A remarkable initiative is gaining momentum, promising to be the guiding light for women seeking recovery, empowerment, and a fresh start. The Women Empowering Women Institute (WEWInstitute), founded by Robert Curry in 2021, is not just a place; it’s a beacon of hope that’s changing lives, one woman at a time.
Karen Nisenson, an expert in nonprofit management, and founder of Arts For Healing, joined Robert in 2022 as Executive Director. Robert is a man with 42 years of personal recovery experience, a corporate background, and an unyielding determination to make a difference in the lives of women. The WEWInstitute is a Resource Center providing a sanctuary for women in recovery, victims of domestic violence, caregivers of special needs individuals, or anyone with behavioral health and wellness challenges. Ann Fisher joined WEW as Program Director in 2023, and brings 20 years of special education teaching experience to her role in this organization.
Robert Curry, Karen Nisenson and Ann Fisher share a vision – to provide a haven for those in need, to equip them with the tools to rebuild their lives, and to offer these services affordably. As Curry put it, “We know how to judge and gauge what’s going to work and what’s not going to work. And so that’s what we do.”
The genesis of this remarkable endeavor began when Robert Curry opened the first Women’s Sober Living House in Fairfield County in 2016. The lack of such facilities in the region deeply troubled him. Having worked in corporate America and honed his intervention skills, he identified the glaring gap in recovery support for women. “I opened a women’s sober living house. We ran it for five years, we worked with over 120 women and their families, but COVID shut us down,” Curry explained. It became an opportunity to evolve and add the crucial missing piece in the recovery puzzle – tools needed to rebuild lives once the initial recovery phase was complete. As Karen Nisenson aptly put it, “These “tools” became the foundation of our organization – the eight pillars of empowerment.”
These “eight pillars” include Self Confidence, Behavioral Health, Family & Friends, Education, Career, Financial Literacy, Physical Health and Wellness, and Spirituality. Each pillar is an area that Curry, Nisenson and Fisher prioritize, focus on, and dedicate resources to. Women Empowering Women Institute now stands as a resource center that collaborates with organizations like Silver Hill Hospital, New Canaan, Human Services, and the Domestic Violence Crisis Center to provide support, affordable services, and high-quality programming. They’re changing lives with programs like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which is a type of therapy that focuses on how to identify unwanted thoughts, emotions and behaviors and replace them with healthier, more effective coping strategies.
The Institute’s mission goes beyond therapy and wellness. They are empowering special needs families with financial planning insights and offering a diverse range of programs, including Financial Literacy classes, Horse Wisdom Project, Krav Maga classes for psychological self-defense, an Israeli martial art combining techniques from karate, boxing, and wrestling, and parenting groups. Robert Curry, Karen Nisenson and Ann Fisher share a vision – to provide a haven for those in need, to equip them with the tools to rebuild their lives, and to offer these services affordably. As Curry put it, “We know how to judge and gauge what’s going to work and what’s not going to work. And so that’s what we do.”
In a world where the darkness of addiction, violence, and despair can often seem overwhelming, the Women Empowering Women Institute stands as a shining example of resilience, compassion, and hope. They are not just changing lives; they are building foundations for a brighter future. As their programs continue to expand, it’s clear that the Women Empowering Women Institute is poised to become a cornerstone of support and empowerment for women in need, proving that sometimes, all it takes is a helping hand and a heart full of compassion to change the course of a life.
The Institute is looking for men and women who are interested in helping them grow and providing the much-needed support to expand services in the greater Fairfield County Community.
More information on the DBT program registration, as well as all their other affordable or complimentary high-impact program offerings can be found at the Women Empowering Women Institute Website, wewinstitute.org.
