101: Empowerment 101: Looking at Project Compassion

I very much appreciate nonprofits who create systemic change or act as bridges between their clients and the often labyrinthine path to services. I think Project Compassion, today's Donations by the Dozen recipient, does both. "Since 2005, PC-NFP has assisted over 70,000 homeless, disadvantaged and low-income men, women and children with food, shelter, seasonal supplies, hygiene items, life skills workshops and vocational training." (http://projectcompassionnfp.org/aboutus.html) 

I feel nonprofits providing empowerment programs impact individual success of their clients exponentially more than solely providing basic needs. I know those basic needs must be met first, and most empowering centered nonprofits do this or outsource it. The longevity of success, though,  goes back to the fish versus fishing idiom. Empowering young girls and women as well as the single mothers, provides them with a support system, access to more options, and training/education necessary to not only survive, but to thrive under often adverse or prohibitive circumstances. 

Community Compassion Program: This program is designed to assist with meeting emergency and basic needs of single mothers that are living in shelters or considered low-income and need assistance. This program is designed to create an Individualized Action Plan that would help them implement life skills, educational training, financial literacy and job readiness training into their daily lives. Outreach is offered on Compassion Day to homeless men and women living on the streets. Non-perishable meals, hygiene and seasonal supplies are distributed to the homeless living on the streets, each month. We also provide; when available new car seas, pampers, bottles and diapers.Striving For Excellence Program: This program is designed for youth and young adults ages 14-24. We offer Professional Development, Life skills training, Workforce development training, Vocational training and Continuing Education training and support. We assist these young adults with setting, implementing, and reaching their goals and having a successful life. Workshops are held both on-site at our Compassionate Resource Center, Belleville or off-site by request. Girlz Enrich-Me Program: Offers three (3) programs exclusively for girls.*Empower-Me: is a middle/high school based program. Girls meet each week for one hour to discuss and build self-esteem, self-worth, conflict management, and social skills. This program also offers positive behavior reinforcement with a focus on attitude, decision making, and responsibility. Participants in this program lack the positive support system needed to continue their education and/or avoid falling victim to the negative environment in which they live in. We provide mentoring and a positive support system to ensure each girl continues their education and continue down the road of success.*Imagine-Me Summer Program: is a nine (9) week summer camp for girls ages 13-16. Participants are also struggling with social issues (making and maintain friends), new to the school which they attend, currently living in a single parent home, living in a foster care setting, recently experienced a change in family dynamics such as; (divorce, death of a love one). Girls growing up in impoverished communities face myriad pitfalls; however; the Imagine-Me program aims to help steer these young girl who are struggling with self-esteem and character issues prior to returning back to school.*Girlz On Purpose Tour: is a 1-day tour for girls ages 11 to 18 to navigate self-esteem, education, and character discussions in a fun, energizing, and inspiring day. The first tour was launched in 2014. Girlz On Purpose has welcomed girls throughout St. Clair County, Madison County and St. Louis communities. (http://projectcompassionnfp.org/programs.html)

I have not visited Project Compassion, but the several nonprofits I have visited who adhere to the same principles have filled me with awe and honor in their welcome and acceptance. The beauty of the people I have met in these places will forever be immeasurable, regardless of where they were in the healing and empowering process. If you have a nonprofit near you and are interested in helping, I can wholly  recommend supporting it. The changes these programs make affect change for  everyone in the community.

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/graceinitiative/,

on twitter https://twitter.com/MarciGoLightly,

or on the Grace Initiative Foundation Tree, LLC's website http://www.graceinit.org/donations-by-the-dozen.html where you can enter your email to subscribe for an email daily dose of Donations by the Dozen.

Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity