Over 350 individuals and businesses purchased tickets or journal ads in advance to support the event.  More than 215 attendees came out to enjoy the uplifting atmosphere of the evening, the company of friends, and a sumptous dinner provided by the Clinton Inn in Tenafly, NJ.

The program was emceed by the always funny and entertaining Nina Pineda, Emmy award winning Journalist and member of the WABC-TV Channel 7
Eyewitness News team.  Nina is long-time supporter of WRIC, and we truly appreciate her continuing belief in our cause.

One of the highlights of the event was special guest Jeanette Rivera, a Women’s Center graduate who bravely told of her struggles as a single mother and her recent strides towards success, empowerment and self-sufficiency.  Her story touched the hearts of all, and gave a voice to the hundreds of women who seek help from WRIC each year.

Also inspiring was a video presention of everyday life at Women’s Rights Information Center  Our guests received a first hand look through the eyes of Center  clients, volunteers and staff of what can be found upon entering through our front doors.

Our honorees received everyone’s congratulations for their volunteerism and philanthropy:  Joyce Demetrakis, Arianne Schreer, Alexis Pizzuro, Sandra O. Gold, Ameilia Gold, Ellie Lubin, Miriam Bloom, Lois Benjamin Odabash, Robin Odabash Brown and Jamie Odabash McLain.

Please visit our Facebook page to enjoy photos of the event.

Date: Thursday 8 March 2012
Time: 6.00pm to 8.30pm
Location: Women’s Rights Information Ctr.
108 West Palisades Avenue
Englewood, NJ 07631
Attention all mothers, daughters,
grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and girls
are all welcome to attend this dynamic
and inspiring event. Helping our girls
grow great! Don’t miss it!

GUEST SPEAKERS and ORGANIZATIONS
* Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Iota Epsilon Omega of Bergen County presents Emerging Young
Leaders Program
* Bergen Community College's Women's Institute mentoring program by Corethia Oates
* Bergen County's Junior Commission on the Status of Women by Brenda Jones and Junior
Commission members
* Girls' Scouts Englewood Troop Leader Courtnee Young (Arts badge)
* Bergen County NAACP, Ms. Ronda Wilson, Second Vice President
* Bergen County Urban League, Natasha Purnell, Director of Youth Services and Educational
Development
* Woman's Club of Englewood's scholarship program by Philanthropy/Education Committee Beverly
Rhinehart
* The Zone at Dwight Morrow High School will be described by director Liz Corsini, who is also chair
of Women's Rights Information Center
And many more…. For more information please contact Ms. Martha Velez at the Women’s Rights
Information Center 201.568.1166 | info @ womensrights.org

Her name may not be real, but her story is… Victoria is just one of the hundreds of women that Women’s Rights Information Center supported in 2011.  We want to share her story with you so that you will know how your contributions allow us to fulfill our mission to help women facing economic and social barriers regain the strength it takes to become independent, self-confident, and self-sufficient.

If you’ve already made a pledge, thank you for your generosity.  If not, will you consider making a gift this holiday season to Women’s Rights Information Center? No contribution is too small to make a difference.

Victoria came to WRIC after being unemployed for over a year and struggling to overcome many difficult challenges in her life.   Recently separated and raising two adolescent children on her own, Victoria was facing a number of obstacles to employment, including outdated work skills and a minor offense that was still showing up on background checks after nearly ten years.  But a determination to succeed and a strong will to end her dependence on welfare led her to our doors.  After a career review and assessment with WRIC counselors, Victoria set new goals and enrolled in our Office Technology job training program, where she sharpened her computer skills, and took advanced certification exams to become a Microsoft Office Specialist.  Being highly motivated, Victoria began her job search process before her training class even ended, participating in networking groups, interview coaching and updating her resume.  She also volunteered at the WRIC Front Desk to hone her on-the-job skills and demonstrate her knowledge of office procedures, sense of responsibility, and excellent work ethic.  Victoria’s potential to succeed was evident, and we continued to support her efforts by providing job leads, recommendations to employers, and a small financial grant to pay the processing costs to finally get her record expunged.  Within just four months, Victoria was hired as a full-time Medical Records Coordinator by a local health care agency, and was soon earning enough income to close her welfare case and begin providing for her family on her own.

Please feel free to share Victoria’s story and help us spread the word about Women’s Rights Information Center by forwarding this email to your friends.  It’s a small step that means a lot to our organization.

We look forward to sharing more success stories with you.

Sincerely,

Joan Grzenda, Executive Director

Liz Corsini, Board Chair

Si tienes preguntas, habla con Diana Abreu
Women’s Rights Information Center
108 West Palisade Avenue
Englewood, NJ 07631
201-568-1166

Come meet Rebecca Altshul, Marketing
Specialist from Loving Care Agency Inc. to
learn more about how to become certified
as a Home Health Aid and the advantages
of being in this field.

To reserve your seat, please see Diana Abreu, Career and Education Counselor or call at (201) 568-1166.

$1.00 Donation to reserve seat ]]> http://womensrights.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=288 0 http://womensrights.org/blog/?p=278 http://womensrights.org/blog/?p=278#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:54:59 +0000 WricMain http://womensrights.org/blog/?p=278 Congratulations to the August 2011 Office Technology Graduating Class for reaching a major milestone on their way to employment and new careers!

100% of enrollees successfully completed the rigorous 240-hour training program, with nine out of nine graduates all passing their Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification Exam, the most highly respected industry credential for office administration careers.

How did this happen?  At WRIC, we are always working hard to provide the best outcomes for our students, and since the beginning of the year, we have been implementing a series of highly effective, low-cost strategies designed at raising the achievement level for our students overall.  First, our new computer teacher, Shana Hall-Earl who is a Microsoft-certified Instructor, redesigned our curriculum and created cost-free digital textbooks with lessons and practice exercises downloaded to flash drives for each student.  Next, our second-floor training spaces were upgraded and transformed into “smart classrooms” with new seating configurations and high-tech projection systems enabling students to view screen shots from the instructor’s laptop computer and follow along step by step.  Then, a new test preparation software program was installed on all student computers that allowed for unlimited practice and instant feedback, which significantly helped to increase confidence and reduce test anxiety.  Finally, with all classes once again on site, our Training Counselor Martha Velez was able to spend more time with each student helping to solve personal challenges and overcome barriers, and inspire motivation to come to class and work hard everyday.

On Graduation Day, students presented their self-designed PowerPoint slide shows, through which they demonstrated not only their technical competency and computer skills, but just as importantly, the new level of confidence in themselves and their ability to achieve and succeed. The audience, which was filled with friends, family members and Center supporters, cheered them on.  “This is the first time I ever graduated from anything,” said one client, a former high school dropout.  “I feel absolutely amazing!”