CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE!

Myrna, a client at Bottomless Closet NYC cuts up her credit cards after clearing all her debts.

The Importance of Financial Independence

This July as America celebrates its freedom and independence, we celebrate our members' efforts to ensure that job seekers are equipped with the right tools in their journey toward financial freedom. The Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN) fosters the creation and growth of community-based organizations that assist individuals to secure and maintain employment. Our members recognize that for their clients, getting the job is the first hurdle. Keeping the job, becoming debt free and ultimately saving for retirement is as important. Member agencies like WHW (Women Helping Women/Men2Work) in California, Career Wardrobe in Philadelphia, Bottomless Closet in New York, among many, all host workshops and events and leverage corporate partnerships to ensure that all clients are financially literate. Financial literacy is another key to breaking the cycle of poverty most of Americans face.

Not an Easy Process

Matthew Frankel of The Motley Fool said that "according to the Federal Reserve nearly half of Americans couldn't cover a $400 emergency expense without borrowing or selling something. More than half have less than one month's worth of income...” Financial literacy classes teach people to make smart financial decisions. Our clients learn to create budgets and to begin saving for emergencies and retirement. This is not by any means an easy process, but Investopedia.com stated that "financial literacy...can lead the way to a global economy that is competitive and strong." We applaud our members’ efforts to ensure that their clients are empowered to make these important financial decisions once a steady paycheck comes in.

Bottomless Closet's Financial Management Series teaches basic money management skills as well as retirement planning, paying for school and most importantly understanding credit/FICO scores. Clients are reimbursed for credit report expenses and then sit with industry professionals to understand their scores and create actionable goals to decrease debt and communicate with creditors. The confidence this gives clients is staggering, they leave the workshops feeling energized and unafraid to work through what for some amounts to very large amounts of debt.

NerdWallet says that "The average U.S. household with debt carries $15,762 in credit card debt and $130,922 in total debt.” At Bottomless Closet clients encourage each other, cheering each other on as they cut up credit cards that are paid off. Many clients are well on their way toward financial freedom. Some have already cleared thousands of dollars in debt. One client, Ala, said she "grew up in a different country, a different culture... [and she] did not understand the relationship between credit cards and credit scores..." With the help of Bottomless Closet's Financial Management Series, Ala became debt free and later purchased her own home. Another client, Annie, was able to save enough money to go from living in a shelter to a one-bedroom apartment. Watch Annie’s story here. 

The University of Minnesota urges employers to invest in financial education for employees as well. In the same vein, ACDN members leverage corporate and nonprofit partners to reach their community. WHW is making their services (including their financial literacy workshops) available to their surrounding communities via their WOW (Workshops on Wheels) program. WHW believes that the financial literacy workshops enable those in transition to employment to "assess their current financial situation and identity ways to increase income and decrease and prioritize expenses." They connect with local job developers and nonprofits to travel to their locations to teach their workshops. Read more about their efforts here. 

Career Wardrobe works with Clarifi, a non-profit community resource devoted to Lifelong Financial Literacy to equip Career Wardrobe’s clients with the necessary skills like “how to handle their money in the best possible way, how to avoid finance charges and other money sucks, and go over basic budgeting techniques. Clarifi also offers clients a workshop on the psychology of spending and gives clients a free one-on-one financial planning session. This level of community involvement will in fact ensure that all of our members have the resources to support job seekers as they transition to work. Learn more at https://clarifi.org/education.    

These workshops help knock hurdles, previously thought as insurmountable, out of the way with adequate training and support. This July join us in celebrating our members and their efforts to ensure that all their clients experience the freedom from financial burdens and achieve self-sufficiency.

In 1999, five nonprofit Executive Directors across the United States decided to leverage their collective knowledge and experience to create The Women’s Alliance (TWA) and provide a greater impact and support for small, independent nonprofits providing work clothes and interview clothes to women seeking economic independence and leaving welfare. In hopes of broadening the work begun 15 years ago, in 2014 TWA became the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN) to include career development organizations that serve men and teens. Today ACDN supports over 23 nonprofits around the country with combined budgets of over $5,000,000.  Learn more.

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Contributed by Gineyda Diaz, Bottomless Closet Operations Director and ACDN Board Member

Celebrate and encourage all men this Father's Day

This June, let’s not forget the dads! Every third Sunday in June, Americans set aside the day to honor Fathers. Alliance of Career Development Nonprofit (ACDN) members also honor fathers and all men who are seeking employment. In fact, the ACDN’s original name was “The Women’s Alliance,” but after realizing that many Alliance members serve men as well as women, the Board of Directors changed the name to better reflect the membership.

Nearly half of the clients served at ACDN member Desert Best Friend’s Closet, located in Palm Desert, California, are men. Men under thirty face a unique challenge when donning professional attire for the first time as most of them grew up wearing baggy, low-riding jeans. Professional clothing, however, is worn at a man’s true waist, which is usually measured two fingers below the belly button. For many young men, this is a new experience and initially requires time to become comfortable with the look. They have found that many men love to wear a little “bling,” so the agency is especially grateful when donors donate cufflinks and tie pins.

