A licensed attorney with a specialization in international law created Mama Willow Tree, a website that “serves an outlet for women artisans in developing countries.”

Tiffani Sharp came to American River College to speak about her nonprofit organization that helps women to develop a trade. She visited ARC to advocate for women in developing countries.

Women from other countries can sell their hand-made items on Mama Willow Tree.

During the college hour she provided students an insight on her nonprofit organization, Willow Tree Roots, with “real world examples of things that women are doing and how it benefits the community and society as a whole,” said Sharp.

Since Willow Tree Roots is a newly found organization, her presentation on this foundation is a part of her beginning efforts to raise awareness.

Sharp has traveled to many countries including Peru, Kenya and Thailand and has opened an outlet with her website that lets these women sell their items outside of their villages.

“I’ve done quite a bit of travel while appearing in orphanages and with womens’ groups the past 13 years,” Sharp said.

Sharp said that by traveling to different developing countries, she learned that even despite geographical and cultural differences, that women have more in common with one another than one would think.

Sarah Knape attended the lecture, who is a business administration’s major, spoke about how important women empowerment is.

“This gave me motivation not only to work on my personal empowerment but to spread it around the community,” Knape said.

Derlina Medina, who is an international relations major, talked about how excited she was to learn more about this topic, which is why she was in attendance during the college hour.

“It was a really thoughtful but simple and effective approach to helping women be empowered,” said Medina.

Sharp spoke about how she is an advocate for women’s empowerment, but how that doesn’t count out the men.

Her slogan is “we’re all in this together” which means both men and women.

Sharp said that her next visit will be to Cambodia.