Sometimes all it takes is a spark.
A kind word. An understanding nod. A feeling of belonging.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed by the world, lost and looking for connection. For community. When you find it, the world seems to open up for you.
That’s the feeling Ambee Stephens, EmpowHERment Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer, was searching for in 2017 after the loss of her father. “When he passed away, it was really earth shattering for me and my family. In trying to find community, I would go to different places. There was a lot of things for domestic violence, sexual assault, grief in general. But there wasn’t anything just for your everyday person who had lost someone who was looking for just grounding,” shared Stephens.
Ambee filled that need by creating her own support group. Little did she know what it would grow into. “It was supposed to be a group of women that would come together, that would heal and deal. We started off at different coffee shops and restaurants, just meeting and connecting. One thing led to the next. And here we are, all these years later,” added Stephens.
That spark shifted many things for Ambee. She wasn’t the only one looking for that type of connection, and she felt empowered to bring that connection to others. She founded EmpowHERment in 2018 and refocused her future to bring new life to the fledgling organization, shifting focus from a planned career in law, graduating with a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management.
The organization hosts chapters throughout Tampa Bay and beyond, as well as a Community Center in Clearwater. “What started as your everyday gathering has evolved to full-fledged offerings,” shared Stephens. The community center offers no cost therapy, weekly workshops, a boutique, and hygiene pantry. The organization also offers an app and an entrepreneurship program. “We meet women where they are. You don’t have to be any social-economic status. We just want to know that you want support, and we’re happy to give it to you. We really are all-inclusive.”
The organization truly shines in how it evolves to reflect the needs of the community. “During COVID, we launched the Entrepreneurship Academy because so many women we serve were talking about how their husbands or significant others were abusive during the pandemic,” explained Stephens. “They wanted to find their own way. We launched the Entrepreneurship Academy so women can have the tools they need to launch their own business and find that sufficiency.”
While that may have been the impetus to start the Academy, they’ve found that while the need is still there, the reasons they seek it may be different. Now it’s finding a way to escape corporate burn out or find a solution that also allows them to stay home with their children. “We kind of change with the times, even in terms of finding who we empower and serve,” explained Stephens. “We’re just very intentional about making sure that it truly is a place where women can feel empowered and they still have their integrity when they walk through our doors.”
The biggest need they see today are women looking for therapy as they change their personal narrative and find a fresh path. “So many women are just so tired of the hustle and bustle. Culture has changed so much, and so many women are literally exhausted. I see a lot of people trying to break their own narratives and not really sure how to do it, and looking for someone to understand them,” said Stephens.
Ambee is quick to clarify what empowerment is truly about. “Women’s empowerment is not some feminist movement. It truly is how can we give women the tools they need to be self-sufficient and be in community with other people, that includes men and children. I want the women we serve to love themselves so we can collectively love each other. That’s what it’s all about.”
EmpowHERment is focused on working together to help women find their voice. With the community’s support, they’re poised to help women find that spark for years to come. To learn more about EmpowHERment, and how you can support their efforts, visit empowherment.org.
“I want the women we serve to love themselves so we can collectively love each other. That’s what it’s all about.”
“We meet women where they are. You don’t have to be any social-economic status. We just want to know that you want support, and we’re happy to give it to you. We really are all-inclusive.”