Program is a GIFT for women in flux





SHARING WISDOM—Cassandra Lattin, president and CEO of PEOple OneSource, a professional employer organization, discusses “Three Critical Stages of Successful Transition” during a GIFT—Gaining Insight for Transition—meeting on Nov. 5. Back left, Sepideh Yeoh, creator of GIFT, listens along with other ladies.

SHARING WISDOM—Cassandra Lattin, president and CEO of PEOple OneSource, a professional employer organization, discusses “Three Critical Stages of Successful Transition” during a GIFT—Gaining Insight for Transition—meeting on Nov. 5. Back left, Sepideh Yeoh, creator of GIFT, listens along with other ladies.

A new monthly program called GIFT (Gaining Insight for Transition) offers help to women as they navigate through life’s transitions.

Created by Sepideh Yeoh, a member of the Oak Park Unified School District Board of Education, the program offers support to women whose lives are in flux, whether it’s coping with a new baby, an empty nest, marriage, divorce, caring for aging parents or any other life-changing situation.

Yeoh leads meetings at the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce in Thousand Oaks on the first Wednesday of the month.

The free lunch series is sponsored by Yeoh’s company, Un1teee. Yeoh supplies light lunches during the sessions.

“A woman who is transitioning back to work, coming from a single-income household, they are much more money-conscious,” Yeoh said. “Even spending any money could prevent women from coming to sessions. I just want them to be able to come.”

She acknowledged that men also go through transitions and said, “In the future, it’s very possible we’ll create a group for men.”

There are plenty of women’s groups, Yeoh said, but they are generally for businesswomen, not specifically for women in transition.

Yeoh said she came up with the idea for GIFT as a teacher at Conejo Valley Adult School.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a few years, but the timing wasn’t right,” she said. “Basically it came about based on a conversation I had with students. One of the students, Mary Schoch, volunteered to help coordinate efforts. She is truly a blessing and a gift to GIFT for women. I needed help and support—and manpower. That’s how we took off.”

According to Yeoh, about 30 women have attended each session since it started in October.

Leslie Heilbron, assistant superintendent of Oak Park Unified School District, was the first speaker.

On Nov. 5, Cassandra D. Lattin, president and CEO of PEOple OneSource, a professional employer organization, spoke about the “Three Critical Stages of Successful Transition.”

Yeoh said she chooses speakers she believes will inspire women, and who can ignite conversation to help attendees make the transitions in their lives easier and more productive.

“My hope . . . is not just to be a support group,” Yeoh said. “I’m hoping to create opportunities (for women) to go back to work, go back to school or volunteer—empty-nesters may not need to work but may want to give back.”

She is contacting organizations that can help her reach her goals. Soon the GIFT program will offer resume workshops, seminars on interview skills and other programs.

After the speaker’s presentation, the women meet in small groups depending on their needs. Some may gather to discuss life with preschoolers while others meet to talk about taking care of aging parents or dealing with other transitions.

Yeoh created a GIFT subgroup called “Adventures Outdoors” for women who want to get out of the house to hike or visit with others in a park.

“Once a month is just not enough,” she said.

At the end of the first meeting, Yeoh said, eight groups had been formed for women to participate in during the following weeks.

“They need to keep in touch with each other,” she said.

The Dec. 3 GIFT meeting will explore “Making Peace with Change.”

Registration starts at 11:45 a.m., followed by lunch and lecture from noon to 1 p.m. Support groups meet from 1 to 1:30 p.m.

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce is at 600 Hampshire Road, Ste. 200, Thousand Oaks.


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