Everything you need to find or start a Sew Powerful Chapter
Chapter Formation
What is a Chapter?
A Sew Powerful Chapter is a local group of 3 or more passionate people who meet at least 4 times a year to make purses and notecards. Chapters are friendly, flexible, and self-led—choosing their own name, leader, meeting style, and managing their own supplies and costs.
Sew Powerful provides a starter framework, support materials, and access to helpful contacts. Chapter Leaders foster community, uphold quality standards, and share occasional updates on group activity.
We'd encourage you to review our chapter locator map linked below to see what's in your area. You can learn more about starting your own chapter here.
Why Form a Chapter?
More than 85% of respondents to our survey said they would be interested in meeting other Sew Powerful purse makers. They wanted to be of service to others (69%), have friendships (68%), and share materials and supplies (51%). As many as half the respondents wanted to meet at least monthly, with 80% willing to drive up to 30 miles (or kilometers) for meetings.
Joining groups satisfies our need to belong, gain information and understanding through social interactions, define our sense of self and social identity, and achieve goals that might elude us if we worked alone.1
Would you like to start a Sew Powerful chapter in your community? We can help you get started. Simply fill out the form to let us know you are interested and we will walk you through the process. Our 'Chapter Formation Video' will provide the background, tips, and resources you need.
1 Forsyth, D.R. (2021). The psychology of groups. In R. Biswas-Diener & E. Diener (Eds), Noba textbook series: Psychology. Champaign, IL: DEF publishers. Retrieved from http://noba.to/trfxbkhm.
The map (right) shows the locations of purse makers in the US. We don’t have purse makers and Chapters everywhere in the world, but we are working on it. Click on our purse makers map to find exactly where we have existing and 'potential' Chapters. Express your interest to inquire about joining or making a new friend and local connection.
Ready to join a Sew Powerful chapter but can't make it to those in-person meetings? Your virtual chapter adventure awaits! Our Virtual Chapter opens the door to all that is wonderful about the Sew Powerful community.
How To Join: Get your invitation and all the details filling out this form.
Here is a sample of our Chapters in Action
Indy Powerful | Kindred Spirit Purse Makers | Sew My Dream | Sew Sisters of NW WA | Purses With Verses | Lacey~Oly Crafty Sewers | Kitsap Crafty Crew | The Eclectic Bag Ladies | Valley of the Sun Purse Makers | Son Sewers | Sew Powerful of NE Iowa | PurSEWverence Chapter | Queen City Charis Crafters
Why We Need Your Help
To Keep the Girls in School
Girls who stay in school all month long are much more likely to pass their 7th grade exam, allowing them to pursue secondary education in Zambia. Failing this test ends all educational opportunities.
To Break the Cycle of Poverty
Imagine girls missing a week of school every month because they don't have the supplies to manage their periods. It won't take long before the girls are so far behind in their studies that they drop out of school, ending their chance for formal education, better job opportunities and hopes of breaking the cycle of poverty.
To Reach 3,800 Schools by 2030
Girls in Zambia are waiting for our assistance so they can attend school all month, even on their period. We’ve helped thousands of students, but there are many more waiting for our help. By 2030 we hope to make our program available to all 3,800 schools in Zambia.