Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving from New Endeavors by Women
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Give 2 the Max - Help us reach $250
Thank you to everyone who's given today!
If you haven't donated, there's still time to do so...
We've raised $240 so far. Can you help us reach $250?
We've raised $240 so far. Can you help us reach $250?
Donate $10 by 11:59PM and we'll reach that goal!
And to everyone who's given today in other ways--
buying fundraiser tickets, donating auction items,
and registering for next week's walkathon:
and registering for next week's walkathon:
THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING YOUR MAX TODAY!
Give 2 the Max to Help NEW
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Resident receives a fabulous makeover on Fox5
In July, New Endeavors by Women teamed
up with The Capital Area Food Bank and their “Ambassador Against Hunger” Paul
Wharton for a beauty makeover of a NEW resident, televised on Fox 5 DC. Wharton is a renowned local
lifestyle and beauty expert, and the Capital Area Food Bank is a long-time
partner in our work. The beauty makeover recipient was Kim Caruthers, a
resident in our New Transitions program, and an active job seeker at the time.
Kim’s makeover included hair, skin care, makeup, a custom designed dress,
jewelry designed by Wharton, and beautiful new shoes.
The makeover helped Kim put her best foot forward while searching for employment. Following the segment,
Kim was offered paid training and a paid position at the nursing home where she was volunteering! We are delighted to share in Kim’s success, and grateful to our
friends at The Capital Area Food Bank for making her makeover possible.
Kim "after" the makeover:
Kim "after" the makeover:
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
A Sweet Success, InDEED!
Thank you to everyone who helped us to earn funds through Deals for Deeds last week!
When the week of deals to benefit NEW ended on Sunday night, we'd earned about 70% of our $500 goal to support women and families in our transitional housing programs.
To each and every person who helped us earn through Deals for Deeds, we thank you for your support...and we hope you enjoy the great deals you got on great food, cupcakes, spa treatments and more!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Bank of America awards $10,000 grant to NEW
We are so grateful to Bank of America for its generous gift of $10,000 to support NEW’s work with homeless women and children in Washington!
Our Executive Director, Wanda Steptoe, and resident Renee Nwigwe, joined Bank of America Banking Center manager, Rodney Coleman, and the staff of the Metro Center location for the grant award presentation (pictured above and below).
The “big check” from Bank of America is proudly on display in our reception area (pictured below), and the grant dollars are already at work helping to house and support more than 100 women and children who make their home at NEW.
New Endeavors by Women, founded in 1988, operates two transitional and three permanent supportive housing programs for homeless women and children in Washington, DC. Each year, more than 150 women and children receive housing, supportive services, and a helping hand at NEW.
In 2010, NEW provided housing to over 190 residents, partnering with participants to achieve stability and independence goals: 30 of 70 transitional residents moved on to permanent housing; working residents in transitional programs earned an average $9.00 hourly wage, while those in permanent programs earned an average of over $2,000 per month. More than 80% of residents were engaged in education and employment activities, including employment, training classes, and school. Three residents were enrolled in college courses.
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Another photo, with Metro Center Banking Center staff:
The "big check" on display in our reception area:
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Thank You for helping to preserve DC’s Continuum of Housing!
June 1, 2011 - A great big THANK YOU to all NEW supporters who rallied with us as part of the DC Housing for All Campaign in the fight for critical housing and economic development programs! You made phone calls, sent emails, participated in Advocacy Day - and you helped fill the Council chamber to standing room only capacity.
Out of $42.4 million in housing and economic development cuts, together we won back $40.8 million!! Your support and hard work paid off, and the Council voted to:
- Restore homeless services funding
- Appropriate $18 million of anticipated future revenue to fully restore the Housing Production Trust Fund
- Reestablish LRSP (Local Rent Supplement Program) as a locally funded line item in the budget
- Prevent the transfer of 175 Housing First participants to LRSP - using anticipated future revenue to keep Housing First residents from being displaced and preserve LRSP units for LRSP residents
- Restore Neighborhood Investment Fund authority
- Restore Small Business Technical Assistance - with an increase for inflation
To learn more about the DC Housing for All Campaign, check out the campaign blog: http://housingforallblog.org
Friday, May 20, 2011
Vote for NEW at Deals for Deeds!