Another challenge for many men is learning to tie a necktie (and to feel comfortable wearing it, too). The necktie is the focal point of a man’s look and polishes off a man’s outfit, instantly making him look classy and professional. But mistakes with the tie will take the look from sophisticated to sloppy quickly.

Some Necktie Basics:

1.     The tie shouldn’t be too long or too short - it should end near the middle of the belt buckle. Tip: tall men should find an XL tie.

2.     Stained or wrinkled ties are unacceptable. As the focal point of an outfit, this can show that he doesn’t care about his appearance.

3.     Selecting the right colors and patterns can be tricky. Color should draw from the shirt and suit color in a complimentary way. A tie may also reflect a man’s personality—louder more colorful ties for someone with a big personality and more conservative colors and patterns for someone quieter. Cartoon images on a tie are never appropriate for an interview.

For many male clients, coming to Desert Best Friend’s closet is the first time they have ever worn a suit and tie. They are often overwhelmed the first time they see themselves in the mirror, because the suit is a symbol of adulthood and manhood. As one of their clients simply stated upon seeing his reflection, “I have never worn a suit before let alone knew how to tie a tie. Thank you for helping me.  I feel like a man today.”

This month (and every month, really) we celebrate and encourage all men, fathers and those who will be fathers. Enjoy!

Contributed by Connie Golds, Executive Director, Desert Best Friend's Closet (Palm Desert, CA) and ACDN Board Member.  Desert Best Friend’s Closet has outfitted over 2000 clients since 2010.

An Invitation to the 2016 National Conference

Welcome to the Gateway to the West!

Whether you are traveling by plane, train, automobile or… all three; Dreams to Reality is ready to host the 2016 Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN) National Conference and make your conference dreams come true here in Jefferson City, Missouri, the “Show Me” State Capitol and most beautiful small town as designated by Rand McNally.

We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with ACDN and host the 2016 National Conference and showcase our great state, city and Dreams to Reality boutique!  Our city is small but mighty, yet no doubt we’ll have you wishing for a future extended stay in our quaint little city.

The founders realized women interviewing for positions within their offices were often underdressed or even sharing the same suit for the interview process.  

The nonprofit was established and protocols set in place, gifting donated clothing wardrobe pieces to women through a referral process. Initially this was a very limited effort working out of the closet of one of the founders.  In sixteen years Dreams to Reality (DTR) has grown, expanding its location and services from a closet to a building with over 3000 square feet offering its clients not only interview clothing but a week’s worth of clothing suitable for many work environments.  In time, we hope to expand services to include interview and job building skill set classes as well as offering men’s apparel and education services. DTR’s clothes inventory is secured exclusively through private clothing donations. DTR employs one part-time Executive Director and is guided by a board of 16 members.  The agency is open two days a week, with 23 incredibly dedicated volunteers assisting on a rotating basis. Working with over 52 agencies within 9 counties, Dreams’ was able to help 291 clients in 2015. The boutique secures its funding through its retail sales, fundraisers and United Way support with an annual budget of $32,000.  Not unlike many of its sister organizations, DTR clients are incredibly grateful for the services the organization is able to provide.  Working hand in hand with community social services and businesses, DTR has been able to help women in transition in all walks of life by not only providing appropriate interview and work attire, but helping them to be confident and prepared for career and employment. The reward?  A better quality of life for themselves and their families. 

And who has been there along the way to help grow the organization?  None other than the Alliance for Career Development for Nonprofits (ACDN).

Affiliating with ACDN and attending the national conference is an amazing opportunity to network with an incredible group of talented individuals with similar goals and ideas. The conference agenda is on point, addressing a multitude of pertinent issues facing like organizations across the country.  Once you attend, you will never want to miss again! 

And, what a fantastic agenda is set for this year’s ACDN conference!  Amazing local featured speakers, complimented by presentations from our very own talented ACDN member presenters will share their insights and expertise in the field of serving women and men in transition. 

By special privilege, we will dine in the Capitol Rotunda, a location of grandeur and inspiration Friday night with extraordinary shopping at one of the city’s finest boutiques! 

There is so much to see and do in Jefferson City. Stroll through historic downtown shops and eateries, check out Old Munichberg, tour the historic 185 year-old Missouri State federal prison or perhaps ride bikes along the river on the Katy Trail. See what we have to offer!

Sweeping views of the Governor’s mansion, State Capitol and fountain memorial gardens along the bluff of the Missouri river will take your breath away. 

Traveling from the south?  Stop by the ever famous Nashville of Missouri, Branson, MO, to listen to some of the nation’s finest country music stars. Those of you who will be traveling through St. Louis may want to make a stop at the iconic feat of engineering: the St. Louis Arch-Gateway of the West completed in 1965, it is the tallest man-made national monument in the United States. And don’t forget Anheuser Busch brewery in St. Louis as well.  It is the largest beer producing plant in the U.S. and the best selling beer brand in the world.  Passing through the Lake of the Ozarks area?  Stop by and take in a breath-taking view of the 75 year old man-made lake and Bagnell Dam.  The shoreline of 1,150 miles is longer than the coastline of California. If you are coming from Kansas City, don’t forget to check out the 2015 World Series Baseball home of the Champions, Royals Stadium or check out Country Club Plaza, built in the 1920’s. It was America’s first suburban shopping center.  It now boast 250 shops and restaurants.  Kansas City has more fountains than any city the world with the exception of Rome. Stop in Fulton, MO and take in the austere piece of the Iron Curtain Wall from Germany at Westminster College where Winston Churchhill delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech in 1946.  The Westminster Abby Church onsite was brought over from England and reconstructed in Churchhill’s honor. 

