Destiny 2023 Q2

Dress For Success Worcester:

Workforce Success Well Beyond the Suit

By Deborah Drew

A

few short years ago, when one heard the name of the organization, Dress for Success, it was all about providing workplace, professional attire for women entering or re-entering the workforce.

These days, Dress for Success Worcester, has had a makeover.

Locally founded in 2008, Dress for Success Worcester has made the economic mobility of nearly 5,000 women its ultimate priority; it assists low- to moderate-income women by providing a continuum of educational and support services year-round. It knows that it is through meaningful and long-term employment that women achieve economic success, stabilize their families, and strengthen our communities.

“It is such an amazing experience helping women find their voices, identify their own strengths, and develop their self-confidence,” said Justina Lachapelle, Executive Director, Dress for Success Worcester.

“Our individualized approach positions them for success in taking the next step on their career journeys. Transitioning from surviving to thriving with meaningful and long-term employment, their families are stabilized, and our communities are strengthened.”

This year, Dress for Success’ overall goal is to provide at least 266 women with the education and support to obtain a job or move forward in their careers. A National Grid Foundation partner for upwards of three years, Dress for Success Worcester focuses its

efforts in areas of Central Massachusetts that exhibit high concentrations of female headed households, families living in poverty and elevated unemployment rates. Four core DFSW programs and services are purposefully designed to address specific barriers to obtaining employment, both the obvious ones like a competitive resume and some not so apparent like the lack of confidence, that women face.

Workplace Readiness Program

The Zooming to Success program -- weekly two-hour group workshops and educational programming, supported by one-to-one career coaching sessions throughout the duration of the 10-week program -helps approximately 30 unemployed and under-employed women gain professional skills, accelerate their job search, and build confidence coaching and networking in a supportive environment. Women overcome obstacles to employment by learning soft skills and attitudes, branding, social media presence, goal setting and career mapping, basic budgeting, and interviewing techniques. The goal of the program is to help participants gain employment or make significant progress on their path to employment.

Career Coaching

Through its Career Center, Dress for Success Worcester takes women’s job readiness “beyond the suit” to help raise the chances of success in the job market by offering one-on-one support and free access to multiple learning activities. It will host approximately 200 coaching sessions for women during the year. By teaching women how to create superior resumes and cover letters, how to hone their interview and technology skills, as well as needed ancillary skills like goal planning and teamwork, it ensures women feel confident and capable when applying for employment.

Suiting Program

More than 120 clients work one-on-one with a volunteer or staff member who helps select professional attire and provides support and encouragement as she prepares for upcoming interviews. Dress For Success provides each client with a professional outfit--and most importantly, positive reinforcement and a boost of confidence. During this appointment, resumes are reviewed, and interviewing skills enhanced. Once employed, she is invited to return for a professional capsule wardrobe. At this time, the client is invited to join the Professional Women’s Group.

Professional Women’s Group

This group of 25 members helps bolster the careers of successfully employed women by providing them with a network of support, practical information, and inspiration to thrive in their workplace or business, and successfully develop a healthy worklife balance. ❧

Taking women beyond the suit, Career Coaching offers one-on-one counseling and support to elevate the changes of getting and keeping employment.

The Suiting Program helps women select professional attire as well as provides support and encouragement as they begin and grow careers.

Supporting the Blue Economy, STEM Education and Workforce Development

Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute Helps Fuel Tech Sector Growth with its Flagship Vocational Program

By Deborah Drew

The Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) was launched in 2013 in the belief that the ocean represents a new source of opportunity. As a not-for-profit whose ambitious mission is to “address critical challenges facing our oceans, human health and the environment through innovative scientific research and education,”

GMGI is demonstrating that there is vast potential in marine science discovery powered by genomics — the study of the complete set of DNA — including all of its genes — in a person or other organism.

Located at a 400-year-old port that offers the ideal

location and maritime infrastructure for situating the world’s first dedicated marine genomics research institute, GMGI offers STEM education and workforce development programming.

The Research Institute

GMGI has established a world-class marine biotechnology research institute, powered by genomics on the Gloucester waterfront. The primary focus is on research that connects with human health, oceans and the environment. It also is focused on the science of fishery research.

Education/Academy

GMGI has created a vibrant science learning environment at its Blackburn Center. The Gloucester Biotechnology Academy flagship vocational program educates local, high school graduates for careers as biotech lab technicians, with a lab-immersion curriculum and

paid internships in regional biotech companies such as New England BioLabs, Cell Signaling Technology, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Its hands-on technical training offers a STEM pathway for young people who lack the means or mindset to enter college after high school, but who possess the drive to forge better lives for themselves.

The Academy, which has been supported by the National Grid Foundation for nearly two years, offers a 10-month, full-time, certified vocational program that trains graduates in the Greater Cape Ann region for careers as professional lab technicians in a range of life science, biomanufacturing, and research roles. The Academy is one of the only program of its kind in Greater Boston, with a state-of-the-art teaching lab and a proprietary curriculum designed to the highest industry lab standards. The innovative program consists of

two semesters covering genetics, cell culture, and biomanufacturing, all taking place at GMGI’s dedicated Academy facility. Its facility includes a teaching lab, a DNA sequencing lab, and a mammalian culture lab, as well as a biomanufacturing teaching lab.

The Academy’s curriculum is based on the premise that biotechnology and biomanufacturing skills can be learned as a vocational program when taught from the [lab] bench, rather than in the traditional lecture model - and that such an approach will dissipate the barriers to science careers that arise from science today being reserved for college-bound students coming from more privileged backgrounds.

