What's New At WIF
WIF Board Member Dr. Maimoona Salim Mentors Jolt Youth Initiative through the L³ Alliance
ABUJA, Nigeria – June 21, 2024 — Wells International Foundation (WIF) Board Member Dr. Maimoona Salim is leading WIF’s first mentoring project through the L³ Alliance by working with Jolt Youth Initiative in Uganda.
Jolt Youth Initiative is dedicated to prioritizing and empowering young people in Uganda to drive enhanced development outcomes.
WIF Founder & CEO Dr. Monique Y. Wells Delivered Commencement Address at the Paris College of Art
PARIS, France – June 8, 2024 – On May 10, 2024, WIF Founder & CEO Dr. Monique Y. Wells delivered the address for the Paris College of Art (PCA) undergraduate commencement ceremony, which was held at the Club d’Etoile near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris’s 8th arrondissement.
The Wells International Foundation (WIF) Welcomes Pat Long to Its Board of Directors
HOUSTON, Texas – April 30, 2024 — The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is honored to welcome Pat Long to its board of directors.
Long will assume the responsibility of building the L³ Alliance membership program in support of women leaders in all sectors of the global economy.
FedEx Supports the Wells International Foundation
HOUSTON, Texas – July 8, 2023 – With a gift of $7,500, FedEx is supporting the Wells International Foundation (WIF) in its mission to empower women, children and youth, and persons of African descent to realize their highest potential through arts, literacy, study abroad, and other educational and cultural programs.
Wells International Foundation Celebrates Two Years of Groundbreaking Programming
HOUSTON, Texas – July 4, 2023 — The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is celebrating two years of success through its Youth Veterinarian Initiative (YVI).
The Wells International Foundation (WIF) Welcomes Anthony Fleet to Its Board of Directors
HOUSTON, Texas – May 15, 2023 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is honored to welcome Anthony Fleet to its board of directors.
Fleet will serve as Chair of the organization’s Communications Committee.
WIF Founder & CEO Dr. Monique Y. Wells Joins The Travel Institute’s Professional Educators Program
HOUSTON, Texas – February 26, 2023 — Wells International Foundation (WIF) Founder & CEO Dr. Monique Y. Wells has accepted an invitation to join the Professional Educators Program (PEP) at The Travel Institute.
Through this program, she will engage with travel professionals who seek to obtain or maintain travel agent certifications to teach them about the depth and breadth of African diaspora history, culture, and contemporary life in Paris and encourage them to support study abroad programs that include or focus on these elements when they travel to the City of Light.
WIF Welcomes Dr. De’Laija Napier and Dr. Maimoona Salim to Its Board of Directors
HOUSTON, Texas – February 1, 2023 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is honored to welcome two new members to its board of directors — Dr. De’Laija Napier and Dr. Maimoona Salim.
Kaleta A. Doolin Foundation Supports Youth Veterinarian Initiative
HOUSTON, Texas – September 17, 2022 — The Kaleta A. Doolin Foundation (KADF) is supporting the Wells International Foundation (WIF) in its mission to expose underrepresented minority youth across the U.S. to the field of veterinary medicine.
The organization has contributed $10,000 to launch the YVI Book Club & Merit Badge Program.
Wells International Foundation Joins Black Impact Houston
HOUSTON, Texas – February 24, 2022 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF), a U.S. nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower women, children and youth, and persons of African descent to realize their highest potential through arts, literacy, study abroad, and other educational and cultural programs, today announced its membership in Black Impact Houston (BIH) – an alliance of Black non-profits seeking to advance racial equity in the philanthropic arena.
City of Houston Declares June 21, 2021 Wells International Foundation Day
HOUSTON, Texas – June 21, 2021 –In a proclamation issued by the City of Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaims June 21, 2021 as The Wells International Foundation Day – COVID-19 PAGES: The Influence & Inspiration of Women in Houston, TX.
The pronouncement recognizes the Wells International Foundation (WIF), a U.S. nonprofit organization incorporated in Houston and operated from Paris, France, and its dedication to celebrating heroic women across the globe who have aided their communities, families, and beyond during the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 Online Art Exhibition to Open on International Women’s Day
PARIS, France – February 24, 2021 – COVID-19 PAGES: The Inspiration & Influence of Women, a collaboration between the Wells International Foundation (Houston, TX), Anderson Brickler Gallery (Tallahassee, FL), and Thinking CAP: Collaborative Arts Projects (Tallahassee, FL), is on schedule to open on International Women’s Day (March 8) 2021.
This online exhibition celebrates the essential work of women who are mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in all sectors of the economy. It showcases the work of twenty-six professional women artists from around the world, whose original fine artworks include photographs, textiles, paintings, and sculpture.
