July is a month that belongs to freedom, and around here, that word means everything. As our nation celebrated its 250th Independence Day, we could not help but reflect on the kind of freedom we celebrate every single day at New Opportunity School for Women, the freedom that comes when a woman finds her way back to herself. That is what we are all about, and this July, we had plenty to celebrate.

We are still riding the wave of joy from our June Two-Week Residential Session, where twelve remarkable women claimed a freedom of their own. While we have been celebrating them, we have simultaneously been hard at work preparing for our next Two-Week Residential Session coming up in October. In between, we had a wonderful and successful Three-Day Session with Mountain Comprehensive Care in Grayson, Kentucky from July 14th through 16th, and we are now turning our attention to something we have been looking forward to all year, welcoming all of our graduates back home for our annual Graduate Reunion on August 1st!

And that is not all. We have some incredibly exciting community events on the horizon that we cannot wait to share with you. Keep reading, because things just keep getting better as this year rolls on!

Lindsay Sebastian, June 2025 NOSW Graduate
Program & Operations Intern
New Opportunity School for Women

My path here wasn't easy. After leaving a difficult relationship, I found myself a single mother with no job and nowhere to go, having to start over. A women's shelter, Hope's Wings, helped me get back on my feet and into an apartment. From there, I began taking classes through the Kentucky Works Program, and it was during that time that I decided to go back to school and finish my degree. I later qualified for the Ready to Work program, which gave me the opportunity to intern at New Opportunity School for Women while continuing my education. Once I started interning, I learned what NOSW was truly about, and I knew right away this was something I wanted to be part of.

In June 2025, I became a participant of NOSW's Two-Week Residential Program. That session left a mark on me I will carry for the rest of my life. We called ourselves the Cicada Sisters, and like cicadas emerging after years underground, each of us was...

Your next chapter is waiting.

If Lindsay's story resonated with you, we hope you will sit with that for a moment. Sometimes we do not realize how much we have been carrying until we see someone else set their burden down. If something stirred in you while you were reading, that is worth paying attention to.

Applications for our October Two-Week Residential Session are open now! If a two-week program feels like too big of a leap, our Three-Day Non-Residential Sessions are a wonderful and accessible place to start. Head to our website for everything you need to get started.

And if someone came to mind while you were reading this, forward this their way. Sharing this could be the nudge that changes everything for someone you love.

Dates for Upcoming Three-Day Non-Residential Sessions:

Click the button below to apply today, or visit the "What We Do" tab on our website to learn more about everything we have to offer! 

Grab Your Copy of Issue One Before Issue Two Drops!

If Lindsay's story touched your heart, there are so many more waiting for you inside The Appalachian Sisterhood: The Power of Transformation. Every issue is filled with first-person accounts from real women who have walked hard roads and found their way through, told in their own words and with their own voice.

Issue Two is dropping before the end of summer, so if you have not yet gotten your hands on Issue One, now is the time! Subscriptions are donation-based, meaning you choose what works for you, and are available online or in print. Every contribution goes directly toward amplifying the voices of women across Kentucky and Appalachia.

Already a subscriber? Pass it on! Forward this email, share it with a neighbor, or put it in the hands of someone in your life who loves a story worth telling.

Left: Angel Short, Executive Director, NOSW
Right: Crystal Sizemore, Outreach Coordinator, NOSW

A Gathering of Friends | July 14, 2026

What a wonderful evening! On July 14th, we had the pleasure of attending A Gathering of Friends, hosted by the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky at Honeysuckle Dining and Bourbon House in Berea. It was a beautiful opportunity to connect with other organizations and community partners, share what NOSW is all about, and hear about the exciting work being done across Appalachian Kentucky. Events like this remind us of the power of community and the incredible things that happen when passionate people come together around a shared mission.

Independence Day Celebration at Lake Reba | July 4, 2026

What a wonderful way to celebrate America's 250th birthday! We had a great time joining the community at Lake Reba Park in Richmond for the Independence Day Celebration on July 4th. It was a joy connecting with so many familiar and new faces, sharing information about NOSW and our programs, and soaking in a beautiful evening of patriotic festivities. We hope those of you who stopped by had as much fun as we did!

