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Hello Supporters & Friends:
July has become one of our favorite times at DFSPB because of the initiative we inaugurated four years ago that, while underscoring our “empowerment of women” mission, also expresses our appreciation for area teachers. July 24th through August 3rd, we once again will be providing nearly 100 women from schools around the community with a free back-to-school wardrobe addition and pampering experience. The appointment schedule with individual volunteer personal stylists is filling up fast at both our Palm Springs and Belle Glade locations. And, thanks to the generosity of sponsors like Chick-fil-A, Goodera, Office Depot, PDQ Chicken, Sam’s Club, Whole Foods and TLC4Teachers, Inc., we’re also able to gift each teacher with treats and supplies to help get their new school year off to a fun start.
It's disturbing to think that those whom we entrust with the development and welfare of our youth are among the country’s lowest paid. Though our governor has pledged to increase their pay, currently Florida teachers rank second to last in teachers’ salaries nationwide. In a profession dominated by women, the pay equity issue prevails. And it’s not just teachers who are affected; chronically employers in all fields and businesses pay women less than men, a shameful truth given that the Equal Pay Act was signed into law six decades ago.
Correcting this disparity is a matter that we at DFSPB champion in our Road to Success and Professional Women’s Group programs. In preparing our clients to get jobs, we also help them become more self-aware of their value in the workforce. We counsel them on job retention, advancement, and pay equity. We book expert speakers for sessions offering advice on financial literacy, stress management, health and wellness, and issues that impact performance and productivity. We want to peel away the layers of frustration, insecurity, uncertainty and self-doubt to build up a woman’s confidence, motivation and self-esteem, instilling a sense of invincibility and, yes, empowerment… to ask for… justify…and receive that raise!
Road to Success will graduate 25 women at the end of this month, and we’ll resume the next six-week term beginning October 9th. PWG continues to meet monthly, and the ranks of participants consistently grows as the lineup of topics and speakers broadens.
Lastly, we’ve signed the lease for our new headquarters at River Bridge Centre in Greenacres, and we’re hoping to begin renovation shortly. It will yield nearly 2,000 square feet more than what we currently occupy. We’re especially excited to be doubling the space of our Training/Meeting Room -- a critical need as RTS and PWG continue to expand. Also tremendously exciting is that we have our first monetary commitment for naming one of the interior spaces. The Coaching Corner will bear the name in honor of an individual, and if you’re interested in other of our naming opportunities for the interior spaces, please contact me for a conversation.
Forever grateful,
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