Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerri Rosen.
Jerri, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Before I founded Working Wardrobes, a full-service career development center, I started my own advertising agency J.L Rosen & Company in 1990. That same year, five friends and I found ourselves disturbed by the growing statistics of domestic violence in Orange County, so we set out on a mission to help. With the intention of hosting a one-time only career makeover event, we held the first ever “Day of Self-EsteemTM,” which served 67 women from six shelters. Each year the event grew larger and larger, serving more and more women across Orange County. Eventually, we began working with men, too, serving as a source of support to help them overcome life’s difficult challenges and achieve the dignity of work. The event became the launching pad for Working Wardrobes, and in 1995, the organization received official nonprofit status.
In 2000, I was hired on as the executive director, and in 2007, I closed my agency to work full-time at Working Wardrobes. Today, I serve as the CEO and founder, and I’m proud to represent an organization that helps 5,000 men, women, young adults and veterans in crises re-enter the workforce each year. To help spread further awareness about Working Wardrobes, I often speak at corporate and community groups, and I am the host of the award-winning cable TV show about Working Wardrobes.
Has it been a smooth road?
There are challenges in any business, be it for or not for profit. In the nonprofit world, the challenges that I’ve faced have been around fundraising and finding creative ways to reach out to donors.
At the same time, we are always looking for innovative solutions to improve the talent on our staff. I am a major proponent of professional development and we’ve held a great number of team building and skills-based workshops, brought in consultants, and facilitated a variety of career assessments for the staff.
We strive every day to find resources that can be donated to improve our work and client services.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Beginning with a small, one-day career makeover event serving 67 women, Working Wardrobes has evolved into a full-service career development center, making the power of a paycheck possible for our 5,000 clients every year.
In 25 years, Working Wardrobes has changed the lives of 95,000 at-risk men, women, young adults and veterans overcoming difficult challenges, such as alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, incarceration, homelessness, catastrophic illness, and traumatic financial loss. The ripple effect of our impact reaches spouses, children, friends and neighbors – uplifting our entire community. Our clients are referred from more than 60 programs across Southern California.
Working Wardrobes offers a comprehensive, professional career readiness curriculum at no cost to clients. Our career-based training – with services including career preparation and coaching, grooming and job placement, and professional wardrobing – those facing serious life challenges are empowered to transform their lives. Our services are offered in an atmosphere of dignity with customized support from our compassionate staff and volunteers.
Helping veterans is an important part of what we do at Working Wardrobes. In 2012, we created VetNet: A Safety Net for Veterans, a program dedicated to doing whatever it takes to educate and train veterans to find meaningful employment. Our commitment extends to encouraging potential employers to offer veterans opportunities compatible with their skills and experience.
I am wild about the staff at Working Wardrobes and their dedication to achieving our mission. They work so hard, love our clients and bend over and do somersaults to deliver on our mission. And we love having fun together!
Our sense of urgency in delivering on our mission, high level of professionalism and our dedication to transforming lives daily is what sets us apart from most organizations.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
We love being in Irvine as it is a major part of the business world in Orange County. Our Career Center is easy to get to and the staff enjoys the location. We’re near a lot of restaurants and shopping.
Contact Info:
- Address: Working Wardrobes Career Center
1851 Kettering Street Irvine, CA 92614 - Website: http://workingwardrobes.org/
- Phone: (714) 210-2460
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WorkingWardrobes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorkingWardrobes/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/workingwardrobe
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