The Atlanta Women’s Foundation (AWF) announces a second year of funding for the Women’s Pathway to Success Program, which awarded a total of $500,000 to ten local nonprofit organizations to providing a critical combination of services needed to move women to economic self-sufficiency. This combination of services includes access to workforce training and development, microenterprise development, childcare assistance, financial literacy, and employment opportunities for women living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.  The ten nonprofit organizations receiving funding for year two are Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, Jewish Family & Career Services, Latin American Association, Our House, Quality Care for Children, Refugee Women’s Network, The Center for Family Resources, and Year Up Greater Atlanta.

“This transformative program will result in job creation, reduce poverty, and eliminate barriers to employment for women in metro Atlanta,” said AWF’s Executive Vice President of Mission DiShonda Hughes, “investing in women achieves lasting returns for families and communities.”

AWF will also host annual workshops and trainings for the cohort. Through round-table discussions and presentations, participants will explore the challenges facing women and discuss the best ways to engage groups and individuals to build momentum and best practices on improving the well-being of women in Georgia. The goal of the trainings is to provide organizational capacity building; to encourage dialogue, cross-functional partnerships, and strategic alliances; and to foster collaboration among service providers.

Returning women to the workforce increases family income and exponentially strengthens communities. Evidence demonstrates that increases in women’s income lead to improvements in children’s health, nutrition and education. In year one, 2,808 women living at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines have had access to workforce training and development, microenterprise development, childcare assistance, financial literacy, or employment opportunities. As a result of services received: 

2,032 women have had access to workforce training and development.

92 new businesses have been created.

209 new jobs have been created.

752 women have had access to microenterprise development.

1,936 women have had access to employment opportunities.

200 women have been able to secure a job within 3 months

292 women have been able to secure an average hourly wage of $10.50.

2,329 women have had access to financial literacy training.

525 women living at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines have had access to childcare.

The 2019 Women’s Pathway to Success Grantees:

Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs’ (ACE) grant will be used to continue ACE’s efforts to increase economic opportunities for disadvantaged women. ACE provides access to small business capital along with business development services to assist women in starting and growing successful businesses. They also have loan programs in place that allows ACE to provide reduced interest rates to women business owners, making the cost of capital more affordable for low-to-moderate income women.

Atlanta Children’s Shelter’s grant will support the Hire Up Program. This grant will be used to provide scholarships to homeless mothers allowing them to earn diplomas from Georgia Piedmont Technical College. The grant will cover tuition costs for both the Workforce Fundamentals and Career Exploration phase of the Program. Resources from Georgia Piedmont Technical College include a shuttle from the nearest MARTA station, classes, certifications, diplomas, job training and career placement services.

Georgia Budget and Policy Institute’s grant will be used to provide training and technical assistance to AWF’s grantees, specifically the Women’s Pathways to Success and Economic Empowerment cohorts. One of the main deliverables for this renewal grant will be a ground-breaking, first-of-its kind analysis on the state of women and girls in Georgia, with a focus on AWF’s metro Atlanta service area. The report will align with AWF’s focus areas including an exploration of baseline data on economic and poverty indicators for women and girls, as well as education, asset building, child care, health care – with an emphasis on mental health – employment, wages and job training.

Jewish Family & Career Services’ grant will be used to support employment services for low-income women including those who are unemployed/underemployed and need job readiness and employment services. They will leverage funds towards the salary of dedicated staff to offer case management, job coaching and employment referrals, identify employers for program clients and negotiate placement opportunities, including unsubsidized employment, coaching and employer focused occupational skills training.  It will also be used to provide supportive services, including financial assistance for transportation, uniform or other job-related costs, skill training, and other activities related to securing and retaining employment.

Latin American Association’s (LAA) grant will allow LAA to build the capacity of their women’s economic empowerment program, the Latin Leadership Institute, to empower an increased number of low-income Latina immigrants through direct services, partnerships, and advocacy. Now in the fourth year of the program, LAA plans to continue the Latin Leadership Institute’s educational courses on subjects including financial literacy, promoting your business, using Excel, and developing a business plan. Additionally, LAA will continue to connect participants with their on-site English classes as needed. LAA will also continue their microloan program.

Our House’s grant will support their long-running Child Development Associate job training program. This program empowers homeless and low-income women with the tools and resources they need to begin new careers in the field of Early Childhood Education. The program combines 120 hours of classroom instruction with 400 hours of paid job training at an assigned internship site.

Quality Care for Children’s (QCC) grant will support their Emergency Child Care program. The Emergency Child Care program assists families who are experiencing crisis situations by providing access to resources for quality child care. Family crisis situations include violence, divorce, starting a new job, or facing a large unexpected expense. Often, women served by QCC are homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless. With this grant, QCC up to 12 weeks of child care assistance to women in job training programs, seeking employment, entering the labor force, or experiencing crises that threaten their livelihood.

Refugee Women’s Network’s (RWN) grant will support RWN’s Women’s Economic Empowerment Program. RWN will cover topics ranging from “How to Start a New Business” to “Creating and Maintaining online Businesses.” They will also continue their financial literacy training, empowering refugee and immigrant women with the knowledge and resources to become economically self-reliant.

The Center for Family Resources’ grant will be used to support an incentive program for unemployed and under-employed women enrolled in the Housing Services Programs. This service provides a short-term, 30 day shelter and a permanent housing program. Move-in costs for homeless families moving to permanent housing, rental subsidies for 3 to 6 months, assistance with child care expenses, transportation, food, household items, life skills, mental and physical health needs will be provided.

Year Up Greater Atlanta’s grant will support their one-year workforce development and college access program for 63 talented low-income young women ages 18-24. Year Up will enable more students the opportunity to be exposed to higher education and participate in skills training that will prepare them begin careers. Additionally, students will be provided with wrap-around student support services such as group and individual therapeutic counseling, housing assistance, childcare referral services, transportation aid, and clothing.