Finding Purpose with The Chrysalis Project Chrysalis Project offers an alternative pathway to...
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Chrysalis: a preparatory or transitional state Almost half of the women at Jubilee experience barriers to employment due to age, disability, extreme trauma, and complex conditions. Without a sense of purpose or regular interactions with others, they are at greater risk of slipping into isolation and depression. To better serve these women in the spirit of our mission and values, Jubilee launched The Chrysalis Project in January 2016. This social enterprise program creates an opportunity for women who are unable to pursue a tradi- tional employment path to participate in meaningful work, develop new skills, and subsidize their income. “With each project, we are putting ourselves and our lives back together.” Participants meet twice a week to work on their products, learn business skills, set goals, and make plans for bring- ing their products to market. Staff and skilled community volunteers help teach classes and support the women as they learn and develop products. Initially all participants worked as a team to produce a line of dried soup, sauce, and dessert mixes. The next phase gives the women a chance to create and sell their own handmade products. Listening to the The Chrysalis Project participants speak- ing about their experiences, it is evident that a significant personal transformation is occurring. They talk about the benefits of connecting with teammates, finding direction Summer 2016 and purpose, building self-confidence, and moving beyond loss and grief to hopes and dreams. One participant summed it up well: “With each project, we are putting ourselves and our lives back together.” Angie Muthee, manager of The Chrysalis Project, has seen profound changes in the participants’ confidence and resiliency during the past six months. “As the program progressed, the women became more comfortable speaking up, experimenting, and recovering from setbacks,” said Angie. “Now I’m standing back and watching them grow.” Learn more about The Chrysalis Project at jwcenter.org/ our-programs/the-chrysalis-project. Rebuilding lives, one extraordinary woman at a time. “Made with hope, dreams, and a vision for a new beginning by women emerging from their past and creating a better future.” Finding Purpose with The Chrysalis Project The Chrysalis Project offers an alternative pathway to self-sufficiency for women who are unable to pursue traditional employment. When you support The Chrysalis Project, you help women reclaim their independence and their lives. Share your professional talents teaching business skills, contribute supplies, or donate market space to sell products handmade by Jubilee women. For more information, contact [email protected] or 206.442.2951.
Transcript of Finding Purpose with The Chrysalis Project Chrysalis Project offers an alternative pathway to...
2014 Spring Newsletter
Chrysalis: a preparatory or transitional state
Almost half of the women at Jubilee experience barriers to employment due to age, disability, extreme trauma, and complex conditions. Without a sense of purpose or regular interactions with others, they are at greater risk of slipping into isolation and depression.
To better serve these women in the spirit of our mission and values, Jubilee launched The Chrysalis Project in January 2016. This social enterprise program creates an opportunity for women who are unable to pursue a tradi-tional employment path to participate in meaningful work, develop new skills, and subsidize their income.
“With each project, we are putting ourselves and our lives
back together.”
Participants meet twice a week to work on their products, learn business skills, set goals, and make plans for bring-ing their products to market. Staff and skilled community volunteers help teach classes and support the women as they learn and develop products. Initially all participants worked as a team to produce a line of dried soup, sauce, and dessert mixes. The next phase gives the women a chance to create and sell their own handmade products.
Listening to the The Chrysalis Project participants speak-ing about their experiences, it is evident that a significant personal transformation is occurring. They talk about the benefits of connecting with teammates, finding direction
Summer 2016
and purpose, building self-confidence, and moving beyond loss and grief to hopes and dreams. One participant summed it up well: “With each project, we are putting ourselves and our lives back together.”
Angie Muthee, manager of The Chrysalis Project, has seen profound changes in the participants’ confidence and resiliency during the past six months. “As the program progressed, the women became more comfortable speaking up, experimenting, and recovering from setbacks,” said Angie. “Now I’m standing back and watching them grow.”
Learn more about The Chrysalis Project at jwcenter.org/our-programs/the-chrysalis-project.
Rebu i ld ing l i ve s , one ex t raord ina r y woma n at a t ime.
