Program Spotlight Sisterhood Program

Xela Aroma Internship

Xela Aroma, a woman-owned retailer, was founded by the late Maryann Mihalopoulos on the promise to empower women in business. As a generous gift in support of Austin Street Center, Xela Aroma became the agency’s first social enterprise, serving a dual purpose of generating philanthropic and earned revenue, while serving as a hands-on work development training ground helping clients resolve their homelessness with critical life skills. Xela’s products are hand-poured by the women of Austin Street’s Sisterhood Program.

Xela Aroma is partnered with the Sisterhood Program to offer a comprehensive internship program that develops and prepares program participants for the working world. In alignment with Austin Street’s overarching guiding principles, the internship is centered on the core values of kindness, trustworthiness, empowerment, and determination, further developing the interns’ proficiency in customer service, inventory control, marketing, and cost/pricing strategies, along with soft skills related to the interview process, resume building, career search, and dressing for success. The Sisterhood Program’s Case Managers work hands-on with our clients, who become interns with Xela Aroma to round out the ecosystem of support, including financial education, workforce development, along with life skills and social skills training. As interns, clients work their way through all areas of Xela Aroma, learning critical life and social skills, which in turn supports independence as productive and contributing members of society. Because of this wraparound support, coupled with offerings provided by the Sisterhood Program, interns build strong foundations that lead to financial stability and subsequently will resolve their homelessness.