The Coach
Women Alone Together
by Bill Curry
Dr. Carolyn Newton Curry is a remarkable leader who has
the capacity to detect a need, imagine a way to address it,
and then create a solution (she also happens to be my wife).
I have seen her in action so many times, in so many
ways…I believe I have discovered her secret. I do not
claim objectivity regarding her, but I know I am accurate in
describing her gift.
Our culture sells “Aha” experiences like popsicles,
convincing us with lively imagination that we must have a
certain automobile, iPod, or remedy. We must “act quickly
while limited supply lasts.” The subliminal thrust is
relentless, resulting in mysterious purchases, stuff we don’t
need, which we run out and buy before it melts into the
next iteration of product lines. Similar appeals on behalf
of worthy and not so worthy charities pound away at our
distorted, media-driven consciousness.
The upshot is that it is more and more difficult to recognize
and act upon authentic impulses, so as to find ourselves and
make a real contribution. Boris Pasternak said, “When a
great moment knocks on the door of your life, it is often no
louder than the beating of your heart, and it is very easy to
miss it.”
Carolyn’s latest effort is called Women Alone Together, a
501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation. It was derived from a “gentle
tug” at her heart when she taught a course called Women in Contemporary Society at the University of Kentucky. She
was surprised to have senior citizens auditing her class, and
immediately discerned a special need.
Her mission statement: “By choice or by chance, many
women will be single for a portion of their adult lives.
Women who are alone because of divorce, death of a
spouse, single by choice, or alone in a marriage (through
physical separation, disease, or estrangement) will find
information, kinship, and life lessons through Women Alone
Together.” Teaming with undergraduate alma mater Agnes
Scott College since 2002, W.A.T. has conducted seminars in
Legal/Financial, Health/Wellness, and Emotional/Personal
Growth categories. Thousands of women have benefited.
By the time this article appears, W.A.T. will have partnered
with GSU’s School of Law for a seminar entitled “Women
and the Law.” Occurring on March 19, this is another
exciting leadership moment as Carolyn locks arms with her
second alma mater, GSU (master’s and Ph.D.!).
Carolyn is most assuredly the No. 1 fan of GSU and
Panther Football, but she also loves being the cheerleader
and companion for women who find themselves alone late in
life. Join her at a W.A.T. seminar and experience her form
of leadership, a wonderful response to her gentle tug. You
will be inspired whether you are male or female, and you just
might feel something pulling at your heart, too.
For details, go to womenalonetogether.org »
A former Super Bowl and All-Pro lineman in the National Football League, Bill Curry is now the head football coach at Georgia State University
and a Distinguished Executive Fellow at the Robinson College. Coach Curry’s column is a regular feature of State of Business.
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