Dear Friends of the Women & Family Life Center,

February is a busy month here at the Women & Family Life Center.

Back by popular demand, we have RESTART, the Center's divorce group, and not one but two different sessions of our Life After Loss bereavement group currently meeting. We also have our ACHIEVE, 4-Part Career Workshop starting later this month, as well as a brand new Eviction Workshop that will be held at the Center's Carriage house on Thursday, February 16th, at 6:00 pm.

We are also excited to announce that a new sexual assault support group, Unity, will start in the spring at the Center. And, of course, participants can always meet with the Center's Referral Navigators for everyday help and case management, as well as register for some one-on-one appointments for Lawyer Time, Financial Consult, or Parent Life Coaching.

And last but not least, the staff and dedicated volunteers are well underway planning and working hard to make sure everyone who attends the Center's signature fundraiser, the empowHer gala on March 23rd, has an empowHering evening.

We hope you will consider joining the Women & Family Life Center on Thursday, March 23rd, at 5:30 pm at the WoodWinds in Branford.

The empowHer gala: a Gala to change lives and inspire others will highlight the Center's work in the community and the clients we are so fortunate to work with daily. All proceeds directly benefit the Center's programs and services.

As always, W&FLC is here to help and assist our neighbors in crisis. If you need services, please do not hesitate to reach out. If you want to get more involved and support the Women & Family Life Center in creating change on the shoreline, we would love to hear from you!

Nothing Is Impossible,

Jennifer Wenderoth-Holster, MPA
Executive Director
[email protected]

February! Are you thinking of what great gift you can give to your Valentine? Imagine a special evening at the 2nd annual empowHer gala on March 23 at the Woodwinds of Branford. Join us and many others for a fun and festive event which supports the W&FLC's mission of providing resources and education for women and all families in crisis in the CT shoreline.

Come celebrate those among us who imagined a better life. Armed with courage, they found their way to our door, programs and services. Finding support and empowerment at the center, they discovered a path to growth and their imagined life.

Early Bird $100 Tickets are available now through February 28. Enjoy a Valentines date night in March! Or a girls' night out. Or a family affair. Or corporate team time. Enjoy complimentary drinks (beer/wine), hors d'oeuvres, dinner, dancing, a live and silent auction and more. Tickets will be $125 beginning March 1.

EmpowHer Tickets

Auction Items are gratefully accepted. Contact Angela at [email protected]

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Bernadette at [email protected]

W&FLC is happy to share this inspirational video premiered at the inaugural gala. It's about the work we do. Take a look and then join us in our mission. 2022 EmpowHer Video

Eviction Workshop
FREE EVICTION WORKSHOP - Thursday, February 16, at 6:00 PM at the Center's Carriage House with attorney Russell Brinn.

The workshop is meant to guide participants through the eviction process. Topics will include--but are not limited to--the eviction court process, tenants’ rights, and court paperwork. This workshop is open to anyone who wants more information about eviction. It can be for yourself, a friend, a family member, or just to gain some knowledge to be able to help others!

This info session is FREE and open to the public. But please register today.

ACHIEVE

ACHIEVE 4-Part Career Workshop - Thursday February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, 6:00 PM at the Center’s Carriage House with Stephanie Franco, talent acquisition leader, and owner of Resume Envy. Each session covers a different aspect of career development, such as resume building, cover letter writing, interviewing skills, and job search strategy. After completion of the

4-part workshop, participants will have access to free business casual clothing, personal hygiene items, and other items to set them up for success on their path to a new career outlook.

Session 1 begins Thursday, February 23. Register today for a better tomorrow.

For more information or to register for any of Women & Family Life Centers groups, workshops, events, or programs please reach out to the Center at 203.458.6699 or [email protected]

The Shoreline Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force

The Shoreline Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force (SDVSATF) is a collaborative effort among shoreline providers to promote advocacy and build awareness while coordinating resources and aid in the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The next meeting of SDVSATF is set for Thursday, February 23 at 9:00am in-person at the W&FLC Carriage House.

If you work within an informed non-profit agency, municipal office, or are a private practitioner from the area and are interested in participating, please reach out to Melanie Meyers, Referral Navigator at 203.458.6699 or email her at [email protected]

6 Ways to Donate to W&FLC

What do you give a Valentine that has everything? A donation, in his or her name, would be a heartful gift.