“Made with hope, dreams, and a vision for a new beginning by women emerging from their past and creating a better future.”
Finding Purpose with The Chrysalis Project
The Chrysalis Project offers an alternative pathway to self-sufficiency for women who are unable to pursue traditional employment.
When you support The Chrysalis Project, you help women reclaim their independence and their lives. Share your professional talents teaching business skills, contribute supplies, or donate market space to sell products handmade by Jubilee women. For more information, contact [email protected] or 206.442.2951.
2014 Spring NewsletterJubilee Women’s Center
ReflectionsFor the past 20 years I’ve worked in the “homeless sector” and there is a continuous frustration I bump up against, both at an individual level and a systemic level: We continue to use vague language to describe a condition that is much more complicated.
Homelessness, whether chronic or temporary, is intertwined with poverty, trauma, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental and physical health issues, disability, lack of a personal safety net, racism, ageism, sexism, the local economy, and the housing market. And that is just the beginning.
For each person experiencing homelessness, there is a unique combination of factors that contributed to their situation and different models for addressing different needs. Jubilee focuses its resources on the population we can impact most successfully: single, low-income women who are committed to doing the hard work necessary to improve their lives. What sets Jubilee apart is a program customized to the needs of each woman in all areas of her life, along with a safe and affordable housing option that gives her the time and space to heal and reclaim her independence.
As our community confronts “the homeless problem,” I hope it is with the individual in mind. If we want to help people make a sustainable change in their lives, we must acknowledge the unique and complex circumstances of each person and work with them on the root causes of their homelessness. Of course it is vital to put a roof over people’s heads, but not without attention to their underly-ing issues. One size does not fit all, even in the “homeless sector.”
Sincerely,
Cheryl Sesnon Executive Director
JUBILEE WOMEN’S CENTERMain Office 620 18th Avenue E Seattle, WA 98112 206.324.1244 [email protected]
Sojourner Place 5071 8th Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98105 206.545.4200
STAFFCheryl Sesnon, Executive Director Norma Addis, Donor & Data Manager Dannette Allen, Care Manager Anita Cech, Marketing & Outreach Manager Jozy Gessner, House Manager, Sojourner Place Nathan Gifford, Facilities Coordinator Sheila Lamont, Program Director Tanya Marceau, Education & Outreach Coordinator, AmeriCorps Volunteer
Angie Muthee, Events & Special Projects Manager Carlina Palmer, Health Resources Coordinator, AmeriCorps Volunteer Carol Rozumalski, Care Manager Chrysta Storm, Learning Center Coordinator & Program Assistant
Danni Tang, Administrative & Finance Assistant Jessica Taylor, SP, Care Manager, Sojourner Place Naomi Von Dinklage, Volunteer Services Manager BOARD OF DIRECTORSRuth Verhoff, Co-President, Lion Fish 1 Molly Hancock, Co-President, FareStart Joe Krukowski, Vice President, Waste Management Jennifer Hall, Treasurer, Sisters of Providence Mary Beth Gemperle, Secretary, Community Rep Annette Smith, Student & Alumna Judith Desmarais, SP, Sisters of Providence Celeste Diama-Wright, Sisters of Providence Susan Dewitt, CSJP, Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Georgene Karambelas, Community Rep Karen Kershaw, Community Rep Nancy O’Brien, Community Rep Kate Opatz, Montana & Nacho Borracho Dave Spicer, Horizon House Cara Velez, Banner Bank
MISSIONThe mission of Jubilee Women’s Center is to support women experiencing poverty to build stable and fulfilling futures, one extraordinary woman at a time.
Led by the guiding principle that all women are to be treated with respect and dignity, Jubilee is dedicated to providing safety, support and learning opportunities so women can gain skills and confidence to make permanent life changes.
Photo credit: Karissa Carlson
“If we want to help people make a sustainable change in their lives, we must
acknowledge the unique and complex circumstances of each person...”
