About Us

Our Mission

Sisters Who Are Powerful (SWAP) is a nonprofit organization created to establish resources and connections to empower women and teen girls in seeking their purpose and improving their quality of life.

Founder

Tania James is the Founder & Executive Director of Sisters Who Are Powerful (SWAP). Tania gave “birth” to the organization on May 12, 2004, with the support and encouragement from two fellow colleagues, Rhonda Davis and Janna Bellows. Her passion for helping women and teen girls set goals and find their purpose in life led her to establish this nonprofit organization.

In 1995, Tania attended Eastern Michigan University as a single parent and resided in the campus family housing. She found herself immediately connecting to other single mothers at the University and formed an informal network of women who wanted and needed access to local resources; such as affordable child. Tania was referred to a local support group for single mothers at a nonprofit organization in Ann Arbor, Michigan and participated in a bus trip to Washington, D.C., with her 1 year-old son at a “Stand for Children” rally. This experience impacted her outlook on life so much (along with the support of a social worker and her academic advisor) she decided to pursue the field of Social Work and from there continued to research and find resources to help other women.

In 1998, Tania received her undergraduate degree in Social Work and has worked in human service agencies serving the homeless, disabled, low-income, and mentally-challenged populations. Tania served in several supervisory positions and found a passion for Nonprofit Program Development. She returned to her alma mater, Eastern Michigan University, in 2007 to pursue her Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, which included courses in Nonprofit Accounting, Grant Writing & Resource Development, Nonprofit Leadership, and Human Resource Development. She completed the Graduate Certificate in 2008. She also earned her Master’s in Public Administration degree with a concentration in Public & Nonprofit Management in 2011. Her capstone is titled “Working to End Chronic Homelessness: Accessing the Perceptions of Nonprofit Service Providers.” Tania has also been a guest lecturer for Eastern Michigan University’s undergraduate Social Work program and also provides trainings in Nonprofit Development. She has willingly helped other nonprofit organizations with startup, fundraising, communications planning, and program evaluation.

Tania’s observations and many conversations with several talented and gifted women wanting to pursue their dreams, but lacking access to information and resources, has helped in developing this “POWERFUL” organization; which provides opportunities for women and teen girls to network, receive information about available resources, find sisterhood, and obtain closer access to “their divine purpose in life.”

Tania is now happily married and has two beautiful children. She enjoys traveling, reading self-help books/magazines, helping others, and meeting new people.

Our Vision

To offer educational information and networking opportunities to women & teen girls
To promote fellowship and harmonious relationships among women & teen girls
To assist with stirring up the gifts that are already within each one of us
To make a major impact in our communities
To promote health and wellness for women & teen girls
To demonstrate God’s love through our works
To make a major impact and build strong communities
To empower women & girls to “give back” and help to make a difference in the lives of others

SWAP Board Members

Rosalyn Bilberry-Smith, Board President

La Shawn Westbrook, Board Vice-President

LaTonya Dolton, Board Treasurer

Tanisha Rice, Board Secretary

Jovan Jamison, Board Member

Alesia Campbell, Board Member (not pictured)