Come share the best of what ACDN has to offer and take the extra time to learn about the amenities and history of Jefferson City and the state of Missouri.  We can’t wait to welcome you here!!  

We hope that you can join us in Jefferson City, September 15-17th, 2016. Why not guarantee your registration now and receive the early bird discount?

Contributed by Michele Caywood, 2016 ACDN Conference Co-Chair and Dreams to Reality Board Chair

Register for the 2016 conference →

Honoring Those Who Serve

May 21, 2016 is Armed Forces Day.  Instituted on August 31, 1949, it is a day to reflect upon the selfless service provided by over 1.4 million active duty military service members (“Guardians of Freedom”) who serve in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Since 1989, it has been my pleasure to proudly serve military members and their families as an Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN) member organization through Transforming Lives & Restoring Hope, Inc. (TLRH). TLRH is located in the Tidewater region, an area that is home to several armed forces bases. We generally wake up to the sound of supersonic jet engines.

The one word that can be used to describe military service members is “sacrifice." They sacrifice time with families. They sacrifice the comforts that so many of us enjoy. And sometimes…they make the ultimate sacrifice. This coming Memorial Day weekend, Transforming Lives & Restoring Hope volunteers will help lay wreaths on gravesites at our local Veteran’s Cemetery. 

Like TLRH, Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN) organizations are determined to support military communities by providing the education and resources they need to transition from military service to civilian life. Sometimes that transition can be stressful. It certainly was for Saundra, who retired after serving in the Navy for over 20 years.  She was really concerned about leaving the military.  She had sacrificed finishing college due to “numerous military deployments”.  When it was time for her to trade in her Navy dress uniform, she hoped “resources would be available to help her find meaningful employment". Her primary military training was in the information technology (IT) field; however, Saundra was looking for a different civilian career in human resources. Her dream became a reality due to the support she received from ACDN via TLRH.

First Lady Michelle Obama encourages “all Americans to take action” and join forces to give “military families…the support they have earned.”  The Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits and all of its member organizations are uniquely positioned to help in this effort.  We can provide the wardrobe that supports the transformation from camouflage to professional clothing and the educational and career development opportunities that open the doors to employment for veterans and military spouses.  This month and throughout the year, we lend our support to “Guardians of Freedom,” who on a daily basis, make the sacrifices for our liberty.   

Contributed by Stephanie Credle, President of ACDN Member Transforming Lives & Restoring Hope (Newport News, VA & Roanoke Rapids, NC) and ACDN Board Member.  

4 Tips to Develop Your Volunteer Recognition Strategy

Recognition, in the context of volunteer management, is any deliberate action taken by your organization to acknowledge the contributions of your volunteers. A strong recognition strategy bolsters overall volunteer satisfaction, leading to higher volunteer retention rates that save your organization time and money. 

Recognition strategies vary from organization to organization, leaving plenty of room to develop one that works within the framework of your available time and resources. Here are some points to consider:

1.   It’s the Little Things

Implement recognition daily, through a warm smile upon the volunteer’s arrival and a big thank you at the end of a productive day – such practices cost nothing but the payoff is huge! 

2.   Time Specific Events

Annual volunteer appreciation parties, quarterly breakfasts, and monthly lunches where speakers present on topics of interest to volunteers, are special ways to say thank you to dedicated volunteers. Such events take time and money to execute well (look for donors who could sponsor these events), but they provide excellent opportunities for formalized appreciation, ongoing professional development and training, and for volunteers to cultivate connections among one another that will strengthen their overall bond with your organization.

3.    Share Impact

Impact is also a form of recognition. Impact can be conveyed broadly (e.g. in a given year, the number of clients served by your volunteers or the amount of money saved by your organization through donated time) or on a more personal level (e.g. individual client feedback or a client’s success story).

At Bottomless Closet, we run a Volunteer Impact Report each month that ties a client who has come back for her post-hire appointment with the volunteer with whom she worked for her pre-interview appointment. Conjuring up memories of the casting list for the high school play, each month volunteers crowd around our list when it is posted. When a volunteer sees her name on the list, she knows that she contributed directly to a positive change in a client’s life – employment!

4.    Build on Momentum

As April draws to a close, now is a great time to evaluate your volunteer recognition strategy and build off of the momentum of National Volunteer Month. A strong recognition strategy will be thoughtful, consistent, and employ various recognition tools throughout the year. Because recognition influences retention, and the cost of retaining a volunteer is usually far less than the cost of recruiting and training a new volunteer, developing a comprehensive recognition strategy is time and energy well spent by your organization. 

Happy Recognizing!

By Stacey McFadin, Director of Volunteerism and Partnerships at Bottomless Closet