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First Class Graduates From Women Working For Change Program In Philadelphia

By Dan Wing

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A graduation ceremony was held at the School District of Philadelphia's headquarters Wednesday evening for the first class of a pilot program that helps women recently released from jail transition into the working world.

It's called Women Working For Change, and the program is run by the group Mothers In Charge. Many times, inmates struggle to get acclimated to outside life, and this program was aimed at helping to ease that transition.

"They learned time management. They learned soft skills in terms of interviewing and resume writing. They actually interviewed with certain employers as part of the training," Dorothy Johnson-Speight said.

Johnson-Speight is the executive director of Mothers in Charge, which she founded after her son was killed over a parking space. She was also a vital part of the Women Working for Change program, working hand-in-hand with the women.

"Ten weeks of intense resume writing and skill building, soft skills and all of that. We have now been able to place each woman in employment," she said.

Each of the women graduating spoke to the crowd, some sharing poems written about the experience, others sharing things they've learned and their thanks for their new "family." Many of them did so with tears in their eyes.

The night's Keynote speaker was Andrea James, a former attorney jailed in 2009. She's since founded the group "Families for Justice as Healing," and written three books. She also heads a group called Career Roadmap for Girls, which helps children with absent parents navigate school, work, and life in general.

During her speech, James says she hopes the women of the 'Women Working for Change' program can be an example to officials of how a change in policy from funding prisons and a war on drugs, to funding education, outreach, and community wellness could reduce the rate of recidivism.

"Understand that we have a criminal justice system that needs to be fixed, and you are the experts. You are the people that will bring the passion and the power of the people to make that change. That's what I want you women to leave this room understanding ladies," James said.

The Women Working For Change program will continue into the future, but they do need financial support. You can offer support at GoFundMe.com/awdisg. More information can be found at www.mothersincharge.org.

 

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