Dress For Success Charlotte

A WOMENS ADVANCEMENT CENTER, THE MISSION OF DRESS FOR SUCCESS IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE BY PROVIDING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE AND DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO THRIVE IN WORK AND IN LIFE. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDE JOB PREPAREDNESS, INCLUDING INTERVIEW AND WORKPLACE ATTIRE, JOB ACQUISITION, EMPLOYMENT RETENTION AND ADVANCEMENT, IT ACCESS, SUPPORT AND TRAINING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

PROFESSIONAL WOMENS GROUP (PWG): A MEMBERSHIP-BASED ASSOCIATION THAT MEETS MONTHLY TO NETWORK, RETAIN EMPLOYMENT AND ADVANCE CAREERS, THE PWG STRIVES TO TEACH MEMBERS ABOUT WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION, CORPORATE CULTURE, FINANCIAL LITERACY/WEALTH BUILDING, BALANCING FAMILY AND WORK, AND MORE. MEMBERSHIP GREW BY NEARLY 10% IN 2021. EXPANDED PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS WAS OFFERED IN THESE MEETINGS AND TO ALL MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THIS AREA, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF CENTRAL CAROLINAS, 40 WOMEN BECAME CERTIFICATED QPR GATEKEEPERS. QPR, LIKE CPR IS AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO SOMEONE IN CRISIS AND CAN SAVE LIVES.GOING PLACES NETWORK (GPN): A SPECIALLY-DESIGNED PROGRAM FOR CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED, GPN PROVIDES A CURRICULUM THAT BLENDS A PROVEN METHODOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE CAREER PROSPECTS OF UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED WOMEN AND HELPS THESE WOMEN GAIN PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, ACCELERATE THEIR JOB SEARCHES AND BUILD CONFIDENCE THROUGH WEEKLY TRAINING SESSIONS, ONE-ON-ONE CAREER COACHING AND NETWORKING IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING CURRENTLY MEETS TWICE A WEEK OVER A 4-WEEK PERIOD. ONCE EMPLOYMENT IS SECURED, CLIENTS ARE INVITED TO ENROLL IN THE PROFESSIONAL WOMENS GROUP PROGRAM WHERE CLIENTS REPORT EARNING $14,480 -$56,000 ANNUALLY OR BETWEEN $10-$27 HOURLY.CAREER CENTER: A FULLY EQUIPPED BUSINESS OFFICE FOR CLIENTS TO USE ON THEIR OWN AND/OR TO MEET WITH HR AND RECRUITING PROFESSIONALS FOR JOB SEARCH SUPPORT AND INSTRUCTION INCLUDING: RSUM AND COVER-LETTER WRITING; INTERNET, EMAIL, AND SOCIAL MEDIA AS JOB SEARCH TOOLS; JOB PLACEMENT SOFTWARE; MOCK INTERVIEWS; AND PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT TOPICS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN ENTERING THE WORKFORCE AND ADVANCING THEIR CAREERS. 280 CLIENTS (UNDUPLICATED) UTILIZED THE CAREER CENTER IN 2021. 22% SELF-REPORTED BACK WHEN EMPLOYMENT WAS SECURED. WE LAUNCHED NEW INITIATIVES WITH GOOGLE AND AARP TO HELP CLIENTS INCREASE THEIR ECONOMIC SECURITY BY GIVING THEM THE DIGITAL ESSENTIALS THEY NEED TO FIND AND SECURE JOBS, CHANGE CAREERS, AND EXPLORE ENTREPRENEURSHIP. 518 UNITS OF SERVICE WERE OFFERED THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS.FINANCIAL EDUCATION: A 10-WEEK CURRICULUM DEVELOPED WITH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROVIDING EDUCATION ON: BASIC BANKING AND BUDGETING, CREDIT AND DEBT MANAGEMENT, INVESTMENTS AND RETIREMENT PLANNING; WORKPLACE BENEFITS; TAXES, AMONG OTHER TOPICS, INCLUDING MANAGING DURING A CRISIS, I.E., COVID-19 AND HISTORICALLY HIGH INFLATION RATES. UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM: 94% HAVE PERSONAL FINANCIAL GOALS AND STICK TO THEM; 88% OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS HAVE AN EMERGENCY FUND, AN INCREASE OF 29% UPON ENROLLMENT; 53% ACTIVELY MONITOR SPENDING TO MAINTAIN A BUDGET; 53% ARE CURRENTLY INVESTING FOR RETIREMENT AND/OR OTHER LONG-TERM GOALS.

INTERVIEW AND EMPLOYMENT SUITING: OVERALL, MORE THAN 500 WOMEN UTILIZED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN 2021. OF THOSE, 181 WOMEN (UNDUPLICATED) PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM IN 2021. OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TWO COMPLETE INTERVIEW OUTFITS, INCLUDING SHOES AND ACCESSORIES, AND WHEN SEE SECURES EMPLOYMENT, SHE WILL RECEIVE UP TO UP TO FIVE OUTFITS FOR AN INSTANT WORKING WARDROBE. THIS SERVICE IS OFTEN THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR THOSE SEEKING JOB PREPAREDNESS AND JOB ACQUISITIONS SERVICES. IN 2021, 181 WOMEN (UNDUPLICATED) PARTICIPATED IN THESE PROGRAMS.