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Faces of Success
Past Recipients
Jason
| Margarita
| Terry | Patricia
| Diane | Sharon
| Peggy |
Marilyn |
Rosemarie |
Lisa |
Neva | Olivia
| Joy
| Jolaire
| Terry | Anessa
| Caroline
| Josie | Michelle
| Alison |
LaToyyia
| Sharon
Jason, 2006 [back
to top]
Jason was unemployed and sleeping on his mother’s
couch when he came to AWEE in 2005. Although his work
life had been characterized by a string of low-paid
jobs, he was determined to find a rewarding career with
opportunities for meaningful advancement. As proof of
his commitment, he took every class AWEE offered, traveling
alone by bus each day from his North Scottsdale home.
After consulting with AWEE's Career Development Specialist
and doing some independent research, Jason decided to
pursue a career as a radiological technician. With AWEE's
help, he enrolled in a nine-month training program,
earning a 3.2 GPA. Upon completion, he quickly found
a position paying $11 an hour.
Thanks to the confidence and focus he
found at AWEE, Jason has secured a great position with
excellent advancement opportunities. He’s feeling
so good about the future that he recently purchased
his first new car. Jason's next goal is to attend Gateway
Community College to earn a degree in Radiology.
Margarita, 2006 [back
to top]
Margarita and her husband spent two years in prison
after being convicted of possessing marijuana with the
intent to sell. When she was released in May 2006, Margarita
was determined to make a secure home for herself and
the two children she had left behind.
Since then, Margarita has enthusiastically
attended several AWEE workshops and classes and focused
energetically on her goal of becoming a plumber. She
has taken the Maricopa Skills Center assessment test
and applied for financial aid to pay for plumbing school.
“Margarita is determined to do everything in her
power to better her life and avoid returning to prison,"
said her Career Development Specialist. "She's
so focused and committed, nothing's going to stop her
from achieving her goal. I think she's made a great
start on her path to a successful and satisfying new
life."
Patricia,
2006 [back
to top]
Patricia found herself in dire financial straits after
separating from her husband. She didn’t fully
appreciate how bad the situation had become until her
12-year-old son offered to drop out of school so that
he could help her pay the bills. Patricia was referred
to AWEE in 2005, where she participated in several career
advising and exploration courses. In the process, she
developed an interest in welding.
With AWEE's help, Patricia entered a welding training
program offered by the Maricopa Skills Center. She also
wrote a new resume and honed her interviewing skills.
She did so well in her studies, Schuff Steel offered
her a position paying $15.02 an hour before she’d
even graduated. However, Patricia opted to remain in
school, knowing that her wages would rise dramatically
once she completed her welding training.
Patricia’s son, who is now 13,
thinks it’s “totally cool” that mom’s
paycheck covers the bills and his hobbies too.
Diane, 2005
[back to top]
Diane—a victim of domestic violence—was
unemployed and on public assistance when she first came
to AWEE in 2004. As a single mother with three children,
she was desperately in need of a viable career that
would support her family.
With AWEE's help, Diane found the motivation and confidence
she needed to begin her journey to self-sufficiency.
She took advantage of every class AWEE offered. Soon
after, Diane found employment with Maximus, an AWEE
workforce development partner. Nine months later, she
was promoted to a position as an Employment Specialist.
Today, Diane is proud of her financial
self-sufficiency. She and her family have a nice place
to live and a new car. "I couldn’t have done
it without AWEE," she says now. "They really
care about people like me."
Sharon, 2005
[back to top]
When Sharon came to AWEE in 2005, she had just been
downsized from a local manufacturing company and her
career was at a dead end. AWEE provided a nurturing
environment where she could explore new career options.
Ultimately, Sharon decided to focus on finding a job
in the field of early childhood development.
Soon afterwards, Sharon found a position
as a parent aide at Catholic Social Services. She continues
to enhance her skills while attending Yavapai College.
She has also been promoted to Parent Aide Coordinator,
a supervisory position where she manages several other
staff members. Thanks to her positive attitude and openness,
Sharon has been able to enter a field that she loves.
