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STEPS TO SUCCESS
AND THE PROVERBIAL LADDER
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From Kerry Barr O'Connor, Executive Director
The Theme for this year's The Ultimate Power Lunch, is STEPS TO SUCCESS. We refer to our spectrum of workforce development and wrap-around services as STEPS TO SUCCESS as our data shows the more a woman accesses programs, opportunities, and services, the better positioned she is to achieve economic upward mobility and strengthen her family. She is more confident, more informed as it relates to employment options and opportunities, more empowered to make financial decisions with new found knowledge of available tools, resources, and security best practices, and she is more engaged in the community as she continues to grow her social capital. For more information on this year's Ultimate Power Lunch, and to see who this year's Paradigm Award Honorees are, please scroll down.
STEPS TO SUCCESS also tells the story of what many clients experience throughout their career journeys. Let's take the proverbial Career Ladder. You start at the bottom rung, expect to put your time in at each step, and if all goes according to plan, eventually hit the top. You may be doing everything right, but there are factors well beyond your control that can wreak havoc on your plans. Where were you on the ladder back in 2007-2009? Were you able to stay on, or fall off completely? If you were fortunate to get back on, how far did you ascend before March 2020 when our world changed as we knew it? Were you thrown off the ladder again? Where are you today?
Getting back on the ladder may take longer this time around as schools and childcare centers must be fully operational so women can begin to seek re-entry into the workforce. It will take a great deal of trust, courage, grit, and determination. It will be exhausting, frustrating, and disheartening. But we know you can do it. We've seen you do it before. We will continue to offer our current programming while also looking for creative and innovative ways to amplify impact. And whether in person or virtual, you will always have support and a safe environment at Dress for Success Charlotte to network with others who continue to climb the proverbial ladder. We'll be here every rung of the way.
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Honor for One of Our Own
Congratulations go to Fontella McKyer, our Director of Workforce Development! Fontella was selected as the 2021 Crowning Achiever for the National Trends and Services Committee of the Crown Jewels (NC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. The Crowning Achiever award is given annually to recognize individuals and organizations in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region for the positive impact their contributions have made in helping the organization further the mission of its programs.
Congratulations Fontella on this well deserved recognition!
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Best Face Forward Workshop
(English & Spanish)
Are you spending more time in front of a camera? Whether you're interviewing, working from home, or just want to refresh your look, there are tips and tricks to learn that will help build your confidence.
The experts from Ulta Beauty will present this fun and informative virtual workshop.
For the first time we will be offering this workshop in English and Spanish! Please share this information with anyone who may be interested.
Tuesday, June 22 at 2 p.m. (English)
Tuesday, June 22 at 6 p.m. (Spanish)
*One beauty bag filled with make-up and personal care items will be given away at each session!
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Professional Women's Group
To learn more about the next meeting of this professional employment retention and career advancement group, contact Fontella McKyer at fmckyer@dressforsuccesscharlotte.org or leave a message at 704-525-7706. |
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We're Ringing the Bell!
India, Sabrina, Quonisha, Wendy
Congratulations on your new positions! We invite you to continue your employment ascension with free membership in our employment retention program, the aforementioned, Professional Women's Group (PWG).
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If you have not seen it yet, watch it over the holiday weekend with your family and friends. The entertainment value is priceless. Go to the Stiletto Swagger Event page and click on Watch Now. Fundraising is still open so we have not named our Top Fundraiser yet! You can still make a contribution. Let's help every Swaggerer exceed their goal of raising $1,000.
While fundraising is still going on, these awards have already been determined by our Judge's Panel. Congratulations to:
We'll announce the Top Fundraiser on June 16. And what does the Top Fundraiser get for his efforts you ask? He wins the choice of which month he wants to appear in the Swaggerer of the Month Calendar! (Scroll down to see Mr. May from the 2020-2021 Swaggerer of the Month Calendar.)
Thanks to Our Generous Sponsors
Title Sponsor - Ally. Silver Sponsor - Truliant Federal Credit Union and Bronze Sponsor - Ellen Holliday
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Swaggerer of the Month: Meet Mr. May
Elliott Van Ness,
Partner & Portfolio Manager,
Director of Research, McShane Partners
"I had a lot of fun with this last year and am looking forward to, again doing my small part to help advance women in the workplace, which is probably the best way to help strengthen families in and around local communities. As I said last year, I've been blessed and honored to have known and been supported by strong, successful, and empowered women throughout my life, both personally and professionally, and this is just my small contribution to help Dress for Success Charlotte in its mission."
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 And the Paradigm Award Goes to... |
Speaking of The Ultimate Power Lunch, it is with great pleasure that we share with you the 2021 Paradigm Award Honorees: Jeannine Dodson and Gale Bonnell. The Paradigm Award is the only award given by Dress for Success Charlotte at the annual signature event in September, and it recognizes those who link individual and corporate philanthropy with social needs activism, specifically in the area of advancing women. Jeannine and Gale partnered with Dress for Success Charlotte on our inaugural Your Hour, Her Power Campaign. When I say they amplified this new campaign, it has more to do with than the many Adams Outdoor Billboards you saw all around town throughout March. These women put their heart and soul behind the campaign and it showed. They leveraged their personal and professional contacts and helped raise significant awareness (more than 8 million impressions) and funds (more than $103,000). This support will ensure the uninterrupted services of DFS Charlotte and as thousands of women in the Greater Charlotte area plan to re-enter the workforce. Congratulations Jeannine and Gale! Your efforts in helping to advance women is commendable and we are honored to be working in partnership with you.
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Fabulous Friday Summer Dates
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The Next Fabulous Friday is June 11
We have great pieces to expand your wardrobe. 100% of proceeds support workforce development programs and services. If you can't make June 11th, put June 25th on your calendar.
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Apparel Donations
As volunteers return to help with sorting, we are gradually resuming donation appointments. Please check the Donation page on our website, to sign up for an appointment. We appreciate everyone's patience as we continue to make our way through the "current normal".
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Wish List
One of the many ways you can support Dress for Success Charlotte is to donate items on our Wish List. For each item or service donated, we are able to put our financial resources to great use!
Current Needs
iPad Help us upgrade our technology so we can be more efficient when processing donor gifts.
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Program Support Opportunities
If you would like to make a financial gift, we offer several convenient options. You can DONATE HERE through our website, or we gladly accept donations by check, or by credit card over the phone. You can mail a check to the address at the bottom of the newsletter. To donate via credit card, call our office at 704-525-7706. If your company does matching gifts, please remember to apply and double or triple your gift.
To direct gifts of stock, please provide your broker with
Merrill Edge DTC #5198.
The account is Dress for Success Charlotte.
Have questions or need more information? Call Kerry Barr O'Connor at
704-525-7706. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
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Stay In The Know...
In between newsletters, keep up to date with Dress for Success Charlotte. Check our social media accounts and please share our posts. Twitter - @dfscharlotte. Instagram - dfscharlotte. Facebook - Dress for Success Charlotte and LinkedIn - Dress for Success Charlotte.
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The mission of Dress for Success® is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
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