5 Years, 188,000 Served, and Many More Causes to Celebrate
PARIS, France – Nov. 30, 2020 – WIF Founder and CEO, Dr. Monique Y. Wells, and WIF Donor Relations Manager, Deb Harlow, celebrate the organization’s five years of service and talk about current projects that have emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Faith Ringgold—Legendary Artist for COVID-19 Online Art Exhibition
PARIS, France – November 17, 2020 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is pleased to announce the inclusion of Faith Ringgold’s American People Series #16: Woman Looking in a Mirror, 1966, in its virtual art exhibition entitled COVID-19 PAGES: The Inspiration & Influence of Women.
This exhibition celebrates the essential work of women around the world who are mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in all sectors of the economy. It is a collaboration between WIF (Houston, TX), the Anderson Brickler Gallery (Tallahassee, FL), and Thinking CAP: Collaborative Arts Projects (Tallahassee, FL) – collectively known as WIF/ABG/CAP.
Click here to read full Press Release >>
Wells International Foundation on Impacting Young Readers, Writers, and Artists From Halfway Across the World
Article and video in Frontrunners Innovate Magazine published on September 24, 2020
PARIS, France — WIF Founder and CEO, Dr. Monique Y. Wells, granted Publisher Mary Kurek of Frontrunners Innovate Magazine an exclusive interview about WIF’s current arts, literacy, and women’s empowerment initiatives.
Entrepreneur and Non-Profit Founder & CEO, Dr. Monique Y. Wells, Signs Publishing Deal with CelebrityPress® to Co-Author “Success” with Jack Canfield
PARIS, France – September 10, 2020 – Entrepreneur and Non-Profit Founder & CEO Dr. Monique Y. Wells recently signed a publishing deal to co-write the forthcoming book titled Success, published by CelebrityPress® LLC. In addition to Wells’ expertise, the publication features content from world-renowned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and Best-Selling Author® Jack Canfield. The book will be released under the CelebrityPress® LLC imprint, a leading business book publisher that publishes books from ThoughtLeaders® around the world.
Click here to read full Press Release >>
Published Case Study Features Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville International Exchange Program
Article in Theory and Practice in Language Studies examines the integration of the arts, languages (French and English), and travel abroad in a program for elementary school students
PARIS, France — September 11, 2019 — Coinciding with the beginning of the fourth consecutive semester of operation for the Classes Duo Paris / Knoxville program, the journal Theory and Practice in Language Studies (TPLS) has published a case study that examines the implications of the success of this initiative.
Wells International Foundation Summer Intern Curates Online Exhibition of Beauford Delaney Portraits
PARIS, France – August 6, 2019 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is pleased to announce the opening for Beauford Delaney: A Study in Portraiture, a digital exhibition curated by Maija Brennan. This show examines the evolution of Delaney’s style as he rendered images of persons he loved and admired.
Click here to read full Press Release >>
Giving Back – A Double Interview with World Radio Paris
PARIS, France – Joan Westcarr hosts a show called Giving Back on World Radio Paris. She interviewed WIF Founder and CEO Monique Y. Wells about WIF’s International Women’s Day event, The Successful Woman and about our overall mission and activities.
Click here to listen to the two-part interview >> (Scroll down the page to the section labeled “WELLS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION.”)
Two Classes, Two Continents, One Artist
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – Television station WBIR in Knoxville send journalist Emily Stroud and a camera crew to visit Nature’s Way Montessori School on Friday, November 16 to observe and record a video session between Nature’s Way and Jean Zay Elementary School in Paris. This was the first session to take place after Nature’s Way students and their families visited Paris to meet the Jean Zay students and their families.
Classes Duo Students Connect through Hand Games
PARIS, France – One of the ways the children of Nature’s Way Montessori School of Knoxville, Tennessee and Jean Zay Elementary School of Paris, France connected during the Nature’s Way excursion to Paris was through hand games.
Wells International Foundation Announces Legacy Panelists for 2019 International Women’s Day Event
PARIS, France – October 18, 2018 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is pleased to announce Carla Sorey-Reed, Tanya Pein, and Dr. Erma Manoncourt as the Legacy panelists for its inaugural International Women’s Day conference – The Successful Woman: Lifestyle, Legacy, and Leading by Example – on March 7-8, 2019 in Paris, France.
Personal, financial, and philanthropic legacy will be the discussion points for the panel that will convene on the morning of Day 2 of the conference.
Click here to read full Press Release >>
Wells International Foundation’s Future Innovators Career Exploration Table a Success at the Children’s Museum of Houston
STEAM Education Initiative Encourages Children to Assess Their Academic Abilities in Association with Their Creative Interests
HOUSTON, Texas — October 16, 2018 — The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is pleased to announce the success of its Future Innovators Career Exploration Table, the organization’s first dedicated STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education initiative.
Wells International Foundation Celebrates Women Leaders in the Arts
PARIS, France – September 11, 2018 — In anticipation of the launch of its inaugural International Women’s Day conference – The Successful Woman: Lifestyle, Legacy, and Leading by Example – on March 7-8, 2019 in Paris, France, the Wells International Foundation (WIF) is celebrating women leaders in the arts.
