Our
Story
What is the Woman Development Institute?
Inspired by the community support she experienced after immigrating to the U.S. in 1999 from the Dominican Republic with her three young children, Sandra Lake launched the Extraordinary Woman Award (EWA) in 2001 to honor exemplary women from diverse backgrounds and recognize their unique contributions to the community.
Since then, the EWA has evolved and grown into the 501(c)3 Woman Development Institute (WDI). Under the leadership of founder and executive director Sandra Lake, the organization’s mission has always been to increase community support and access to resources for women, and to raise awareness of the issues women commonly face. Today, Sandra and a team of volunteers offer a variety of personal and professional development programming aimed at supporting women, families, and young people—to support the development of the future extraordinary leaders in our community.
WDI aims to remove barriers for program attendees—by offering translation services, engaging bilingual presenters, and removing entrance fees for attendees—so that all members of the community can access these opportunities for learning and connection.
Who is Sandra Lake?
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Born in San Pedro De Macoris, Dominican Republic, Sandra is a dedicated educator and has always been a natural-born community leader.
The proud mother of three adult daughters Glamirssy, Eivony, and Diandra and six grandchildren. Along with her husband, Domingo, Sandra’s family provides dedicated support to bring WDI’s mission to life.
Sandra holds a bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master of Science with emphasis in organizational management and leadership.
Throughout her career, Sandra has taught in various public and private high schools and served as an instructor at a local university.
After founding the Extraordinary Woman Award (EWA) in 2001 to recognize women’s exceptional contributions to their communities, the award evolved into the Woman Development Institute, which offers a variety of conferences, workshops, and support programs for women, youth, and families.
Despite language barriers, Sandra's commitment to learning English and her relentless pursuit of success have earned her numerous awards, including:
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Recognition from the Dominican Independent Award Committee in Rhode Island
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Excellence Award for community service in Rhode Island
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Quetzal Award from The Guatemalan Center of New England
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The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Special Recognition Award by the RI State Holiday Commission
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The Anija Strong She-Ro Award from Providence City Council
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Civic Leadership and Advocacy Award from the National Association of Secretaries of States
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Runway for Mom recognition.
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Gully Award for Educational Excellence from the Santo Domingo Chapter of the Lyons Club
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Teacher of the Year Award from the Central East University Faculty
Grounded in her Christian faith and inspired by civil rights heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, Sandra strives to instill hope and inspire positive change in society.
Sandra believes in the good nature of people and hopes to inspire hope and motivation in the people around her. She lives her life with a focus on these values with the belief that it will lead to a ripple effect, and ultimately to the betterment of our society.
We believe all women can embrace who they are,
can define their future, and can change the world.
Our Mission
Promote the personal, professional, social, and educational development of all women through workshops, trainings, conferences, panel discussions, training, and mentoring.
Our Vision
Prepare women for leadership roles so they can be better equipped to serve their families and communities.