The families of Yavapai County are indeed fortunate
to have Sharon making a difference in their lives.
Peggy, 2005
[back to top]
In 1994, Peggy was a 33-year-old single mother working
hard to recover from a horrific addiction to Methamphetamines.
She was undereducated, unemployed and unable to care
for her frightened 7-year-old child. That's when a friend
brought her to AWEE.
When Peggy's skills assessment testing suggested she
might be good at counseling, “the light went on,”
she says now. AWEE helped her secure the funds she needed,
first to complete training as a counselor, and later,
to pursue a college education. Eventually, Peggy earned
a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and then a Master’s
Degree in Organizational Management
Eleven years after finding AWEE, Peggy's
life has been transformed. Today, she is a licensed
independent Substance Abuse Counselor and Quality Management
Director at a nonprofit outpatient facility for individuals
with mental health and substance abuse issues. "I've
accomplished more in the last eleven years than I did
during my entire life before AWEE,” said Peggy.
"Thank you, AWEE, for being there to help me achieve
my dream.”
Marilyn, 2004
[back to top]
When Marilyn came to AWEE in 2004, she had been unemployed
for two years, nearly exhausted her savings and been
forced to apply for public assistance and food stamps
to support her family. "It was the lowest point
in my life," she says now.
Marilyn went to AWEE on the advice of a friend. With
a little help from her Career Development Specialist,
Marilyn developed an action plan to pursue her education
and employment goals. She attended workshops to help
with her job search skills and restore her motivation
and self-confidence.
Soon, Marilyn had five college credits
under her belt and two new interview outfits, courtesy
of AWEE's Clothing Boutique. AWEE helped her obtain
a new pair of glasses to correct some challenging vision
problems. She became an active member of an AWEE Job
Club, where members provided support to each other and
shared ideas and job leads. She was starting to feel
like a brand new person.
In short order, Marilyn enrolled in a
real estate licensing program, earned her license and
secured a position with a local real estate company.
Then, she proceeded to sell her first listing in only
24 hours! Since then, she's nearly quadrupled her income
from less than $10,000 a year to nearly $40,000. "AWEE
was a home run for me," she says now. "They
helped me hit the ground running. I'm so grateful for
their support and encouragement."
Rosemarie,
2004 [back
to top]
Rosemarie is a survivor. When a counselor told her to
leave Florida to escape further abuse from her ex-husband,
she moved to Arizona, although she had no family or
friends waiting there to support her.
"Ro" was working low-paid jobs at a grocery
store and laundromat when she learned about AWEE. Initially,
she came to AWEE's Prescott office simply looking for
someone to talk to about the tragedy of her brother's
suicide and the years of abuse she had suffered due
to her ex-husband's violence and addictions.
With AWEE's help, she confronted her depression and
began developing a plan to pursue more satisfying and
lucrative work. She enrolled in career readiness classes,
where she re-discovered her sense of self-confidence
and self-worth. Feeling compelled to "give something
back," Ro donated her time as an AWEE volunteer
to help others facing similar challenges. Then, Ro applied
for—and secured—a part-time file clerk job
with Yavapai County. There, her hard work was rewarded
with two promotions, earning her a full-time position
as a court clerk with a good salary and benefits package.
Since then, Ro has enrolled in a college
psychology course, an area of study she has dreamed
of pursuing since she was 18. Although reflecting on
her past struggles still brings tears to her eyes, Ro
is focused and upbeat about the future. You can see
it in the enthusiasm she brings to each new opportunity.
She can scarcely sit still for excitement.
Lisa, 2004
[back to top]
When Lisa came to AWEE 13 years ago, she was caught
in a verbally and emotionally abusive marriage that
had devastated her self-esteem and confidence. She knew
it was time to make a major change in her life. But
as a young mother of three children, she didn’t
know how to begin or where to turn for help. That's
when a friend told her about AWEE.
