Cultivating Upward Mobility for Women and Girls in Poverty
Empowered Connections and Women of Color Collaborative are fundraising to provide a six-month high school equivalency test prep program for women living in Public Housing who are seeking educational opportunities and economic advancement.
Your donation allows us to offer the program at no cost for participants and helps address emerging needs, like transportation and childcare, eliminating barriers and promoting financial security.
Women of color experiencing poverty are likely to be single mothers who work, but make very little compared to their counterparts in affluent Chattanooga neighborhoods. Many are faced with benefit cliffs, deterring them from pursuing opportunities that may put their housing security in jeopardy. Our program empowers women to be authors of their own future and cultivates scalable pathways for upward mobility for women and girls in poverty by offering economic resourcing, safe and affirming learning spaces, and a supportive community along the journey.
test
preparation
mentorship
matching
financial
literacy
career exposure and exploration
civic engagement and advocacy
economic
resourcing
policy
analysis
identity exploration and systems interruption
digital literacy and support
About the Collaboration
Committed to community building, inclusion, and participatory program design, Empowered Connections, led by native Chattanoogan, Zennia Nesmith, has assembled a body of peers inclusive of women who are part of the target population. Nashville-based Women of Color Collaborative is working toward a healthier, more equitable future for women by teaching & modeling culturally responsive emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and vulnerability.