WILD Mentorship Program Applications to Open to all WILD Members – August 14th!

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Applications for the peer-to-peer WILD Mentorship Program, open to all WILD members, will open August 14th!! 

The goal of the program is to connect women at all stages of their lighting careers through peer-to-peer style mentorship, with participants taking on the role of both mentor and mentee. If you are interested in participating at a more involved level, there will be a portion of the application open to share your interest in becoming a group liaison. The group liaison will be guiding the small group through finding a meeting time, asking questions to get the ball rolling and remaining the connection point between the Mentorship Committee and the small group. 

We are so excited for the formal launch of the program at the Annual Membership Meeting! Stay tuned for application release on August 14th. Contact wildmentorshipprogram@gmail.com with your questions. 

#wearewild #womeninlightinganddesign #wildmentorship #womensupportingwomen

WILD Mentorship Program Launching This Fall!

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

The peer-to-peer WILD Mentorship Program, free and open to all members of WILD, is launching at the WILD Annual Membership Meeting on August 14th! Following the success of the pilot program last Spring, the expanded program’s cohorts will meet October to April. 

The goal of the WILD Mentorship Program is to connect women at all stages of their lighting careers, encourage leadership and support within the community, and create a safe space for WILD Members to share their experiences and learn from one another. The program will be small, peer-to-peer style groups, where all participants will take on both mentor and mentee roles to foster growth and expand networks. 

Keep your eyes peeled for our article this month in LD+A and get excited for the application opening on August 14th!

#wearewild #womeninlightinganddesign #wildmentorship #womensupportingwomen

Celebrating our 1st Full Year as a Membership Organization with a word from WILD Member – Megan Barclay

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Congratulations to Megan for becoming a principal of the Canadian-based agency, Prolux Lighting and being a founding member of WILD’s Edmonton Chapter! 

“We wanted to build a support and network system primarily for women where everyone felt included, safe and recognized.”

Read more about her decade long journey in lighting here..

– How did you get into lighting?
I stumbled into lighting and never left! I previously came from the restaurant industry which sparked my passion for customer service/people. 

– Tell us about your career path
I started with Prolux in 2014 and was hired as a PO entry person. I was eager to learn from the people around me and picked up as much knowledge as I could. I was very fortunate to work with such a knowledgeable team that was willing to answers all the questions that came to mind. I quickly realized I had a passion for lighting and the technology behind it. It is such a fast paced industry and that was something I thrived in. I moved into project coordinating, sales and finally principal. I really enjoy working with people and solving problems and I think that’s what lead me to where I am today. Most importantly, I focus on building long-term relationships with clients, manufacturers, and staff. 

– What motivated you to start the Edmonton WILD chapter?
One of my good customers, who has become such a great friend, and I were talking one afternoon and she mentioned WILD and what the organization was doing in the states. It sounded like such a great opportunity to start a Chapter in Edmonton. As the current President of the IES(myself) and VP of the IES (Tanya) we realized that we wanted more support and recognition for all the amazing women we have met throughout the years. We wanted to build a support and network system primarily for women where everyone felt included, safe, and recognized. Our first few events were very successful and we cannot wait to see the Chapter grow.

WHY are you a Member of WILD?

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Read what our Members are saying about the importance and joy of becoming an Official member of WILD…

Tell us why you became a member of WILD!

WILD mentorship is looking for engaged volunteers!

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

After a very successful Pilot Program, WILD Mentorship is looking to launch the official program this Fall!

We are looking for individuals looking to donate their time and efforts to the Mentorship Committee. Volunteers will be collaborating, sharing ideas and supporting ongoing program needs. If you are interested, please email wildmentorshipprogram@gmail.com to be included in July’s meeting.

Mentorship applications, including applications for those interested in being a group liaison, will be opening in August. Stay tuned for more information!

Heritage Months and Identity Recognitions Feedback Initiative

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

JUNE: Caribbean American Heritage Month

Alexandria Rodriguez

Showroom Manager

Coronet LED

MONTH: June

Caribbean Heritage Month is special to me because it’s been a journey of discovering who I am within the black and Latin communities. My upbringing, influenced by Trinidadian, Haitian, and Jamaican cultures, taught me to appreciate our differences and how they bring us together to create beautiful things in all areas of life. Growing up, I was surrounded by the vibrant traditions, languages, and foods of the Caribbean. From soca music to Carnival celebrations, each aspect of Caribbean culture connected me to my roots and made me feel part of a larger community. As I learned more about my heritage, I realized that despite the differences among Caribbean nations, we share a common history of resilience and pride. This unity inspires creativity and innovation across different industries. Caribbean Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of Caribbean people around the world, from literature and art to music and food. It’s also a chance to challenge stereotypes and promote understanding among diverse communities. For me, this month is about honoring the past, enjoying the present, and looking forward to a future of equality and cultural exchange. It’s a reminder of the enduring spirit and contributions of the Caribbean community.

