Strengthening women’s empowerment
The JFS Career Service team hosted its second New American Women Empowerment (NAWE) Employment event in May, a three-day program for women new to the United States who are interested in building careers, exploring job opportunities, or starting a business.
NAWE’s career development program was designed to help women feel more confident and better prepared to achieve their goals. The event connected refugee and immigrant women with opportunities for meaningful employment through individual support, panels, discussion groups, and workshops. Led by other New American women, including JFS staff, volunteers, former clients, and community leaders, the program provided practical career guidance and peer support while attendees gained valuable industry insights and resources. Workshops included topics such as balancing work and family, interview skills, entrepreneurship, and career pathways, as well as industry-specific sessions and group discussions, and interpretation was provided in five languages (and eight during the hiring event).
The week concluded with a special hiring event featuring six employers, such as Marczyk’s Fine Foods, Hyatt Regency & the Thompson Hotel, the UC Health valet team, Goodwill, and Denver Home Health Care. Participants had initial screening interviews, and follow-up interviews are on the horizon. “I always enjoy interacting with you and Jewish Family Service as we support our community,” shared one employer. “The NAWE event was so well-organized and easy to take part in.”
The event, funded through a combination of grants and donations, included eight sessions with 53 intelligent, diverse women who were highly motivated to begin working. Participants were encouraged to share their stories, have pride in their journeys, and recognize that the hardships they experienced gave them the strength to find better opportunities in Colorado, including leveraging their unique skills to find jobs.
“Coming to another country is difficult,” said JFS Career Services Program Coordinator, Lilia Anderson. “These women are incredibly resilient and smart. They have the strength and skills they need to find jobs.”
Thank you to everyone who made NAWE such a success, including volunteers who provided transportation and interpretation services, staff for their participation in so many ways, Ruby’s Market, Sawa Mediterranean, and Zaman Mediterranean Fresh restaurants, and our financial supporters.