History of WE CAN:
WE
CAN has its beginnings in a Cape Cod Community College program called
Women in Transition(WIT), a program designed by then-Dean of Students
Richard Sullivan and staff member Dorothy Burrill to help women of all
ages and demographics improve their lives through education. The goal
of the program, according to Sullivan, was "to find a way to bring them
back into the college atmosphere and surround them with support." Grant
funds were obtained to provide emergency assistance so women could attend
the college, "for women who had to make a decision between buying a meal
or buying a book. It was that simple," he said.
After
Sullivan retired, the program ended, but several women, including Cape
Cod Community College advisor Dr. Jacquie Scarbrough and some of those
who had benefited from the WIT program, realized the need was still there.
They met and formulated what became WE CAN --Women's Empowerment through
Cape Area Networking-- with Sullivan helping to raise the initial funds
to get the program off the ground
That first year of its incorporation, WE CAN helped 15 women. Early services included emergency financial aid; a program that both provided guidance on options, including how to get back to school, and connected clients to volunteers for mentoring and support; help filling out forms for emergency fuel assistance, financial aid for education, job applications; and information and referrals to other organizations on the Cape.
Over the next few years, grants from foundations and organizations like the Cape Cod Foundation and the Massachusetts Bar Foundation along with individual donations, including a few substantial ones, enabled WE CAN to add more services to meet the needs of the women who turned to them, referred by other organizations, friends, or past clients. Pro bono legal clinics (half-hour, 1-1 consultations with an attorney), workshops on finance and other topics were offered and exist in expanded forms today.
With
the help of a group of dedicated, energetic and smart volunteers, including
authors Joan Anderson and Anne LeClaire, we also launched our major fundraiser,
"A Day of Words, Wit and Wisdom." In the ensuing years, sixteen New York
Times best-selling authors and Academy Award winning screenwriters have
been featured in this annual event. Women of the Year honorees have included
Claire Murray, Julie Harris, Tyne Daly, Dr. Donna Shalala, Anne Meara,
Diane Rehm and Dorothy Stoneman
Fast forward to 2010:
"A
Day of Words, Wit and Wisdom," with YouthBuild CEO Dorothy Stoneman as
Woman of the Year, sold out to 350 people, tripling sponsorship and raising
more than $55,000 for programs at WE CAN.
WE CAN is planning our second annual In the Spotlight Cabaret on November 6th, 2011 in collaboration with two other Cape non-profits, The Community Development Partnership and the Lower Cape Outreach Council. The 2010 event was a on a highly successful evening of cabaret, featuring well-known Cape-based performers who donated their time and talents and sumptuous appetizers and desserts from local restaurants.
The Options program, originally created to help women return to school, is now a centralized intake process to WE CAN's interconnected set of programs.
Pathmakers,
WE CAN's signature program, offers mentoring for women with a focus on
setting and achieving goals and mutual learning and support over a 10
month period. Operating at capacity in 2010, the highly successful program
will continue to expand to support more women. Beginning this year, we
also offer Financial Empowerment sessions in the WE CAN office on a weekly
basis. These 45 minute, 1:1 sessions allow low/moderate income participants
the opportunity to consult with a volunteer financial expert around their
own situation-be it to plan for the future; build a realistic budget or
take steps to solve a difficult situation.
Through the generosity of Cape attorneys who donate their time, WE CAN offers low/moderate income women individual 30 minute consultations on the legal issues involved in divorce; child custody and support; wills and estate planning; landlord-tenant problems; debt and consumer issues; immigration; employment and other concerns.
A day-long "Divorce Boot Camp," offered periodically by an attorney with expertise in family law, provides specialized help and essential forms and other materials. A two-hour workshop, "Everything You Wanted to Know about Family Law but Were Afraid to Ask", is offered by a family law attorney to provide an overview of the major aspects of family law: divorce, child custody and guardianship of minors.
We
also offer computer training on a periodic basis as well as other skill
based sessions including financial management; tax preparation; career
planning; conflict resolution; and negotiation skills. And, after a successful
pilot, we continue to offer "From Surviving to Thriving: Life Out of the
Trenches", a 6-week program to bring participants out from behind what
holds them back, guide them to clarify what is important for them and
their family, and set them on a life path of greater achievement and fulfillment.
The program will be presented by Certified Professional Coach, Maggie
French.
As needs are expressed to us through the women in our programs and our referral lines, we respond with additional workshops, tailored training sessions and support groups, often in collaboration with other non-profits
In 2010, WE CAN served over 500 Cape Cod women with a broad, responsive, and highly effective set of programs and services. At the half way mark in 2011, we have already served that number, achieved financial stability and grown beyond what our founders could have imagined. But some things haven't changed: The first WE CAN newsletter, in early 2001, said, "WE CAN is dedicated to empowering Cape women through mentoring, information, education, networking and support." We remain committed to that mission.
