From those who know me, their first reaction upon hearing of my new adventure with Dress for Success San Antonio is, "You're perfect for each other!" For those of you who don't know me, let me explain why we are perfect for one another.

 

In my short time here, I have come to recognize the look of worry and panic in the eyes of a woman walking through our doors for the first time. She doesn't know what to expect; she has only one thought, "I need to know I will be okay." I recognize the look, because I have been there. And because I have been there, I know she will be okay.

 

Having raised a severely disabled child as a single mother, I know it can be overwhelming not only to provide for a family, but to believe there is life after a struggle. I feel fortunate to have been surrounded by a network of strong and inspiring individuals and had access to resources that contributed to my success. Professionally, my non-profit career has taken me from Washington, D.C., to my hometown of El Paso, Texas, to San Antonio. It has been my life's work to empower others--women, people of color, and, in the last 17 years, individuals with disabilities. Somehow, though, I am always brought back to work with disadvantaged women.

 

In the non-profit world, we often see the charity model working from a place of "saving" clients or providing one time assistance.  It is my belief this model does not impact a client's life; it merely provides temporary relief.  Through education, personal development and self-assessment, non-profits can impact lives in a way that leads to very real, individualized success. Success looks different for each person and you cannot provide a one size fits all method to empowerment. This approach creates a lasting impact to help break the cycle of poverty. This is what I love most about the work we do at Dress for Success San Antonio. The suiting experience is a very small part of our impact. The success part? That's the best part of our work!

 

It is something to see the smile and a sense of relief when someone leaves our building. Her struggle is real, but now, so is the possibility of success SHE has envisioned for herself.

 

In the past 14 years, we have seen great success as an organization and we honor where we have been. As we plan for the future, we see profound growth in the scope of client work and the impact we have on San Antonio.  We would love to continue this trajectory with you. Join us in our mission.  We encourage you to come out for a visit.

 

I look forward to seeing you soon!