Here at W&FLC, our goal is to always serve any individual who reaches out to us for help. To continue this mission we rely on financial support and donations from folks like you. Please consider honoring your Valentine with a gift in his/her honor. Here's how:

Sponsorship and Auction items in support of the 2023 EmpowHer Gala

There are a wide variety of giving options and benefits.

Coin Up

A digital option that rounds up purchases with change going to support our mission. We will help with the easy set up.

Become a Monthly Donor

Spread a generous dollar amount over a number of months. A comfortable and steady giving method.

One-Time Donation

Your one-time gift will help support our daily operations.

Honorary Donations

Honor your special someone with a donation in their name.

Planned Giving, Stocks & Securities

Include W&FLC in your estate plan for a monetary gift or through the gift of an appreciated asset.

Reach out to Bernadette Deamico to discuss the many opportunities. Call 203.458.6699 or email [email protected]

For as long as I can remember I have loved communications. From my early girlhood--in my hometown of Los Angeles--I loved writing stories and letters, taking and sharing photos, and planning school events. What I didn’t know back then is that my career had already begun!

As a young office professional, I volunteered for every editor job, event planning and special project that came my way, while attending night school/college. This early career path was interrupted by several years of major globetrotting and LIFE. However, six colleges and two children later, I finally graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Public Policy, Leadership and Communications. And, I finally landed back in my career enjoying successful stints working for the University of Miami, Regents College London, and Barnes & Noble.

My most recent position before joining W&FLC was Communications Manager at Volunteer Fairfax (VA) a nonprofit charged with connecting volunteers with service opportunities in the Washington DC/Southern Maryland/Northern Virginia region. One of my most satisfying experiences during my tenure with VF was helping to raise 4,000 volunteers to staff the 2015 World Police & Fire Games.

Fast forward to today, I have relocated to Connecticut with my family which includes hubby Kevin, adult children Micah and Leanna, and rescued pup Cali Blu. I still love to travel, especially back home to L.A. to see lifelong friends and family. Although Ireland is on my Bucket List. So is ballroom dancing.

Now it is truly my pleasure to join the dedicated staff at the W&FLC. I appreciate the opportunity to continue to do what I have always believed in. That is: Doing well by doing good.

Hello. My name is Molly. I am a Charleston, SC native and am currently an undergraduate at Wesleyan University studying Psychology and Education Studies. After graduating in the Spring, I plan to pursue a Master’s in Social Work as an aspiring LCSW specializing in child welfare and wellbeing.

I wanted to intern with the Women & Family Life Center because I am eager to acquire more skills that will be valuable for pursuing a career in Social Work and am excited to learn how to better advocate for women and families. It has been my dream to work in a non-profit serving the local community, and I look forward to this becoming a reality at the Women & Family Life Center.

In my spare time, I love playing with my tabby cat, Quinn, learning new arts and crafts, and listening to true-crime podcasts.

More News...

Parent Life Coaching

Participants in Life Coaching for Parents will meet one-on-one with a volunteer life coach to help navigate obstacles and turn them into opportunities for growth.

This FREE service assists parents in understanding how to better manage their emotions during transition and crisis and will help guide them through powerful life events.

Life Coaching for Parents sessions are by appointment. Please contact us to schedule.

Unity

COMING SPRING 2023!

Women & Family Life Center in partnership with Women and Families Center Sexual Assault Crisis Services, is pleased to announce their collaboration to bring to the shoreline community a new support group.

This group will provide a safe and supportive space for victims to work through their trauma with professional assistance. Here survivors will find a place of empowerment. More information to follow.

Safe Search at W&FLC

If you are living where you don't have access to a phone or computer; or you are fearful about being monitored, W&FLC is your space space.

Here you can use a computer and phone to contact doctors, lawyers, and counselors. You may also research jobs, and revise and print your resume. Internet, printer and fax are available. In addition, we are able to keep your documents secure if needed.

For more information or to register for any of Women & Family Life Centers groups, workshops, events, or programs please reach out to the Center at 203.458.6699 [email protected]