The World They Knew - A Documentary

Who we are

Women Empowering Nations (WEN) is a 501 © 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of girls and women through self-esteem development, educational, and leadership outreach programs.

What is this documentary about? 

This summer, a diverse group of 8th grade girls from North Tulsa, Oklahoma hope to participate in the Girls Leading Our World Travel Seminar and Leadership Conference hosted by Women Empowering Nations. They will travel to Casa Blanca, Morocco and Banjul, Gambia to explore North and West African cultures, tour historic sites, and participate in a girls’ leadership conference with local Gambian girls. The conference will include sessions on education, social and economic justice, and global women’s empowerment.

8th Grade Teacher, Founder/Director of Women Empowering Nations

8th Grade Students to be profiled for documentary

Group of Girls Leading Our World participants

What We Need:

Our Fundraising Budget:

Girls Leading Our World Travel Seminar Budget

*Expense raised offline by travel seminar participants

 Please view our perks and sponorship levels on the right side of the page!

 Thank you to our partner sponsors: 

• George Kaiser Family Foundation 
• Bezalel Foundation

Where will this documentary be shown?

This documentary will be entered into many film festivals in 2014 in addition to being viewable online, downloadable, and also used as a fundraiser for the non-profit Women Empowering Nations. 

Who is on the production team? 

Carlisha Williams - Producer

Carlisha Williams is the Founder and Executive Director of Women Empowering Nations.  She is a 2011 Teach for America corps member, an eighth grade math teacher at KIPP Tulsa College Preparatory school and Goodwill Ambassador to The Republic of The Gambia.  In 2009, Carlisha began the work of Women Empowering Nations in Gambia, West Africa where she frequently travels to facilitate girls’ empowerment workshops.  She has created educational and self-esteem development programs which have been implemented in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Gambia. Carlisha received a Master’s of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and completed undergraduate studies at the University of Oklahoma. To learn more about Carlisha and Women Empowering Nations, visit www.wenations.org.

Jason Lemon – Director, Editor

A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Jason Lemon originally worked on the mini-documentary “Women Empowering Nations: A Movement Begins” in 2009. His continuing commitment to this organization has earned him consideration for a spot on their board, and created the direction for their current documentary, “The World They Knew.” Jason’s skills in digital editing and motion graphicshave earned him national Marketing and Communications awards for his corporate broadcast work. His background also includes advertising campaigns, short films, church productions, music videos and broadcast news.

John Aspinwall – Director of Photography

With a background steeped in advertising and corporate broadcast, John Aspinwall has built an impressive career with an array of work covering commercials, videos and short films. John has won an Emmy for his commercial work and national Marketing and Communications awards for his corporate campaigns. His love of telling a story and looking at the ordinary with a filmmaker’s eye plays a part in every aspect of his production, from conception to finished piece.

Michelle Dodd – Still Photographer

Michelle Dodd’s passion for the outdoors has helped grow her career as awell-respected photographer in artistic circles as well as the corporate world. Her experience ranges from coordination of aerial photography to working closely with company CEO’s. An avid traveler, Michelle’s work has covered the streets of Prague, the cathedrals of Spain and the dusty plains of New Mexico. More of her work can be seen at www.michelledoddphotography.com