www.womenworkandcommunity.org

Have you ever heard of the Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community (WWC)? Well, neither had I until I went to Augusta! Let me give you a bit of history first. Founded in 1978 by the Maine State Legislature as a displaced homemakers program, Women, Work and Community has grown throughout the State through 18 centers and community outreach sites. Their mission is to help women and their families succeed in the Maine economy through employment, self-employment, education, and training.

In a state with an aging population, this organization plays a critical role in helping individuals to remain productive over their lives. It helps refocus careers to enter or re-enter the workforce. It helps those who want to start and run a business. It provides continuing education opportunities. It teaches how to better manage and build ones assets. It helps individuals involved become contributing members of their community.

The WWC offers men (yes MEN too) and women the tools and confidence they need to adjust to the challenges of our changing economy. In the past 3 years over 1600 new individuals sought services from the WWC. Nearly 78% were from low or moderate income brackets and 72% had an associate degree or less.

The WWC provides Maine with a prepared workforce and more engaged workers. It leverages community resources by using such things as Family Development Accounts and promoting Life Long Learning Accounts. It serves as a catalyst for networks among entrepreneurs, artisans and food producers.

The WWC is cost effective, leveraging existing resources and partnerships, and reaches into Maine’s rural communities. Graduates from the program increase their incomes (40-50%) and save for their future (30-35%). Women, work, and community offers a HAND UP – not a hand out.

Here are the classes being offered soon: Introduction to Self-Employment, Wednesday October 7 and Thursday, November 12 from 9:00 - 12:00 noon; Build A Budget That You Can Live With, Tuesday, October 6 from 9:00 -11:30 am; Creating your Future, an eight week class that runs from October 8 - December 3 on Thursdays from 5:30 - 8:30 pm; and Career Exploration, a five week class that runs from October 27 - November 24 on Tuesdays from 9:00 - 12:00 noon. For more information on these classes or to get a schedule for future classes and workshops call the Farmington center at 778-2757 or 1-800-442-2092 or visit their website at
www.womenworkandcommunity.org. Information supporting this article was supplied by the WWC.

If you have questions about this or anything else please call me at 645-3420 or e-mail me at drtom16@hotmail.com . As always it is my pleasure to serve the people of District 90.