It was one day during coffee as a woman shared her courageous story to Sandy Spady that an idea was born. “Would you share your story to other women?” Spady prompted her coffee-mate.

And so, Women with Voices began.

Women with Voices organically started with a vision of gathering women together in a safe space, to share stories from successful women. These women share their journeys – life lessons, wounds, heartaches – to their success today. Women with Voices brings women together for support, to build new friendships, and to find healing in sharing.

Spady – founder of Women with Voices – has built great relationships in the Omaha community, working and volunteering with the local chambers of commerce. Spady also harnesses a deep loyalty to the local hospitality business. Sandy grew up with her family’s restaurant, Lee & Carol’s Specialty Hut in O’Neill, Nebraska.  Being the youngest of six children, her memories of the stories shared as people ate over a meal with friends and family left a lasting impression in her heart.  At a young age, Sandy saw the magic of sharing stories. She brings the Women with Voices monthly events to local hospitality businesses. Spady envisioned Women with Voices not only as a means to give women a place to gather and share, but as a way to bring women into restaurants and hotels that they may have never visited or experienced in collaboration to help women and support local hospitality businesses.

Spady wants to give a platform for women to feel empowered to speak up and tell their stories. Spady believes too many people feel trapped and alone. Too many people continue to stay in bad relationships, marriages, and careers, and live just to get through the day. “We have all had struggles and let downs, but survived and became stronger for them. It’s that strength that needs to be shared so other women know that they’re not alone, and they have women that care. When a woman shares her story, she feels a freedom, and this allows other women to open and heal too. The magic of healing after a speaker shares her story is incredible,” Spady explained.

The goal of Women with Voices is to bring women together of all ages, backgrounds, and professions to share stories, support, and to love each other. “This group started because I’ve met many amazing women that have opened up and shared their stories; stories I found so inspiring. I wanted to share their stories with others,” Spady said. Each month, Women with Voices has two women that courageously go out of their comfort zone to share their stories about not what they do, but how they got there. “I’ve had requests from professional speakers, and I politely tell them that I am honored that they would like to speak, but our events are for the everyday woman. I want every woman to feel that if they have a story to share that they don’t need to be a professional speaker,” Spady stated.

“I believe that powerhouse women are called to share their struggles and successes to bring women together of all ages and professions. I was one of four women-startup groups that spoke at Startup Omaha Week,” Spady said. Startup Omaha Week was a week of events held throughout the city, focused on building a more robust collaborative startup ecosystem within the greater Omaha area. Several women entrepreneur’s attended. “Being the seasoned entrepreneur, I was enlightened to see the positive stories of women following their dreams,” Spady stated.

Women with Voices seeks to embolden women to speak their truth and to be honest, be real and address the need for a women-centric community. It seeks to empower them to be strong, community-minded women. Women with Voices wants to help women to find their voices, to share their stories, and to love themselves. “I love seeing the faces of women feeling the freedom of letting go and being free to be who they are meant to be. Regret is not a way to live. Speaking will free you, and other women. When you are free to be you, you are on fire to live life. My passion is to bring joy back to others, so they are on fire to live,” Spady confided.

Last month Women with Voices celebrated their one-year anniversary at Elevator Spaces. Women with Voices invited the women that spoke at previous events to share their experience of sharing their stories. “What is so remarkable, is the empowerment it gave to these women…after speaking their story, and the freedom it brought to many that never thought they would have the courage to share, and now they are unstoppable,” Spady said.

On January 21st, Women with Voices is having their first all-day event summit: Live Your Why. It will be a full day of successful women sharing their stories and mini-powerhouse workshops. The day will end with a happy hour, and a nacho bar sponsored by Amigos. The event will host community powerhouse speakers: Karine Sokpoh, Alejandra Valdez, Maranda Taylor, Heather Voegle, Christina Cloud, Kristin Erickson, Shannon Lerda, Karissa Adkins, and Sandy Spady. This Women with Voices event was made possible by its wonderful sponsors: Stories Coffee Company, Voegele Law, Live Hydration Spa, Amigos, Scattered Wings, Omaha Balloon, Soul & Swag and At The Granary Venue in Ralston.

The Women with Voices group brings together a collective of women who gather to uplift, network, and share their true stories. They strive to produce organic connections between group members and community members. Women with Voices hosts a private Facebook group where the women are encouraged to continue to build relationships and share who they are as individuals. You can follow Women with Voices on Instagram @womenwithvoices, and ask to be a part of the private Facebook group.

If you or a woman you know have a story to share, please reach out to Sandy Spady at powerupbysandy.com. Spady is the founder of Women with Voices and the CEO of Power Up Leadership Coaching & Consulting. Sandy Powers Up people, businesses, and nonprofits.