Prime Time for Women is intentional and inclusive in its efforts to provide opportunities for women in their PRIME to be seen and heard. I’ve been asked many, many times, “At what age does a woman enter her prime?” And every time I reply the same way, “Prime is not an age…rather it is an attitude about aging.”

Regardless of your chronological age, you know you are in your prime when you truly give yourself permission to be the woman you want to be rather than the woman you were told or expected to be. Women in their prime pursue their passions, explore new interests, broaden their friendship, realize they have the power to make a positive difference in their communities and discover that life is bigger and better than they ever realized. Women in their prime say, “I’m not done, yet! I’m not afraid to step out of my comfort zone and say ‘YES’ to challenges and opportunities. I have much to learn and even more to do! It’s my turn now!”

“Be seen. Be heard. Inspire.” This tagline on our website is not just a catching marketing phrase…it is our mission! That is why, Prime Time for Women shares its platforms with women (and SMART men) who support our mission! It has been an honor to offer nursing students at Valley College opportunities to speak at Walking to. Wellness, “Where Health Happens and Connections Matter! This weekly walking program, which recently celebrated 119 consecutive weeks of walking as a community, has provided numerous nursing students real life opportunities to demonstrate what they have learned in class and practice the art of communicating it to the broader community.

But you don’t have to take my word for it! Melissa Joy Pennington, MSN, RN, a faculty member at Valley College wrote in an email, “Valley College is honored to collaborate with Prime Time for Women and have our students speak at Walking to Wellness. Our college may be small, but our Associate Degree of Nursing students are strong and dedicated. This initiative provides an excellent opportunity for our students to share their knowledge and promote health and wellness among community residents. The students are eager to contribute to this valuable program, and we anticipate that their presentation will positively impact the health of the community.”

In a separate email to her colleagues, Melissa wrote: “I want to share an inspiring update regarding our Associate Degree of nursing students at Valley College, Martinsburg campus. Over the past few weeks, students have collaborated with the Prime Time for Women organization, presenting valuable health information to the older adult population during the Walking to Wellness held every Wednesday at the ARCC at Hagerstown Community College. Topics covered include fall prevention, summer safety, safety in the home, and walking for health. Upcoming events will focus on flu prevention and promoting heart health.

During our most recent event, an elderly participant expressed deep gratitude for the students’ teachings on hyperthermia, especially given the recent heatwave. He mentioned that understanding the signs of hyperthermia made him realize the importance of seeking shelter while working in his garden. He credited this knowledge to the students, noting it potentially saved his life. This feedback accentuates our students’ efforts and the real-world impact and commitment our nursing program offers to our community and the well-being of those who live within the community.

Through community service, our students are not only gaining practical experience but also demonstrating leadership qualities and a genuine desire to help others. Their interactions with the older adult population are highly valued, and both the students and the community benefit from these engagements. This experience is instrumental in shaping our students into safe, practicing registered nurses.”

Obviously, as an organization, Prime Time for Women recognizes the health benefits of positive social connection! We hope more people will join us at Walking to Wellness to learn from and be inspired by our presenters and each other.