant for malaria in one of the African countries, and then our next grant that we're considering for next year is to help buy educational materials for girls between the age of 13 and 14 and the Ivory Coast and Africa. Because they don't give the girls the opportunity over there. So we're just looking forward, and we possibly might also connect with somebody from Thailand. I've spoken with him already. And he does a lot of human trafficking things over there. So, you know, it's all about collaborating and being able to help each other and each other'sgroups.
Peter Tonge:I just gotta say that sounds like a lot of good stuff for a very young group.
Anastasia Persico:Thank you. Yes, absolutely. We're movers.
Mandy Kwasnica:So many of our listeners might be hearing this and thinking that they might be interested, what can they expect by potentially joining your rotary network for empowering women?
Anastasia Persico:So one thing they can expect is that we don't turn anything away. We listen to everyone's passions. We try to fit everyone's Oh, guess, as it. Everybody has ideas and everybody has. So we try to work with everybody in order to create something that works for everybody. Because we don't want to discount anyone's feelings or passion of what they feel is. I guess I'm kind of like trying to think of words here because I'm trying to I'm what will empower them. I think that's maybe the correct word.
Mandy Kwasnica:and keep them engaged to correct?
Anastasia Persico:Yes. And you know, one of my taglines, and it's, it's in my, in the article that was written about me, but people asked me how I get people to join. And I basically tell them that, quote, it starts with a inner passion, when you believe others believe and will follow in that spirit. I believe that's how all these people came onto our group because they see the passion that I have or that other members have, and they're interested, they're engaged, and they want to actually be part of something that's a bigger picture.
Mandy Kwasnica:Absolutely, I think that's one of the differences we found, like Peter and I interviewing many of these different types of interest groups within rotary is that everyone is led there because of a passion that they have, they're very passionate, and not that they couldn't have those passions within a typical Rotary Club. But if you're extremely passionate about a certain topic, why not join, join a specific group on that, then that's it makes perfect sense.
Anastasia Persico:Right. And the nice thing about the rotary is, because I tried to start this couple years before I, you know, on my own as a separate entity. And the nice thing about the rotary is they have a great platform, they have great educational materials, they have great support, and you know, they have, you know, this thing where they service above self, and I find that most of the Rotarians feel that way. And when you should see the light up when they do something, and it's just, it just makes you feel like so accomplished. That was something that you were able to do not as an individual, but as a group, or even with strangers that you've never met and be able to end something or solve something or create something or provide something and it's just, there's a lot of energy, a lot of positive energy.
Peter Tonge:Okay, as you were telling your story, Anastasia, I was curious to know how was forming the group and putting the group together helped you?
Anastasia Persico:So I feel that this group allows me to be able to work with other people. And occasionally I've shared my story. And I will bring it up to let other people know that you're not a failure that you can still succeed. And look where I've gotten. And I did it all on my own pretty much with friends. I didn't have that support system that is provided nowadays. And I think with the support system, and people recognizing things, thatit helps me because I didn't have it, and I feel that I if I can help someone else have it. They wouldn't have to suffer like I suffered, you know?
Peter Tonge:Absolutely. What's the most unexpected thing that's happened in your group over the last couple of years? Oh, wow. I never expected that.
Anastasia Persico:Okay, so I'll give you something that just very, very recent, and it's not really a group thing, but I was just at the Houston convention or the zone convention for the district. And or the zones? I'm sorry. And I was approached by one of the district governor ALEXX. And he said to me, would you consider being a district governor? And I said, really? And he said, Yes, he goes, we need people with your enthusiasm and energy. And we need people to be in leadership roles. And I said, oh, boy, I said, I've never I'm doing the things that would happen. And I kind of entertained it. But I said, financially, it's going to be a lot because I live on the east coast, and how am I going to be able to be a district governor, you know, Central, and he said, You know what, we're creating a new governor type of membership where you would be a zoo governor, kind of so he says, You can do everything on Zoom, and then you wouldn't have to travel or pay for any of the expenses. And I said, Wow, that'd be great. I said, when you become district governor, I will come under you and I said I will be I guess I have to go through steps but I can be a District Governor, elect nominee, I don 't know
Peter Tonge:There is a whole ladder.
Anastasia Persico:Right. Right. So um, yeah, that was very Inspiring I guess. Yes, so it's nice. And you know what, I'm just myself, I feel like I I think that's one of the things that's helped this group is that I am so transparent, and I'm just me, you know, I'm funny and silly at times, and I'm sad at times, and I speak my mind, and I don't try to act a certain way. So people can view me a certain way. You know, I am what I am, and you get what you get kind of thing, you know,
Mandy Kwasnica:You're genuine.
