Members Only, RSVP Required
Thursday, April 27, 2017
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Vanderbilt Suites
Met Life Building
200 Park Avenue
44th Street & Vanderbilt Avenue
(enter from Grand Central Terminal)
Buffet Dinner Will Be Served
The W Connection was created on the Upper West Side on Manhattan by two friends who were suddenly widowed within the space of one year. While dealing with their own personal tragedies, they experienced first hand the difficulty widows face in finding support services. After talking with many other widows, they found that was little in the way of organized help, support and guidance to assist women going through one of the most traumatic episodes in their lives and their experience was not unique. This revelation provided the genesis for The W Connection. The organization was founded in 2009 with the simple yet challenging goal of helping women rebuild their life after the death of a spouse.
The W Connection was created out of necessity. In 2007, I gave birth to my first child. Shortly after, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and died 2 months later when my son, William was just 3 months old. In 2008, I became a new mom and a new widow. While there was many books and support on being a new mom, there was very little support a widow. There was no “What to expect when expecting/widowed”. I quickly realized that you lose more than a spouse; you lose the of the vision of the life you thought you were going to have.
The W Connection supports widows through peer support. We want to make the distinction that we are not a therapy group. All of our volunteers are widows. We found that the best support for another widow is someone who gets it, which is another widow.
Our Speakers
Dawn Nargi — Co-Founder of The W Connection \ Life Coach \ Mindfulness Teacher
Dawn was suddenly widowed in 2008, 3 months after the birth of her son thus becoming a new mom and a new widow in the same year. In 2009, she co-founded W Connection to help widows rebuild their life after the death of a spouse. In her professional life, Dawn is a certified professional life coach, mindfulness teacher and public speaker giving workshops in the New York City Area.
Barbara Rosecan M.A. — Chapter Coordinator The W Connection \ Counselor
Barbara lost her husband and father of their two young boys, 8 years ago after a short battle with Cancer. Barbara Rosecan joined The W Connection as a volunteer serving as a mentor and then moving on to co-lead our Upper West Side chapters. In her Professional life for the past 30 years, Barbara has been a Therapist and Counselor, at a College, working with students with academic and personal issues.
Valerie Vail — Member The W Connection UWS
Valerie joined The W Connection in 2010 when her husband, Lewis died after a long battle with ALS. Valerie has always been a strong supporter of The W Connection’s mission and vision by being committed to helping other women through their grief, speaking openly to other widows about widowhood and bringing new widows to our chapter meetings in an effort to support them and help them move forward with their lives. Valerie is a sales and marketing executive and a mom to her now 14 year old daughter, Layla.
RSVP by April 25
Directions to Vanderbilt Suites
From outside
If you are walking outside, arrive at East 44th Street and Vanderbilt Avenue (one block east of Madison Ave – you will see Grand Central Terminal). You will see La Fonda Del Sol on your right. Go in through the Met Life Building’s entrance that is located directly next to La Fonda and head up the escalators immediately in front of you. These will lead you directly to the Vanderbilt Suites.
From Grand Central Terminal
Lexington Avenue Line 4, 5, or 6 / Shuttle Train to 42nd Street/Grand Central. Exit subway – follow exit signs to Metro North or Grand Central Terminal. Once inside Grand Central Terminal, walk to the information booth in the center. Look - There are only one set of escalators. Take the escalators up one flight. Walk straight through the revolving doors, veering left and then go up the first escalator. Vanderbilt Suites will be on your left, directly in front of the elevators.