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DC, MD and VA Friends:
Please vote for NEW on
Deals for Deeds!
And tell your family & friends
to vote, too!
http://dealsfordeeds.com/page/
It takes less than 1 minute to vote,
and it will help us tremendously!
WHO
You and Everybody you know in the DC-MD-VA area
WHAT
Vote for New Endeavors by Women on Deals for Deeds. No purchase of anything is required - just cast a vote for NEW! Your vote will help us get selected as next week's Deals for Deeds charity.
WHEN
RIGHT NOW through Friday, May 20th at 5:00PM
HOW
At http://dealsfordeeds.com/page/
WHY
If we get the most votes, we'll be the featured charity next week! As the featured charity, we'll earn up funds from Deals for Deeds to help us operate our programs. Some organizations earn up to $2,000 by being the featured charity--so please vote to help NEW get featured!!
REMEMBER: No purchase of anything is required - just cast a vote for NEW! Thank you!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
NEW rallies to save housing funding
Our Executive Director, Wanda Steptoe, joined by residents of our New Transitions program, took part in today's "Housing for All" Rally on the steps of the Wilson Building. (more photos below)
Housing organizations, DC residents and activists took part in the rally to urge the DC Council to restore housing funds cut in the proposed 2012 budget--funding for the Local Rent Supplement Program, Housing First, and the Housing Production Trust Fund.
We urge all of our supporters to make their voices heard in support of funding for affordable housing for all in DC! To learn more and to get involved, visit the Housing for All Blog: http://housingforallblog.org
Thank you for caring!
Photos: Rally "banners" made from pillowcases, sheets and blankets; The crowd gathered at the rally; DC Council members addressing the crowd: Councilmember Marion Barry-Ward 8; Councilmember Jim Graham-Ward 1; Councilmember Michael Brown-At-Large.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Two years of New Horizons!
Two years ago in April 2009, we launched a permanent supportive housing program for women and children who face the most difficult journeys out of homelessness: households headed by women who are also recovering from domestic violence, battling addiction, managing mental illness, or living with HIV/AIDS.
We are proud to celebrate two years of successes and achievements at New Horizons, with the promise of more to come.
New Horizons provides apartments and intensive case management support to women-headed families moving out of homelessness. Our capacity is 17 families. Right now we have 15 mothers and 41 children participating in the program. All 15 families have at least 12 months in the program; 13 of the families have 18 months or more in the program.
Among the New Horizons households, 14 of the 15 women are employed or attending school, and many of them juggle school and work, along with parenting. Women attend NOVA Community College, Potomac College, and the University of Phoenix.
Each New Horizons family participates in services designed to meet their unique needs, from support groups to parenting skills development, to addiction recovery treatments and domestic violence trauma counseling. We help families identify the support they need to heal and we connect them to the right resources. We equip them with the tools they need to leave behind homelessness, and reach what lies ahead on their new horizons.
Join with us in celebrating two years of New Horizons!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Spring Egg Hunt for Our Young Residents!
Our New Generations program hosted an Arts & Crafts Day and festive Spring Egg Hunt for young residents under age 12. Children showcased their creativity by decorating holiday eggs and making their own art. At the Spring Egg Hunt, there were treats and sweets for all children, and prizes for the best egg hunters. Special thanks to all the families who participated, and to our volunteers and donors for making the events extra special!
New Endeavors by Women is home to more than 70 youth in our transitional and permanent supportive housing programs for homeless women and their children: New Generations, New Horizons and Shelter Plus Care.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
NEW helps DEA honor National Women's History Month
Wanda Steptoe (center) pictured with Ava Cooper-Davis (left) and Mary Johnson-Rochee (right). More photos below.
NEW was recently invited to help the Department of Justice DEA agency honor National Women’s History Month at a brown bag lunch hosted by the agency’s Washington Division.
