Detroit Regional Chamber > Racial Justice & Economic Equity > Metro Detroit Women in Need of Employment Can Gain Skills in Free Program

Metro Detroit Women in Need of Employment Can Gain Skills in Free Program

January 6, 2023

Michigan Chronicle
Dec. 29, 2022

“Women to Work,” a free four-week course that aims to provide women who have been out of the workforce with the vital skills to gain immediate employment, will hold an informational meeting on Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The program is offered by Gesher Human Services, one of the largest human service agencies in metro Detroit and will be held in-person at its headquarters in Southfield (29699 Southfield Road, Southfield, MI 48076). “Women to Work” sessions will then start on Jan. 17, being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and offers women the opportunity to start their working lives afresh in the new year.

“January is typically a time to take stock of your life, see what’s missing or what you can improve, and make those important New Year’s resolutions,” said “Women to Work” Coordinator and Employment Specialist Judy Richmond. “For some women it is the perfect time to join our program and reinvent their working lives. Whether their financial circumstances have changed, they are feeling the economic pressure of inflation, or want to get back into the workforce after a hiatus, we are here to support and encourage them to take the necessary next steps.”

“Women to Work” was originally started in the 1980s, when it was called Displaced Homemakers. The program was aimed at women who suddenly found themselves responsible for their own finances because their spouse had died or was unable to work, or they got divorced. This year’s program will focus on topics including in-depth vocational assessment; help with networking, resume writing and interviewing; financial management advice; employment-related group counseling and emotional support; information and referrals to support services; and stress management.

Richmond, who has been running the course for 16 years, said more than 2,000 metro Detroit women have benefitted from “Women to Work” giving them the confidence and skills to help them adjust to new situations. “Our program is designed to provide women with the necessary tools to be successful in applying for employment and moving forward in a pathway to being financially secure,” she said.