According to Wings Board Member Anne Motsenbocker,
“Poverty is a cycle that is difficult to break, and the challenges of the past few years have exposed important issues of inequity. Women have been affected disproportionately. Wings provides free and vital services to the most vulnerable – women of color and those with limited English proficiency, single-income households, women at risk of intimate partner violence and financial insecurity, and small business owners.
“Kate Rose Marquez and her staff believe that empowering women to achieve their fullest potential has a multiplier effect on the families and communities around them. “I’ve seen firsthand how the services Wings provides can generate that dynamic lift and create a rippling impact.”
“Wings, formerly the YWCA of Dallas, has played a critical role in supporting and empowering women who face financial hardship or systemic poverty. For more than a century Wings has helped empower women in the midst of change – first-time pregnancies, economic and financial crises or starting a new chapter – by providing the lift and support needed to carry them successfully into the next phase of their lives.
“Staff, volunteers, nurses and coaches at Wings work tirelessly alongside nearly 2,000 clients annually to help them take steps towards achieving their personal goals. Financial coaches from the Economic Advancement program offer one-on-one, personalized support to help clients chart an actionable path toward financial stability and independence. Nurses in Wings’ Nurse-Family Partnership program provide in-home medical, nutritional and social-emotional support to first-time moms and their children from pregnancy through the child’s second birthday – ensuring both mom and baby get the resources they need.
“When I think of Wings, I think of clients like Jacqueline Green. She first signed up for Wings programming when she was pregnant. Through the Nurse-Family Partnership program, she received prenatal care and support from a registered nurse to deliver a healthy baby. Her nursing care continued through her baby’s second birthday with over 60 in-home visits focusing on health, nutrition, social/emotional development and parenting skills. Jacqueline then embraced Wings Economic Advancement programming that included financial literacy, financial one-on-one coaching and career development. She learned how to better manage household finances and build financial wealth, and in turn, transformed the trajectory of her child’s future.
“Jacqueline received a B.S. degree from UT Arlington this August. Think about that – in order to qualify for the Wings NFP program Jacqueline’s income ceiling had to be $25K per year. She now has a college degree. Empowering women indeed.
“If you want to empower and equip women in our community with the tools they need to change their lives and the lives of their families, visit Wingsdallas.org. In addition, as you walk through life, reach out a hand and lift a woman up – you’ll be amazed the effect it will have on the entire community.”
* Graphic/photo provided by Wings