AWEE provided the encouragement, support and resources
Lisa needed to get going. Lacking formal education beyond
high school, Lisa enrolled at Glendale Community College.
Life suddenly became exciting. Shortly after completing
the program, she was hired by AWEE as an Intake Interviewer
and was quickly promoted to Program Assistant.
During her tenure with AWEE, Lisa has
watched other women grow, set new goals for themselves
and exceed their own expectations. This has inspired
her to do the same for herself. Today Lisa is employed
by Community Services of Arizona, where she travels
around the state assessing and overseeing nearly 3,000
affordable housing units. Ask Lisa how AWEE has made
a difference in her life and she'll tell you, "It
was the first stepping stone in my path to success."
Neva, 2003
[back to top]
Neva dreamed of a career that would fulfill her while
providing the financial support her family needed. Married
to a military man, Neva’s frequent moves made
it difficult for her to find work and earn advancement.
After moving to Luke Air Force Base in 1985, Neva was
introduced to AWEE. She attended life skills and job
readiness courses and immediately found employment.
Since then, Neva has landed a number of good jobs, with
AWEE providing support and encouragement whenever she
needed it.
In 2001, Neva joined the Phoenix Workforce
Connection as a career advisor and found that her journey
with AWEE had come full circle. She is now working in
partnership with AWEE to help women become—and
stay—successfully employed. Over the years, Neva
has made giving back a priority, serving as a foster
parent to 40 children and frequently volunteering her
time and talents. "AWEE gave me the skills and
confidence I needed to achieve success in my career,"
she says today.
Olivia, 2003
[back to top]
Olivia became homeless when she could no longer endure
her husband's violence and the injuries that sent her
repeatedly to the hospital. Desperate for a way to support
herself and her four children, Olivia visited the Mesa
Police Department’s Center Against Violence, where
she was referred to AWEE for employment and education
assistance.
Out of necessity, Olivia launched a cleaning service
to support her family. Soon afterwards, AWEE paid for
her to attend an "English as a Second Language"
class at Mesa Community College. Olivia is now a small
business owner with two employees who are also recovering
from domestic violence. She is also a full-time college
student with high hopes for the future.
Olivia's journey from domestic violence
and homelessness to small business ownership took courage
and tenacity. But she is the first to acknowledge that
she couldn’t have done it alone. "AWEE made
it possible for me to achieve my education and employment
goals," she said. "I wouldn’t be where
I am today without them."
Joy, 2003 [back
to top]
Life was good for Joy in the 1980s. She was a college
graduate, newly married with a great job as a music
teacher. But four years later, her life was drastically
different. Her marriage had fallen apart and she found
herself alone with a toddler and no job. By the time
her son turned four, Joy was homeless and her life was
in crisis.
When she got a job working as a cashier at a convenience
store, Joy finally recognized she needed help to turn
her life around. That's when a friend told her about
AWEE. The education and support she found there made
all the difference. She was humbled and grateful for
the friendships she made with other women in similar
situations.
Joy is now the Development Director for
the Old Town Mission in Cottonwood, Arizona. Her position
is high-pressured, fast-paced and exciting. Joy frequently
thinks about how much her life has changed in the 14
years since she first registered with AWEE. The self-discovery
and empowerment she gained is a testament to her determination
and the support she received at AWEE.
Jolaire
[back to top]
When Jolaire got married, she thought it was going to
last forever. “We were going to be happy and life
was going to be great,” she says. But she and
her husband began having problems, and one day he came
home and told her he was leaving. Suddenly, Jolaire
was faced with the prospect of re-entering the workforce.
She had held jobs before her marriage, but had always
lived paycheck to paycheck. Now she had three children
to support, with the youngest only 18 months old.
“I had no idea how I was going to cope. I didn’t
know what to do or where to turn,” Jolaire remembers.
She started by calling AWEE. After Jolaire’s first
day of classes, she phoned her sister to talk about
her day. Jolaire’s sister noticed a difference
immediately.
