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Founded in 2002, The Ladder Alliance's mission is to provide women victims of domestic violence and low-income women with the tools to lead self-reliant, independent and successful lives. In accomplishing this mission, our organization impacts not only our clients but also their children, other family members, and future generations.
The Ladder Alliance serves 300-400 women annually, creating a community of successful women through education, empowerment and encouragement. We provide three distinct programs to ready women to either enter or return to the workforce. The Basic Computer Skills Training program offers participants the training to learn entry level skills, including keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, and internet usage. Professional Office Skills Training expands upon the basic training by offering participants advanced computer skills, business communication, customer service, and other relevant administrative and technical skills. The General Equivalency Degree Preparation course prepares women to earn a GED and thereby enhance their ability to earn more than 50 percent higher wages than women without a diploma.
In order to continue providing the technical skills, confidence and cultural capital to low-income women and victims of domestic violence in Tarrant County, we respectfully request $2,000 to provide scholarships to students in the Professional Office Skills Training (POST) program. Students enrolled in the POST program attend 400 hours of training, consisting of 5 hours a day for 16 weeks.The POST program is working for our clients according to the outcome metrics. Looking at three groups, Group 1 started with 19 participants, and 13 completed the program. Of those 13, 100% reported an increase in self-confidence as self-reported on the final program evaluation, and 100% of students taking the final exam showed improvement in their knowledge of typing, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Internet/email usage. Groups 2 and 3 started with 18 and 15 respectively with 14 and 12 completing the program. They also saw a 100% rate on the two measured outcomes. Group 1 reports 10 out of 13 participants found employment after the POST program, Group 2 had 14 out of 14, and Group 3 had 11 out of 12.
One of our POST graduates writes:
"Being a part of the POST has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. This class has not only taught me computer training, business English, and customer service skills, it has taught me to believe in myself. It has given me the confidence I need to be successful in the professional environment. It has truly been a lifestyle change for me."
Melissa Fabila - POST graduate 1/16
According to Domestic Violence Statistics, every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten, and everyday more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined. Women victims leave their abusers between 6-8 times before making the move permanent—due, in part, to lacking job skills. Approximately 50% of women living in homeless shelters are victims of domestic violence.
Domestic violence is a problem that will not go away quickly or quietly. As a people, as a community, we must understand and address the fact that domestic violence is not a singular incident. It is an insidious problem deeply rooted in our culture. With the number of high-profile incidents of domestic violence, it is also one that is in danger of public desensitization, and that is an ideology our culture cannot afford to evolve. The Ladder Alliance is an organization that realizes and addresses these sobering facts.
Additionally, in 2014 the number of female heads of households in Fort Worth was 43,278 with 33.7% at or below the poverty level, and the number of female heads of households with related children under 18 was 31,028 with a poverty rate of 41.6%. The Ladder Alliance is an organization that addresses these issues by supporting, encouraging, empowering, and teaching women to learn skills that will serve them well in an increasingly technological world.
There are several volunteer opportunities for members of the Mid-Cities Pacesetters to be involved. We hold two major fundraising events that require a number of volunteers--our golf tournament in October and our signature event, It's in the Bag, in April. Also, one of the many benefits offered to the participants is access to "The Success Store," a boutique where they may "purchase" (with earned vouchers) new and gently used clothing and accessories for job interviews and appropriate work attire. Mid-Cities Pacesetters members could help sort donated clothing from JC Penney, a corporate sponsor of the store. They make quarterly donations, consisting of 1,500-4,000 items. Sorting the clothing requires a number of volunteers.
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