114 W. Montgomery AvenueRockville, MD 20850

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage PaidPermit No. 2577Rockville, MD/20850

19th Annual

Companies Caring Breakfast

APRIL 28, 2016

Our annual Companies Caring Breakfast, which attracts more than 300 of the county’s business, governmental, political and non-profit leaders, is Thursday, April 28, at the Bethesda North Marriott on Marinelli Road in Rockville.

Sponsorship and ticket details are coming soon. Contact Nichole Land, nland@iworksmc.org, for more information.

STAY INFORMEDSign up for our eNewsletter by going to www.iworksmc.org/news.

Leading VoiceTheNEWSLETTER WINTER 2015

IWORKSMC.ORG | 301-762-8682IWORKSMC.ORG | 301-762-8682

In This Issue...

DREAM IT, BE IT

WALKING THE WALK

‘YOUR WORK PAYS OFF’

DOOR TO OPPORTUNITY

SHELTER FROM THE STORM

2016 COMPANIES CARING BREAKFAST

MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHERInterfaith Works collaborates with many agencies in the county to help those in need avert crisis and return to stability.

The Jewish Social Services Agency (JSSA) asked for assistance in preventing Richard from becoming homeless. Richard had open heart surgery in May 2015 and was unable to work during his recuperation period. With support from JSSA and a loan from Interfaith Works’ Hand to Hand eviction prevention program, he was able to pay his back rent and avoid eviction. He is back at work and eager to give back to the community.

A graduate of our job-readiness classes, who is working with our vocational services team to find a living-wage job.

The Leading Voiceis a newsletter published by Interfaith Works. Please address comments and

suggestions to:

Charlotte Garveycgarvey@iworksmc.org

(301) 807-8819

SAVE THE DATE

DEAR FRIENDS,This is a very exciting time for Interfaith Works. We have completed our strategic planning process, and are moving forward. We have a clear vision about how Interfaith Works can play a central role in making our great Montgomery County community even stronger and a better place to live for everyone. We will focus our work on helping vulnerable people lift themselves out of poverty.

Our Interfaith Clothing Center is moving to improved, expanded space upstairs at the same site. Over time, the new center also will enable us to make the space a learning hub to open up opportunities for families who may be trapped economically, helping them find a path to independence and

stability. Similarly, when our women’s shelter moves to improved space on Taft Court in Rockville, thanks to a great partnership with Cornerstone Montgomery and Community Clinic Inc., our residents will be able to get mental and physical health care right there on the spot.

We also will build on the success of our vocational program. Last year, that program helped 146 unemployed and underemployed men and women find jobs—an incredible accomplishment.

With stronger programs to lift families who are in crisis, men and women seeking a way out of poverty through education and employment, and those sidetracked by a tough economy,

Interfaith Works will be there.

Will you join us on that journey by supporting us? Together, we will build a stronger, better Montgomery County.

With gratitude,

Shane Rock CEO, Interfaith Works

DREAM IT, BE ITKerri proudly showed off her nametag, something she must wear for her new job at the Target store. Sondra described her aspirations to start her own business. These women and five other residents of our women’s shelter shared their dreams, experiences and challenges as part of a special series of classes presented by Soroptimist International of Upper Montgomery County, MD (SIUMC) in collaboration with Interfaith Works’ vocational services program.

Several of the residents in the class are employed, and all of the women are looking to advance along a path to independence and self-sufficiency through employment or finding better jobs. Soroptimist International is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. The local chapter successfully pursued funding from the national organization, Soroptimist International of the Americas to provide scholarships to our women’s shelter residents who completed the “Dream It, Be It” series of classes. The sessions cover career opportunities, setting and achieving goals, overcoming obstacles to success and how to move forward after setbacks or failures.

SIUMC President Johann Dretchen said, “Our club members have learned so much from the women who participated in the program, and were deeply touched by their remarkable journeys to overcome their challenges.”

Students and instructors in career opportunities class

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THE NURSE IS IN At one point, Jenny Silva envisioned herself becoming a lawyer. But after graduating from college with a degree in Business Administration, her professional path took a few turns. Luckily for Interfaith Works and those we serve, Jenny ended up as our first on-staff nurse supporting our Housing and Homeless Services program.

Fresh out of college, Jenny worked in a position focused on workers compensation, which led her to shift gears and pursue an accelerated

program that enabled her to become a registered nurse with a master’s degree.

Building on clinical experience gained by working at area hospitals, Jenny now provides essential care and support to formerly homeless people who become residents in our Interfaith Homes program and Housing Initiative Program (HIP). These Interfaith Works programs provide permanent, supportive housing, which means the residents are there for the long-term, and Interfaith Works continues to help them thrive and navigate the world outside of the shelter environment.

Working with between 25 to 30 residents, Jenny spends much of her time doing home visits and accompanying residents to medical appointments. She helps residents get much-needed care for conditions that may have been ignored for years, or may have cropped up as a result of the challenges of living on the streets.

“That’s where I come in and advocate for the client,” she says. “Now that

they have safety and shelter, they say, ‘Now I want to get healthy.’”

Having a nurse on staff is a game-changer for Interfaith Works’ housing programs, says Diana Bernhardt, Interfaith Works Program Director for Interfaith Homes and HIP. “Jenny can attend doctor’s appointments with the residents and help them follow through and understand the doctor’s recommendations,” she said. Jenny continues to keep her clinical, bedside skills sharp — she works weekends at a local hospital too.

For some residents, the biggest impact she can have is helping them focus on taking their medications regularly. For others, it is helping empower them to take control of their own health needs.

The best part of her job? Jenny says, “I feel like I am making a difference.”