“One day at AWEE and you’re a different
person,” her sister said. “That's because
I laughed for the first time in months," Jolaire
responded. For Jolaire, AWEE represented a place to
go when she felt lost. “AWEE restored my self-esteem.
It gave me confidence and courage to keep trying. It
gave me resources. I’ll be forever grateful to
AWEE for the difference it made in my life.”
Terry [back
to top]
Twenty years ago, Terry became one of the very first
women to take advantage of AWEE’s programs. She
had been working since the age of 13, doing whatever
was necessary to survive. After her pregnancy, Terry’s
self-esteem hit rock bottom and she contacted AWEE.
“I thought I had failed,” she recalls. “I
didn’t see myself as a good role model for my
children because I was angry all the time. I needed
help getting my life back on track."
AWEE helped Terry cope with the difficult
challenges she was facing. “By helping me, AWEE
also helped my family," she said. Today, Terry
has established a successful career with the Town of
Guadalupe and feels like a new person. Her AWEE Certificate
of Completion still hangs proudly above the desk in
her office. "Now I can encourage my kids to get
an education and achieve something in their own lives.
Not only do I feel good about myself, my son feels better
about me too. Hopefully AWEE will be around for another
twenty years.”
Anessa [back
to top]
When Anessa came to AWEE in 1994, she was alternating
between living with friends and homelessness. Although
she had been working since the age of 14, Anessa had
never made enough money to meet her needs. “I
had all kinds of jobs,” recalls Anessa, “I
did housekeeping, drywall, car repair and many other
things. But those jobs just kept me alive. They didn’t
allow me to better myself.” Since coming to AWEE,
Anessa has developed a new tenacity. “My kids
see it, my friends see it. AWEE showed me that you don’t
give up. You just keep on going until you reach your
goal.”
Anessa is not the only one in her family
to find success. Today, all four of her children have
made the honor roll at school. “I’m proud
not only of them, but of myself. I think they’re
following Mom’s example.” Anessa's best
friend also went to AWEE, where she pursued an education
in computers until she died in 1998. “I became
the guardian of her daughter so I could make sure she
has the same chance to be successful that AWEE gave
to me," Anessa says. She firmly believes that AWEE
changes lives, not just for program participants, but
also for their families. “All AWEE participants
are going to be successful--and so are their kids."
Caroline
[back to top]
After moving to Arizona, Caroline was struggling to
establish a new career. She went on job interview after
job interview without ever receiving an employment offer.
She was becoming discouraged and didn’t know what
else she could do to make her career search more productive.
Her anxiety grew when her financial resources were exhausted
and her telephone and electric services were disconnected.
That's when Caroline contacted AWEE. Caroline's Case
Manager arranged for her to take job readiness training
classes that helped her develop effective networking
skills and interviewing techniques. She felt a renewed
sense of confidence and self-esteem. Today, Caroline
is the executive director for Self Employment Loan Fund
(SELF), a local nonprofit organization. She is financially
independent and self-assured. “AWEE made such
an important difference in my life," she says now.
"They gave me the boost I needed to become successful."
Josie [back
to top]
In her life, Josie has struggled with many of the challenges
faced by single mothers. She was forced to go on welfare
to support herself and her children while she searched
for a new career. With her self-confidence shaken, Josie
reached out to AWEE. There, her counselors helped Josie
to begin realizing her personal and professional potential.
"AWEE was behind me all the way,” she says
now. With AWEE’s help, Josie improved her resume,
honed her interviewing skills and increased her self-confidence
tenfold. Today, she is proud of her job at Scottsdale
Healthcare, where she was recently promoted and received
a 28 percent salary increase based on her stellar performance.
When we asked her how she was doing, Josie said “WONDERFUL!”
And when we asked if she still had AWEE’s phone
number, her heartfelt reply was “That is one number
I will never lose.”
In 2008, Josie became AWEE's first-ever
Honoree Emeritus. Click
here to learn more about her amazing journey.
