April 2025 Monthly Day Meeting

In April, we’ll hear from Keshia Javis-Jones, Community Partnerships Director of Foundation for Women Warriors. Foundation for Women Warriors is a 104-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and empowering the women veteran community. We’ll also celebrate GFWC’s birthday and recognize GFWC Federation Day, which is April 24. 

About Foundation for Women Warriors (FWW)

Often overshadowed by their male counterparts, our programs honor, empower and support the women who answered our nation’s call to serve. FWW addresses the top four needs that women veterans have self-identified as crucial to the success of their transition: education, employment, housing, and childcare. Their mission is: A world in which the service of every woman veteran is honored, and she can achieve the quality of life she fought for.

At Foundation for Women Warriors, we are on a mission to serve women veterans and their children so that their next mission is clear and continues to impact the world. The organization is designed to enhance the personal and economic wellbeing of women veterans and address the growing needs of the increasing population of military women transitioning to civilian life.

About Our Speaker, Keshia Javis-Jones

Keshia is currently the Director of Community Partnerships at Foundation for Women Warriors, leading all FFWW community partnerships and professional development education. Before this role, Keshia was an integral volunteer and ambassador for FFWW. In these roles, Keshia raised significant funds and assisted in advocacy efforts to garner support for the 6888^th Congressional Gold Medal.

Keshia previously worked as an Administrative Director of Education Programs, Outreach Director, and Director of Operations in the veteran nonprofit sector.

Keshia began her career in the United States Marine Corps where for ten years she served as an administrator and reserve career planner. In addition to her formal specialties, Keshia worked as Funeral Honors Coordinator, Toys for Tots Coordinator and Female Search Team Advisor.

Keshia is an alumni of the 2023 Harvard Business School, San Diego Nonprofit Management course, 2020 alumni of LEAD San Diego, currently serves on the City of San Diego Mayor’s Veterans, Military, and Families Council, is an advisor to the KPBS GI Film Festival and a member of the San Diego Women’s Foundation Board of Directors.  Keshia believes the most rewarding aspect of her work is that she is able to use her leadership and personal experience to advocate for the women veteran community and directly impact the success of transitioning veterans.

About GFWC Federation Day

Excerpt written by Babs J. Condon, GFWC International President: On April 24, 1890, the GFWC constitution was ratified and 63 clubs officially formed the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. With nearly 3,000 clubs and 100,000 members worldwide, we surely have come a long way since that day 126 years ago. Every year, Federation Day gives us the opportunity to reflect on where we have been as an organization, and look forward to what we will accomplish in the future.

“It occurred to them that union is strength. Then they began to reach out toward each other.” This quote from GFWC clubwoman and author Julia Ward Howe in 1889 is still relevant today. Just like our foresisters in 1890, we continue to find strength in federation. GFWC unites us all to one common mission of improving the lives of others through volunteer service. Let’s unite our voices and celebrate this amazing Sisterhood of Service on April 24, Federation Day, and continue the celebration throughout Volunteers in Action Week, April 24-30. (Source and see full article: https://www.gfwc.org/celebrate-federation-day/#:~:text=Host%20a%20Federation%20Day%20Event,event%20around%20GFWC’s%20126th%20Anniversary!)