Graduate Reunion | August 1, 2026

Graduates, listen up! Your people are calling! Our annual Graduate Reunion is coming up on Saturday, August 1st, and we are counting down the days!

This exclusive celebration is for NOSW graduates and their guests, and there is nothing quite like getting our sisterhood back in the same room. This year is going to be one to remember! We cannot wait to see you there!

Movie Night at the Judy Drive-In August 15, 2026

Calling all dragon trainers! On Saturday, August 15th, we are taking over the Judy Drive-In in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky for a night of family fun featuring How to Train Your Dragon!

Gates open and the festivities kick off at 5:00 PM, giving you plenty of time to get settled in, enjoy the Dragon Training activities, and let the little ones burn off some energy before showtime. The movie fires up at 9:15 PM under the stars! This one is for the whole family, and it is going to be a blast. Click the "Purchase Tickets" Button to grab your tickets before they are gone!

Appalachian Mountain Mischief Festival | September 6, 2026

It is happening, and we could not be more excited! Join us on Sunday, September 6th from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Seven Lakes Pay Lake in Waco, Kentucky for an afternoon of fun, and we are bringing something extra to the party this year.

Introducing Mullet Madness! We are on the hunt for the best mullet in the bunch. Whether you are sporting something polished up top with a little party in the back or rocking a full-blown Kentucky Waterfall, enter for free, rally your people to vote, and you could walk away with a cash prize! The winner will be crowned live at the festival.

Click the button below to grab your tickets or toss your mullet into the ring. You will not want to miss this one!

Millstone Festival | October 3, 2026

We are excited to be a part of this year's Millstone Festival! Come find us on Saturday, October 3rd on Main Street in Downtown Richmond's historic district.

Spend the day soaking up live entertainment, local vendors, and all the family fun this beloved community event has to offer, then swing by our table and say hello. We would love to connect with you!

Decades After Dark | November 2026

Oh, you are not going to want to sit this one out! NOSW is hosting our very first DANCE in November, and we are putting a fun twist on it!

Dust off your favorite outfits from past eras, because guests are invited to dress in their favorite decade. Whether you are feeling the fabulous fifties, the groovy seventies, or the totally rad eighties, come dressed to impress and ready to dance the night away! This adult only masquerade prom promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and nostalgia.

Grab your significant other or round up your sisters and best gal pals and start planning your look now. Keep an eye out for our location and specific date for November announcement coming soon, because this is one evening you will absolutely not want to miss!

The Gratitude Glance

What if one of the simplest things you could do for your mental health took less than five minutes and required nothing more than a quiet moment and a willing heart? Research in the field of positive psychology suggests that practicing daily gratitude, even in the smallest doses, can actually begin to rewire the way your brain processes the world around you. It sounds almost too simple, but the science behind it is genuinely compelling.

Here is what some of the existing research suggests:

Improved mood and emotional wellbeing. Studies show that people who regularly practice gratitude report higher levels of positive emotion, more life satisfaction, and lower rates of depression and anxiety.

Stronger relationships. Expressing and acknowledging gratitude has been linked to deeper feelings of connection and increased generosity toward others.

Better sleep. Research suggests that writing down things you are grateful for before bed can quiet a busy mind and improve both the quality and duration of sleep.

Greater resilience. People who practice gratitude regularly have been shown to bounce back from stress and hardship more effectively over time.

A calmer, more grounded perspective. Gratitude has been shown to shift focus away from what is lacking and toward what is already present, which can significantly reduce feelings of anxiety and overwhelm.

So here is your Challenge:
Twice a day for the next two weeks, pause and notice three small, good things. They do not have to be grand or life changing. A good cup of coffee. A kind word from a friend. The way the light looked this morning. And at least once a day, express that gratitude out loud or in writing to someone else. Let them know they made a difference, however small. Before you close your eyes at night, write it all down. Pay attention to how your perspective begins to shift. Your mind just might surprise you!

References:
Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Seligman, M. E. P., et al. (2005). Positive psychology progress. American Psychologist.
Wood, A. M., et al. (2009). Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research.

To view a full calendar of our 2026 schedule and events, please visit www.nosw.org/calendar/