Michelle
[back to top]
Realizing that her bartender job offered little prospect
of advancement, Michelle was struggling to change her
lifestyle and career. She didn’t know what kinds
of resources she could draw upon or where to find them.
Based on a friend's recommendation, Michelle took a
chance and gave AWEE a call. She immediately enrolled
in a three-week program that opened new doors to a world
of possibilities. With AWEE’s help, Michelle prepared
her first resume and received basic computer training.
While on an AWEE-sponsored tour of Maricopa Skill Center
(MSC), she was inspired to enroll for training as a
“Computerized Office” Assistant. Only two
days after graduating from MSC, Michelle launched a
new career with the State of Arizona. She is now an
office manager for the DES Human Resource Administrators
Office, where she is successful and financially secure.
“It all started with AWEE. The people there opened
my eyes to my potential. They helped me achieve my current
successes and happiness.”
Alison [back
to top]
After working in the medical field for 13 years, Alison
had exhausted her opportunities for professional advancement.
Unwilling to settle for a job that didn’t take
advantage of her full potential, Allison found the courage
to leave her position and explore new career options,
with AWEE’s help. Today she is working hard to
put herself through school and support her son. She
has found a position that offers the flexibility she
needs to pursue a degree in education. Upon completion,
Alison can begin to realize her dream to become a high
school teacher. She is also sharing her good fortune
by volunteering at a number of community organizations,
including the Greater Phoenix Chapter of the American
Business Women’s Association. In addition, Alison
has become an active member of AWEE’s Career Coaching
Program Design Team.
LaToyyia,
[back to top]
When LaToyyia learned that her husband needed a heart
transplant, her life was suddenly plunged into uncertainty.
With her husband unable to work, she would have to become
the family's sole provider. However, she had many obstacles
to overcome, including a lack of computer skills and
very little work experience. She finally turned to AWEE
when she was facing eviction from her apartment. AWEE
assisted LaToyyia with transportation and childcare
while she attended work training and readiness workshops.
Next, she began an intensive job search, wearing interview
attire furnished by AWEE's Clothing Boutique. Today,
LaToyyia is on the fast track to a rewarding career
with Valley of the Sun School, where she can make full
use of her excellent people skills. She is earning a
good salary with benefits while receiving ongoing computer
training to enhance her skills. Though her husband’s
health is still a cause for concern, she is confident
she can provide for her family now and into the future.
Sharon [back
to top]
Sharon needed a way to support herself and her five
children when she escaped a violent and abusive marriage
and began working to rebuild her life. She already had
a strong professional resume when she came to AWEE,
but she lacked confidence in her own abilities to succeed.
Her heartfelt desire was to return to college. With
AWEE’s help, Sharon enrolled in college classes
and maintained an “A” average. As a result
of the encouragement she received, Sharon is taking
a renewed interest in her children’s success,
helping to end the cycle of abuse and victimization
that too often passes from one generation to the next.
In addition to working on furthering her education,
she has secured a position with a respected contracting
firm that provides a good salary and full benefits.
She has also won multiple college scholarships. Today
Sharon looks back on her reluctance to come to AWEE
and laughs. “I’ve been given a whole new
life and great new opportunities. I feel truly alive
again and AWEE is a large part of that.”
The
2003 luncheon was held November 14 at
the Arizona Biltmore with attendance topping 750.
Each luncheon includes the presentation of the Jeanne
Lind Herberger Award, the AWEE Angel Award, and recognition
of three program participants as the Faces of Success
for their triumph in gaining economic independence through
employment. The entertaining luncheon includes
creative and humorous raffle competitions, heartwarming
presentations and motivating messages from a number
of women from all walks of life.
Photos from 2003 Faces of Success Luncheon
click on image to enlarge view
The 2004 luncheon, presented by Wells
Fargo, was held on October 21 at the Arizona Biltmore
and celebrated the achievements for past program participants
Marilyn, Rosemarie and Lisa, as well as honoring Deborah
Carstens with the Jeanne Lind Herberger Award and
Sue Glawe with the AWEE Angel Award. |