INTERFAITH WORKS | WINTER 2015 NEWSLETTER IWORKSMC.ORG | 301-762-8682

WALKING THE WALKLooking for a team-building activity? Hold a community walk to support Interfaith Works’ programs to lift the vulnerable in our community from poverty.

We are scheduling walks for this spring. Thanks to those who walked this fall, including: Bethesda Friends Meeting, Bethesda Montessori, Brown Station Elementary, Cold Spring Elementary, Our Lady of Mercy School, St. John Episcopal School, Potomac Elementary, Woodfield Elementary and Wood Middle School. We also are grateful to the Cafritz Foundation for providing matching funds for our fall walks.

For more information on how to get involved, contact Nichole Land, nland@iworksmc.org.

YOUR WORK PAYS OFFEarlier this year, we welcomed Mark back to Interfaith Works. Many years ago, Mark at 12 was the oldest in his family of six children headed by a single dad, and they desperately needed help. We connected them with a trained volunteer mentor team from St. Mark Presbyterian, who worked with the family to get through some difficult times.

Today, Mark has completed law school, passed the bar and is working as a lawyer. He reached out because he wanted to re-connect with some of his mentors and simply say, “Thank you.”

He told the mentors, “I wanted you to know how much your work pays off.” He added, “You served as great models for us...We flowered so much because of your help.” Mark now hopes to volunteer with Interfaith Works, guiding other young people going through tough transitions.

If you would like to get involved with our Family Services programs as a volunteer, please call 301.315.1104.

DOOR TO OPPORTUNITYResidents at our Carroll House men’s shelter have a brand-new computer lab, outfitted with six desktops and a printer, thanks to students at Thomas Edison High School of Technology and the Montgomery County Students Information Technology Foundation.

Students refurbished the equipment, and awarded the new lab to Carroll House in a competitive application process supported by the foundation.

At a ceremony at the high school, Edison student Henry Nguy said he was happy to be part of the project, which he hopes will help Carroll

House’s 32 residents get to where they want to be in life. He expressed gratitude at being involved in a project that enabled him both to learn and to help others. He added, “I hope the project influences the men as much as it has influenced me.”

The lab will enable residents to work on their resumes and engage in job searches on-site at the shelter. Interfaith Works’ Kacy Barker, Carroll House program director, said, “This will change the lives of our residents,” adding, “We can bring more vocational opportunities on site.”

Resident Erroll said, “This will open the door to opportunity.”

‘I GOT IT WHEN I NEEDED IT THE MOST’The Giving Together women’s giving circle visited our Community Vision site to hear the stories of women who will be helped, thanks to a generous grant from the group. Giving Together volunteers not only listened to the stories, but provided coaching and interview preparation sessions for the women seeking employment.

The Giving Together Scholarship Fund is enabling these women to pursue additional training so they can become certified to help them find better jobs, including pharmacy technicians, nursing assistants and Microsoft Office specialists. These programs can help job-seekers to gain steady employment with career growth potential, says Carolyn Johnson, Interfaith Works vocational services program director.

Sara (not her real name) came to the Interfaith Works vocational program after experiencing homelessness due to a family conflict. “We spent some

very bad nights outside,” she said, but eventually found housing. Immigrants from Pakistan, she and her spouse are trained medical professionals, but fell on hard times because of the financial challenges of achieving certification in the U.S.

Sara was discouraged. But she persevered, going through our vocational program and discovering she has a passion for working with children. Thanks to a scholarship through the Giving Together Fund, she

is pursuing training and certification in early childhood education. “Thank you for your generosity,” she told the Giving Together members. “I got it when I needed it the most.”

Valerie, a resident of the Interfaith Works emergency women’s shelter in Rockville, will be able to get recertified as an x-ray technician, thanks to the scholarship. Karen, another resident of our women’s shelter, is an experienced project coordinator and is pursuing a project management certificate, thanks to Giving Together.

Those getting scholarships are asked to “pay it forward” by paying back a portion once they have secured employment, so the program is sustainable and can help more women.

After listening to the women’s stories and aspirations, Giving Together’s Jeanne Spivak said, “We’ve made a wonderful investment.”

SHELTER FROM THE STORM

During these cold-weather months, our Community Vision site in downtown Silver Spring will open its doors in the evenings to provide overnight shelter to men and women seeking a safe haven from the cold when the temperature dips to unsafe levels. We have room for 70 individuals on a first-come, first-served basis. The program, located at 8210 Dixon Ave. (near the intersection

of Georgia and Silver Spring Avenues), continues through the end of March.

Many of those seeking shelter with us are people living on the streets and in need of essentials: socks, underwear, hats, gloves, sweaters and jackets for men and women in all sizes.

Can you help? Drop off donations at the Community Vision site,

BAREFOOT IN THE MEADOW

Inmates at the correctional facility in Clarksburg painted a mural to decorate our women’s shelter, working with Class Acts Arts, a non-profit that provides access to the arts to underserved populations. We welcomed Rockville Mayor Bridget Newton and County Councilmember Sidney Katz, along with Montgomery County Deputy Warden Gayle Starkey and representatives of Class Acts Arts, to the ceremony dedicating the mural, which is entitled, “Barefoot in the Meadow.”

Mark and mentor Dean HearnMembers of Giving Together

They say ‘Now I want to get healthy.’

Nurse Jenny Silva

Edison High School students refurbished computers to donate to our men’s shelter.

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or contact Haydee Alvarez, halvarez@iworksmc.org, for more information. Or make a financial contribution by clicking the “DONATE” button on our homepage: www.iworksmc.org.