Pilot Program Successful: Stay Tuned for the Mentoring Program Roll-Out!

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Over 30 women from across the country helped us run a test pilot of WILD’s first peer-to-peer mentorship program throughout January, February, and March. The pilot program grouped women of various ages, backgrounds, experience levels, and locations, providing them with a mentoring committee liaison and a resource toolkit to structure the three-month test program. The feedback that has been received has been both encouraging and tremendously helpful in tweaking the program for the planned rollout this coming Fall. Stay tuned for more information and the call to join, coming soon!

We want to send a big shout-out to all of the cohort participants that helped kick the tires in the pilot program, and to all of our liaisons who helped keep things on track in the test phase. Our committee is looking forward to helping WILD make meaningful connections through mentorship through this program!

Want to get involved? Shoot a note to wildmentorshipprogram@gmail.com!

If you have any questions, please reach out to wildmentorshipprogram@gmail.com. We hope you take the chance to come grow with us!

Heritage Months and Identity Recognitions Feedback Initiative

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

MONTH: Mental Health Awareness Month

Amanda Garcia Miranda

Senior Lighting Designer

HLB Lighting Design

MONTH: May

Every mental health awareness month, I reflect on how much softer and more empathetic I can be towards myself and others. This month is also a time to contemplate what the next best steps are towards breaking and healing from generational experiences woven from trauma, cultural/societal expectations, and the physical health patterns that manifest from that. Unfortunately, many of us are familiar with carrying transgenerational strain on our backs. But it doesn’t have to be this way. When we create space to listen compassionately and uncritically towards ourselves and our peers, we break cycles of shame and guilt. That shared space becomes more open, authentic, and trustworthy over time. We all have the power to heal, break cycles, love ourselves harder, and protect the peace of our bodies, hearts, and minds. We owe it to ourselves. Small steps are still progress. Surround yourself with those who see the positives in you. Sometimes, I think that maybe that’s why many of us are drawn to this ethereal field; we design light because a part of us yearns for it and believes that our communities deserve it. Maybe we want to make everyone’s world, especially those we love, just a little bit brighter.

Showroom tour for California College of the Arts students 

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Sharing our passion for lighting and design — WILD Board member Haley Laurence worked with WILD Portland Committee member Julia Redfern (Lucifer) and WILD SF Committee members Maryanne Berger and Leslie Siegel (both ALR) and WILD SF members Margo Majewska and Margaux Schindler (both educators at CCA). Photo from CCA.

As part of our new student outreach initiative, WILD Board member Haley Laurence worked with Portland member Julia Redfern and San Francisco members Leslie Siegel, Maryanne Berger, and educator Margo Majewska to organize a tour of the Lucifer Lighting showroom for students from California College of the Arts. The students were able to engage with industry professionals while learning about lighting fundamentals in a fun and interactive environment. This was a wonderful opportunity to utilize the connections within our network to inspire the next generation of lighting designers!

For more student outreach opportunities contact Outreach Chair Haley Laurence at outreach@womeninlightinganddesign.org

Are you WILD? Advocating for Equity with Elaine Cook.

Posted on by Women in Lighting + Design

Past President Kelly Roberts had the honor of interviewing Elaine Cook in this month’s designing lighting magazine, and learned all about what Equity in Lighting (EIL) is currently working on. EIL is taking a multi-pronged approach to bring more diversity and inclusion into the lighting industry. Their work is crucial in understanding existing dynamics and the missed opportunities and gaps that should be filled in our current research. We should all be following their lead, and raising our hands to volunteer! Reach out to Elaine Cook to learn more and get involved!

Thank you designing lighting for giving Women in Lighting + Design (WILD) space to share about the fantastic work our members are doing!

Check out the article (and rest of the magazine) here:
https://lnkd.in/eh7yi9Pg

Equity in Lighting: https://lnkd.in/ei-pj3ZH