After 10 years in operation, the organization has grown to nearly 30 employees and the Academy has doubled the size of its teaching facility, serving 40 students a year, currently enrolling students for its eighth class.

GMGI’s ambitious research strategy is contributing to new discoveries impacting human health and the environment, and its state-of-the-art research institute has been joined by two research companies at its harborside location, with over 35 additional life sciences companies in a 17-mile radius.

By bringing world-class science and transformative workforce development to Gloucester’s historic waterfront, GMGI is catalyzing the regional economy. ❧

New Ground Offers a New Path for Homeless Students

by Christine Berardi

The white building on Acorn Lane in Levittown, NY is the home to New Ground - a small but mighty organization that offers a path forward for Long Island’s homeless families and veterans.

Founded in 1991, New Ground delivers wide-ranging services including employment counseling, financial literacy and lifeskills development that help Long Islanders improve their lives and break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Through New Ground’s Educational Program, the organization provides critical educational tutoring and reading assistance to approximately 100 homeless pre-K-12 students. Shannon Boyle, Executive Director, New

Ground, explains being homeless can mean many things. “Homeless on Long Island can mean a student may couch surf at a friend’s home. It can mean a family lives in a local motel room with no kitchen relying on fast food for meals. Others may live in shelters.”

According to New Ground, nationally 75% of homeless children perform below grade level in reading and are more likely to repeat a grade and 45% do not attend school regularly. “That’s why our Educational Program is so important to helping students improve their grades. The program provides the tools and assistance necessary to address difficulties experienced by the students and ensure overall academic success for all children.

Tutor Nicole Finch, Associate Program Director Evol Sweeney, Tutor Quincy Finch

Photo: New Ground

National Grid Foundation’s support in New Ground and our program means that students receive vital educational services and begin on the path to success,” she said.

Along with meeting students’ educational needs, New Ground also assists students with additional academic expenses not covered by schools that families cannot afford such as, SAT/ACT study courses, college application fees, specialized supplies, and testing for special education needs.

New Ground tracks students’ classroom improvements and success by collecting report cards on a regular basis. Social workers and executive staff review the report cards with parents and students giving parents a model to stay on top of scholastic performance and celebrate success as well as troubleshoot any problem areas.

“With program support, I am proud to say that 100% of participating pre-K-12 students successfully were promoted to the next grade,” Boyle said. ❧

Associate Program Director

Evol Sweeney with student Left

New Ground students with their favorite books

Right

Student with Thank You sign

Photos: New Ground

In the last year, New Ground

● Provided school supplies to 107 students

●

HEAF@Brooklyn Changes Lives

ONE STUDENT at a Time

by Christine Berardi

The Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF) gives students the opportunity to think about, prepare for and pursue the many options available when it comes to higher education. HEAF offers high-quality programming for the “forgotten middle” - middle-achieving students from low-income families who don’t qualify for remedial or extremely competitive school programs.

The 11-year suite of college access and success services of five programs gives HEAF’s students the preparation needed for future success. High Expectations prepares middle schoolers for admission to college-prep high schoo l and specialized high school admissions tests. Summer Quest is a middle-school summer program designed to combat summer learning loss. College Quest is an intensive curriculum offering SAT prep and college tours to students. Onward is a college success program providing students with resources to successfully transition to college and earn a degree on time. Youth Development and Leadership Academy offers leadership development, character building and service learning to young people.

While most of the programs are held at its headquarters in Harlem, NY, HEAF@ Brooklyn brings HEAF to 50 students in the borough. Prior to the pandemic, HEAF@

Brooklyn met at a local school and went to virtual programming during Covid when schools closed.

According to Michael Johnson, President & CEO, HEAF, many of Brooklyn’s HEAF’s students requested to continue with the virtual and hybrid programs. “Although, we believe, there is nothing like participating in programming in person, we will offer virtual instruction and courses to our students. Each student should have an amazing HEAF experience.”

There may be a new Brooklyn location as the scheduling with the school was not ideal. “We are working to find a new home for HEAF@Brooklyn so young people can stay close to home and get the best experience of participating with their friends right next to them. They also will have the continued virtual option,” Johnson said. “We want students to have the best HEAF experience no matter where they are located.”

During Spring Break this year, HEAF spearheaded a trip to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) which included Brooklyn HEAF students.

Photos: HEAF

Can a book make a child smile?

According to The Book Fairies, the answer is Yes!

In 2012, the organization began with a simple mission – to foster the love of reading in children and to grow school and personal libraries. It gathers new and gently used books and places them into the hands of children living in areas across Long Island and in New York City. The model eliminates financial and other obstacles. In 11 years, Book Fairies has distributed nearly 4 million books to schools, homeless shelters, day care centers and after-school programs.

Students from low-income families who live in communities with underperforming and underfunded schools lack resources to stock school/classroom libraries. Working with schools and community members, The Book Fairies floods “book desert” neighborhoods with high-interest books necessary to increase literacy rates.

“The demand for high-quality books in impoverished areas is beyond what most can imagine but thanks to support from National Grid Foundation, we are working to make strides to fill the gaps, said Eileen Minogue, Executive Director, The Book Fairies. “We are so grateful for investment in our mission and are excited to get books into the hands of more children in need so they can grow, learn and thrive.” ❧

Long Island teachers and students were excited and grateful to receive new books including books in Spanish.

Photos:The Book Fairies

“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are: Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common sense.”

~ Thomas A. Edison

Photo: unsplash.com/@salimtetbirt