Despite the challenges that occurred nationwide this year during the May 5 local day of giving, we are pleased to announce that our dedicated supporters donated $21,725 exceeding our goal of $20,000! The staff and clients of Jubilee thank you most sincerely!
Jubilee Women’s Center 2014 Spring Newsletter
Welcome!Please join us in welcoming Sheila Lamont, our new program director. Sheila brings to Jubilee years of valuable experience as an executive director for a statewide child advocacy nonprofit organization in New York, a program director at a family support agency in Colorado, and former legal counsel for county agencies and departments in New York, including the Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center. She also has extensive training in mediation and conflict resolution.
“I greatly respect the mission of Jubilee Women’s Center,” said Sheila. “I am excited to be part of the team helping to empower the women of Jubilee.”
Sheila moved here from New York in May and is still settling in, so stop by, say hello, and share your Seattle insights and favorite places!
Outdoor TherapyThe yards around Jubilee’s Capitol Hill residences are especially beautiful this time of year, filled with lush plants, colorful blooms, and shady nooks. It wouldn’t be what it is today without landscape architect Maggi Johnson, who began nearly a decade ago cultivating Jubilee’s unremark-able yards into the treasured gardens we enjoy today.
Rewind to 2007, when Jubilee Women’s Center was in the midst of a major remodel. The board had a vision for a garden that would provide a peaceful atmosphere for women healing from crisis. Maggi was brought in to draw up the master plan. She gave the vision life with a combination of high quality hardscaping and landscaping that created functional outdoor space integrated with a tranquil garden. The backyard patio, smoking shelter, reading nook, vegeta-ble and herb plots, Zen garden, and water feature created an urban oasis for the residents.
“Jubilee is addressing a critical need... nature has a place in addressing this need.”
Today Maggi continues to be a devoted caretaker of the gardens, working with other volunteers to keep the outdoor spaces in top shape. “Landscape architects don’t generally stay involved with the maintenance of their projects, so I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work with volunteers and learn hands-on what it really takes to keep this garden healthy and looking good over a long period of time” Maggi said.
What keeps her coming back year after year? “I believe that Jubilee is addressing a critical need,” she said. “I also believe that nature has a place in addressing this need. I am glad to be part of anything that helps the women engage with the outdoors.”
Learn more about Maggi’s firm at johnsonsoutherland.com.
Mardi Gras Highlights
Summer 2016
Volunteer manager Naomi (left) and a Jubilee resident (right) review care of the garden with landscape architect Maggi (center).
Jubilee’s 6th Annual Mardi Gras Party on February 26 was a great success! Our sincere appreciation to the silent auction donors, culinary contributors, beverage providers, volunteers, generous bidders, and corporate sponsors Sisters of Providence, HomeStreet Bank, GLY Construction, and Puget Sound Bank. Together we raised $50,784!
Check out more event photos at flickr.com/photos/ jubileewomenscenter/albums. Photo credit: Remo Daut
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SEATTLE, WA
PERMIT #834
620 18th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
Get to Know Jubilee & Get Involved!
Save the date for our 19th Annual Benefit Breakfast, Thursday, September 29, 2016, at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel. Consider becoming a table captain this year! Just fill a table with nine friends, family, or colleagues and serve as the point person for event details. For info contact Angie at 206.442.2951 or [email protected].
Volunteer• Prepare a community meal with friends or colleagues• Help out in the office or boutique• Join other young professionals on the Associate Board
Contact: [email protected], 206.957.5512 or jwcenter.org/get-involved/volunteer
Donate• Bring us your quality women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry• Host a drive for high-needs items from our wish list• Make a financial contribution of any size• Donate your vehicle through donatingiseasy.org
Contact: [email protected], 206.957.4392 or jwcenter.org/get-involved/donate
Connect• Website jwcenter.org• Facebook JWCenter• Twitter JubileeSeattle
jwcenter.org
Finding Purpose with the Chrysalis Project Cheryl’s Reflections Outdoor Therapy Welcome to our New Program Director Mardi Gras Highlights
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