EWI Legacy Stories Project Episode #9 features gourmet chef entrepreneur and EWI alumna Aida Mady. Born in Cairo, Egypt, Aida immigrated to Northern Virginia in 1981. She launched her business, Cooking and Beyond, in 2012 with the help of business training and mentoring from Empowered Women International (EWI). She shares authentic Egyptian cuisine and culture through her food and work.

Our program, EWI, is celebrating 20 years since its inception! Founded in 2002, Empowered Women International became a support network of cultural exchange for immigrant and refugee women. In the beginning, EWI provided empowerment workshops in Northern Virginia, and as it joined LEDC in 2017, the program expanded to serve over 700 women annually throughout the DMV area.