WIF Announces Renowned Keynote Speaker Sylvie di Giusto for 2019 International Women’s Day Conference
PARIS, France – August 15, 2018 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is pleased to announce Sylvie di Giusto as the keynote speaker for its inaugural International Women’s Day conference – The Successful Woman: Lifestyle, Legacy, and Leading by Example – on March 7-8, 2019 in Paris, France.
Classes Duo Students Share Their Thoughts about Their Exchange Program
PARIS, France and KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, USA – At the end of Spring Semester 2018, students at Jean Zay Elementary School in Paris and Nature’s Way Montessori School in Knoxville shared their thoughts about the Classes Duo program on video. Both groups talked about the program in French.
Click here to access the Jean Zay videos >>
Click here to access the Nature’s Way videos >>
American Elementary School Kids to Meet Their French Video Pals in Paris
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – July 9, 2018 – Sixteen elementary school students from Nature’s Way Montessori School in Knoxville, Tennessee will travel to Paris, France on October 4, 2018 to meet their French online video pals from Jean Zay Elementary School in Paris for a week-long French/American cultural exchange program. While in Paris, the Knoxville students will tour the city, visit the Pompidou Center Museum, and spend one night with their host families.
Wells International Foundation Hosts 2019 International Women’s Day Conference
PARIS, France – July 3, 2018 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is hosting its inaugural International Women’s Day conference on March 7th and 8th, 2019 in Paris, France.
The Successful Woman: Lifestyle, Legacy, and Leading by Example is a two-day event that celebrates the accomplishments of highly successful women in all sectors of the global economy. The conference will be held at the Park Hyatt Paris – Vendôme, a key strategic partner for the event.
Click here to read full Press Release >>
The Courageous Entrepreneur – Launching a NonProfit
PARIS, France – October 10, 2017 – Winnie Anderson of The Courageous Entrepreneur recently interviewed me about my journey in launching the Wells International Foundation. We talked about the similarities between for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, “busted myths” that people may have about non-profits, and discussed why start-up business owners may or may not want to consider the non-profit as a business model.
Watch the video below.
Wells International Foundation Celebrates Its 2nd Anniversary of Service
HOUSTON – October 1, 2017 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF) celebrates its 2nd anniversary of service on October 1, 2017.
Since its inception, this U.S. non-profit 501(c)(3) organization has watched its inaugural event, the Paris art exhibition Beauford Delaney: Resonance of Form and Vibration of Color, generate more than 10 related projects that fall under three of its six Strategic Focus Areas: The Arts, Travel / Study Abroad, and STEAM Education.
Click here to read full Press Release >>
STEAM+ Professional Development Conference Successfully Concludes in Washington, D.C
WASHINGTON – September 3, 2017 – J Rêve International concluded its STEAM+ Arts Integration and Advocacy professional development program for multidisciplinary educators, artists, and cultural programmers on July 30, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
Wells International Foundation Successfully Launches Literacy Initiative in Houston
HOUSTON – July 27, 2017 – Wells International Foundation (WIF) founder and CEO Monique Y. Wells traveled from Paris, France to her hometown of Houston, Texas in June 2017 to kick off partnerships with the Houston Public Library and the Put It In A Book Foundation on projects that promote literacy for African-American children in grades K-3.
Click here to read full Press Release >>
Dr. Monique Y. Wells Named as One of witti’s Top Women in Travel
PARIS, France – June 25, 2017 – Women in Travel and Tourism International (witti) named Dr. Monique Y. Wells an Outstanding Woman in Travel Research during its “Top Women in Travel” award ceremony earlier this month.
Wells International Foundation to Launch Literacy Activities in Houston, Texas
HOUSTON – June 16, 2017 – The Wells International Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of two activities in support of its literacy initiative in Houston.
Click here to read full Press Release >>
Wells International Foundation Founder & CEO Monique Y. Wells Celebrates 25 Years of Life in Paris
PARIS, France – June 6, 2017 – Dr. Monique Y. Wells, Founder and CEO of the Wells International Foundation (WIF), credits her experiences as a denizen of the City of Light for inspiring her to include the “I” for “international” in the name of her U.S. non-profit organization.
Wells International Foundation Partners on STEAM+ Professional Development Conference in D.C.
WASHINGTON – June 3, 2017 – The Wells International Foundation (WIF) is a proud partner of the STEAM + Arts Integration and Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C.
Click here to read full Press Release >>
Wells International Foundation Founder Monique Y Wells Nominated Three Times for Top Women in Travel
HOUSTON – May 29, 2017 – The Wells International Foundation is pleased to announce that founder and CEO Monique Y. Wells has been nominated in three categories for the WITTI Top Women in Travel Awards.
Wells International Foundation STEAM Statement