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Peter Tonge:For som eone who's had as much drama in their life is you've had, it's wonderful to see how comfortable you become in your own skin.
Anastasia Persico:Thank you.
Peter Tonge:Absolutely. It's obvious just in our conversation that you're very comfortable with who you are. And that's fantastic. Thank you, Peter.
Mandy Kwasnica:So where do you see yourself and your group? Like in the next five years, let's say like, what are your goals and plans for this network, this network.
Anastasia Persico:So my actually one of my biggest goals is to have by next year, I would like to have a subgroup or a Rotaract group under us, he trying to create that. And when I say Rotaract, I'm trying to create it at the college level. I feel that now with all the diversity and inclusion in the college levels, and, you know, there's other, I guess, the things that are going on in the world, people are more aware of things, and they can relate to things more. And if I created at the college level up to like, say, 30, then I'm able to bring more attention to our group, because I will have the younger members being able to advocate for us and what we want to achieve, and engage other students to feel the same passion and be able to help, you know, in what we want to progress as a group. One thing that I'm looking forward to, I'm also looking forward to going into Poland next year, so I can shake their hand and, you know, take a picture in front of our project, because that took a lot of work. And I also am looking to spend some time in Africa, and I really have a passion for Africa. And you know, I don't know where except from I just feel that. You know, there. You know, when you meet somebody from Africa, there's such lovely people, they're so polite, and they're so educated. And I don't know, it just sort of makes me feel good. Just to talk to them. I don't know, some I know maybe sounds strange, but I it's just one of those things that I feel like a comfort. I feel like you know, and yeah, I don't know, I mean, I think that's my goals and just to grow and, you know, perhaps maybe even branch out to another group that you know, would be a subgroup, another sub rotary of ours, or would you call those satellite groups, maybe, like groups?
Mandy Kwasnica:Right. Excellent.
Peter Tonge:So the other side of that same question, I guess is, how is the group help some of your other members and some of the other people in your community?
Anastasia Persico:Okay, so, right now we're in our veterans quarter, and we're selling yard signs that say, you know, proud to be an American, thank a veteran. We're also creating our own renewed T shirts that are veteran. And so we're trying to get back to local veteran organizations. Prior to that, we worked with some domestic violence homes and we did collections. We provided, you know, gift cards for grocery stores and for the pharmacy and we also toiletries and all that other stuff. We've tried to work a lot with the American Red across one of our members is an organizer for it. So we're able to closely work with them in a lot of respects. Let's see, what else have we done? That's I think we're trying to do more out of the box types activities, not your traditional local Rotarian things where, you know, I know the Rotarians did a big thing on masks and do a lot for the food banks, but we're trying to do more. You know, I think a little bit more out of the box type give backs.
Peter Tonge:Anastasia, we only have one standard question for each podcast episode. And what I want to know is there's lots of organizations you could be working with, you could be spending your time doing lots of stuff. Why Rotary?
Anastasia Persico:You know, I have to thank both. Ron Webb, who was a district governor here in Connecticut, and Tom Gump, because if it wasn't for the passion in the two of them, and they actually showed me that the difference between a Rotarian with passion and a traditional Rotarian, and I know it sounds kind of, maybe. But I felt that rotary would give me more opportunity to be able to really emphasize what I'm passionate about, unlike any of the other clubs. I mean, you can look at the Lions Club, you can look at like the Kiwanis or any of those clubs, and they're all, they all have their missions, they don't really stray from their missions. But Rotary, they have this new thing. Now they opened doors, and it wasn't until recently, but rotary gives you the opportunity to be able to really live your passion, I guess. And if you're able to do things that make you feel good, then you're able to do them better and greater scale as opposed to doing something that is just part of the group to do it just because the group does it. I don't know if that makes sense.
Peter Tonge:Absolutely. Makes sense. It's a perfect way to end.
Mandy Kwasnica:We just want to thank Anastasia Persico for being so open and vulnerable and sharing her personal story and just for the work that she's doing.
Peter Tonge:Yeah, no, it was as you say, she was very good about sharing her story that the the sort of brought her to create in this group and then share the great work that yet another virtual Rotary Club is doing I love to see these new ways of doing Rotary and be able to share that with our listeners.
Mandy Kwasnica:Absolutely. And I think a lot of our listeners will have appreciated everything that she's brought to the table in this interview and really expand our way of thinking of how to do rotary is really good.
Peter Tonge:Absolutely. Thanks Mandy.
Mandy Kwasnica:Thank you so much for joining us on another great episode of Talking Rotary. We would love to hear from you. Please send us your comments and story ideas and you can share with us easily by sending us an email at feedback at talking rotary.org Let's keep Talking Rotary.