At the event, three dozen local DEA employees—both women and men—participated in a lively panel discussion with four local women’s groups. The group talk covered important topics about women’s health and wellness; local services for women facing poverty, homelessness and other challenges; and more.
Our executive director, Wanda Steptoe, shared information about our organization and spoke about homelessness in Washington, highlighting the specific struggles often faced by homeless single women and mothers with children.
We are glad for the opportunity to share in the DEA’s unique celebration of National Women’s History Month, and we thank them once again for inviting our participation.
I am Carla. This is my story.
My name is Carla Kinard-Lindsay. I’m 44 years old and used drugs for 13 years. Despite using drugs, I was able to achieve some of my life’s goals:
I graduated from Anacostia High School in 1984 and completed the Certified Dental Assistant program at Georgetown School of Science and Arts in 1986.
That was before addiction took over my life and caused me to experience heartaches, headaches, hopelessness, and homelessness. My last run with drugs took a terrible toll on my life. I abandoned my boyfriend and my two beautiful children for several weeks, and remember looking in the mirror asking myself, “Why are you living like this?” I found Narcotics Anonymous in November 1995.
After going to detox, I began my own process of attending NA meetings, getting a sponsor and believing that a miracle was coming my way. A counselor named Reggie Jones told me about a program called New Endeavors by Women. I will never forget the joyful feeling in my soul that my prayers were being answered.
I came to New Endeavors on January 10, 1996. The program gave me hope and a sense of direction. New Endeavors taught and showed me that I could become a productive member of society, a better mother, co-worker, daughter and friend. I was not used to being around or living with so many women, as I was the only daughter my parents had. With the strict rules and responsibilities at New Endeavors, I learned to be accountable to other people and accountable to myself. My case manager, Robin Harper, took time to mold me back to being a beautiful black woman. I stayed at New Endeavors for six months, and then moved to a supportive housing program to further my recovery and reconnect with my children.
Within one year of being at New Endeavors by Women, I learned to take control of my life again. I did not have the desire to use drugs anymore, and I moved to permanent housing with my children. With sobriety and independence, I was also experiencing greater opportunities in my life. I met and married a wonderful man, Ira Lindsay Jr., now my husband of nine years. I gave birth to another son, Ira Lindsay III, and am a home owner of ten years. I am employed at Anchor Mental Health of Catholic Charities, as a Senior Community Support Specialist/Addiction Counselor. I also work part-time as Support Staff at New Endeavors by Women—a position I’ve held for nine years.
Finding help and relying on my strong support system helped me turn my life around. I am especially grateful to my family for not giving up on me; my sponsor Antoinette Jones, who has been in my life for 12 years; and, Ms. Steptoe and Ms. Popit at New Endeavors by Women, for encouraging me to stay teachable, and for giving me a chance at a second chance.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Spring flowers brighten New Transitions
Flower donation in the New Transitions dining hall
March 27--Cherry blossoms on the Tidal Basin have nothing on NEW this week, thanks to the generosity of donors Erin, Kelly and Mike!
Erin is a NEW volunteer whose cousin got married this weekend; she suggested that flowers be donated to us after the festivities. So after Kelly and Mike's wedding, we welcomed lovely vases of flowers that are brightening the dining hall at New Transitions.
Thank you!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Chief Cathy Lanier Launches Speaker Series
On January 4, we were honored to host DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier as the inaugural guest speaker for our MVP Program's Speaker Series, which showcases "Stories of Success."
Chief Lanier shared her personal and powerful story of overcoming obstacles and beating the odds to become a police officer, and then working her way to a Commander's post, before being appointed the Metropolitan Police Department's first female chief of police, in 2007.
The chief spoke about her life before becoming a police officer in 1990, as well as the challenges she faced working in law enforcement and being a single mother. Many of our residents connected with the very real struggles the chief shared, and her message of encouragement and strength were truly an inspiration.
We're grateful to Chief Lanier for joining us as a guest speaker, speaking so candidly about her life's experiences, and being a champion for women moving forward in their lives.
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