Welcoming Two New Leaders to CWEE’s Board of Directors

CWEE is delighted to welcome two new leaders to our Board of Directors – Tara Friedman and Arfa Hasan.

Tara and Arfa bring a valuable set of professional expertise and personal experience that will advance CWEE’s work to connect career seekers with quality employment opportunities and make CWEE’s mission sustainable long into the future.

Arfa is a corporate recruiter and supports CWEE as an employer partner, creating opportunities for our career seekers and supporting retention and job success. Arfa feels a special connection to the CWEE graduates as she is a recent CWEE alumna herself. With her unique dual perspective – as both an employer and a former program participant – Arfa looks forward to sharing her ideas and expertise to further improve and adapt CWEE’s employment training program.

Tara Friedman is an experienced nonprofit and fundraising leader, coach and consultant. She has advised many diverse organizations of all sizes on strategies to build strong relationships and connect with supporters. Tara is passionate about CWEE’s mission and building support for the educational and economic opportunities that are still unequally distributed across our society.

CWEE could not be happier to welcome Arfa and Tara to the Board of Directors! 👏 🎉 🥳 🙌 Keep reading to hear from Arfa and Tara in their own words.

Tara Friedman

CWEE makes a tremendous and measurable impact in the lives of so many individuals and families by providing real solutions and a manageable path to economic self-sufficiency.  I picture the cliff effect – women and children on the precipice of that cliff, denied the economic and educational opportunities everyone deserves.  CWEE is the bridge across the cliff to independence – a bridge that provides sustainability for generations.  I am looking forward to learning from program participants and staff about these barriers and offering my expertise to grow and diversify revenue for the organization through philanthropy.

I attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and after graduation, was introduced to the power of philanthropy and started as a major gifts officer at CU Boulder before transitioning to a small nonprofit in the workplace giving arena, Community Shares of Colorado, where I became familiar with the impact CWEE makes in our community.

I “grew up” as a nonprofit leader at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains where I moved up the organization to oversee the major gifts and political giving teams. For nearly 10 years, I served as a Philanthropy Director at Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation where I secured over $25 million for pediatric clinical care and research from generous families in the Rocky Mountain region. Over the last year as a consultant, I’ve supported different missions as they tap the power of storytelling and relationship building to inspire donors.

In addition to CWEE, I also serve on the External Affairs Committee for Brent’s Place, a long-term home-away-from-home for patients and families undergoing life-limiting illnesses. I’m a Denver Native, married to a Denver Native, raising two Denver Natives (and a tortoise). When I’m not cheering on my son at basketball and my daughter at soccer, I enjoy exploring our beautiful state.  I’m a former trail runner (now trail walker), open water swimmer (now stand-up paddle boarder) and tortoise enthusiast.

Arfa Hasan

Today I have my dream job with Allied Universal working as a corporate recruiter. My job and the company are everything that I hoped for and envisioned in a career. The work culture and my team inspire me every day and I have learned so much in my role. My children are thriving with me and I’m excited to now be in a position to give back and help other single parents by working with CWEE as an employer partner.

But the path to get here has not been easy.

When I came to CWEE, I was a single mother with two young children. I had recently graduated from college and found myself newly divorced, in a difficult custody battle, and without a job or much work experience. I had had limited control of my life and needed help starting over.

I felt lost and I didn’t know where to turn. My sister, who works with local non-profits, recommended CWEE because of their great reputation in the community. They were able to help get me back on my feet.

I started the program and immediately CWEE assisted me with the basic necessities such as food, supplies for my kids, and cash assistance. They connected me to a career advisor who helped me work on my long-term career goals and begin applying to jobs.

The entire CWEE team is amazing and consistently encouraged me. They put me at ease and walked me through the whole process, helping me as much as I needed. My brief prior recruiting experience and college degree helped me land my first job with a technical recruiting company. Once I had my first position, I quickly earned a promotion. I was back on my feet again and my career was taking off.

So, I reached out to CWEE to find out how I could become an employer partner and start working to hire candidates who are enrolled at CWEE and need additional support. It makes me feel so grateful that CWEE helped me and now I can give back to the community and work with CWEE as an employer partner – and now a member of their Board of Directors!

My story is just one example of CWEE’s impact and there are many more stories like mine throughout CWEE’s 40 plus year history.