WRCSC

The Faces of the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota...

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:13:55 -0400

The Faces of the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County

Recently, Barbara Banks took some beautiful photos that captured the essence of some of the women we have been fortunate enough to help at the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County. She also posted a lovely tribute on her blog.

This is only one of nine portrait sessions she did for the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County. Click here to see all of the photographs and read the stories of these extraordinary women. They are truly inspiring!

Over 100 women and men dedicated their Saturday (April 13) to...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:46:10 -0400

Over 100 women and men dedicated their Saturday (April 13) to the daylong Boot Camp for Entrepreneurs, which was presented by the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County for those who are starting or growing a business.

If you weren’t able to attend this year’s seminar, here are some helpful HR tips from Felice Schulaner, the event’s featured speaker and the executive director of the Coach Foundation.

Arianna Huffington and Tory Burch were a few of the female...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:10:00 -0400

Arianna Huffington and Tory Burch were a few of the female business leaders showcased on today’s MSNBC Morning Joe segment on education and the mentoring of entrepreneurs.

This is a timely topic and one the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County holds dear. On April 13, the second Boot Camp for Women Entrepreneurs will be held at the Lido Beach Resort. This daylong seminar will feature business experts willing to share their expertise and advice to help those who have started or who want to start their own business.

We look forward to continuing conversations like this in the future!

Returnship

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:23:09 -0500

At the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County (WRCSC), we help women create independent lifestyles by identifying problems, locating appropriate resources and creating a solution-oriented plan of action. Over 12,800 women in Sarasota County have been positively impacted by our programs and services each year.

One such program is Returnship, which offers a comprehensive collection of classes on interviewing, time management, computer training, business skills and etiquette to help develop professionalism in women who are unemployed or who are re-entering the workforce.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune recently interviewed one of the WRCSC’s Returnship clients - Summer Frey - in an article on boomers and the workforce. Summer says ”the Returnship course made her more comfortable in the job market.”

We are proud of and inspired by the courage of the women (and men) who walk through our doors every day. We are just foruntuate enough to help them along the way. Let the WRCSC help you build the skills needed to land your next job.

To learn more about our Returnship program, click here, review the flier or call 941-366-1700.

The Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County is proud to...

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:49:46 -0400

The Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County is proud to announce that Anne-Marie Slaughter, academic, author, foreign policy analyst and mother, will be speaking at the 2013 Renaissance luncheon - “Redefining Balance.”

She personally understands the work-life balance issues that women face. During this year’s March 12, 2013 luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, Mrs. Slaughter will discuss this thought-provoking topic with other women leaders in our community.

Her conversation-starting and controversial article titled “Why Women Still Can’t Have it All” appeared in the July/August 2012 issue of The Atlantic. The piece attracted 725,000 unique readers in the first four days after publication, making it the most popular article ever published in the magazine.

Mrs. Slaughter served as the director of policy planning for the U.S. Department of State from 2009 - 2011. Appointed by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, she became the first woman to hold this position. After her two-year term, Mrs. Slaughter realized she was unable to hold a high-level State Department job and attend to her two adolescent boys. In 2011, she returned to Princeton University as the professor of politics and international affairs but remains a consultant for the State Department.

She has been a frequent contributor to mainstream media, including The New York Times and appearances on CNN, the BBC, NPR, CBS and PBS. Mrs. Slaughter has written and edited six books, including “A New World Order” (2004) and “The Idea That is America: Keeping Faith with Our Values in a Dangerous World” (2007), and over 100 articles.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear this fascinating and unforgettable woman speak. The fundraising luncheon will also feature an extensive silent auction, shopping and more!

In 2011, the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County...

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:39:00 -0400

In 2011, the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County was honored when Sheryl WuDunn agreed to be the guest speaker at that year’s Renaissance luncheon. A Pulitzer Prize winning co-author of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, Sheryl calls attention to the trials and triumphs of women struggling around the world for opportunity and equality.

On October 1 and 2 at 9 p.m. on PBS, this landmark series based on the book by Sheryl and her husband and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, will follow the co-authors and six celebrity activists, including Diane Lane, America Ferrera, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union and Olivia Wilde, as they travel and meet inspiring, courageous individuals who are confronting oppression and developing real, meaningful solutions through health care, education and economic empowerment for women and girls.

The 2013 guest speaker for the Renaissance luncheon is also an influential female of our time. We’ll reveal this conversation-starting woman soon, but here’s a sneak preview until then!

There are lots of great events coming up for the Women’s...

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:46:16 -0400

There are lots of great events coming up for the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County!

On September 8, we will be hosting a workshop on social media strategy with these great speakers:

Will Franco, founder and CEO of jiveSYSTEMS, an internet marketing consultant and marketing automation coach
Susanne Daniels, founder of Social Upward and president of the Sarasota chapter of the National Association of Business Women
Lindsey Nickel - de la O, creative partner at Nickel & Nickel Communications and an adjunct professor of social media at the Ringling College of Art and Design

We are excited to reveal the speaker for Life’s Highs and Lows…and How I Wore Them luncheon. Jackie Walker, closetologist, co-author of “I Don’t Have a Thing to Wear, The Psychology of Your Closet” and past couture clothing buyer, will share the psychology of the closet for inner confidence and outward success. The event will be in Venice on November 2. Tickets are now on sale!

For more wonderful events, please visit our website at www.theWomensResourceCenter.org.

WRCSC Celebrates (& Encourages) Entrepreneurs!

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:17:53 -0400

We’re happy to announce our 2012-2013 schedule of events in support of women entrepreneurs!

Entrepreneur Networking - August 16

Social Media Strategy Workshop - September 8

Build Your Executive Presence: 2-Part Workshop - October 18 & 25

Boot Camp for Women Entrepreneurs - April 2013

Call (941) 366-1700 for more details!

What’s an easy way to support the WRC this summer? Shop...

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:33:00 -0400

What’s an easy way to support the WRC this summer? Shop (or donate) to our consignment shop, Encore! & more, on Main Street in Downtown Sarasota. We will be hosting a sidewalk sale on July 21st with close-out prices! In the mean time, however, please stop by to see the merchandise we get in daily.

Follow this link to view our July 6th outfit contest. Our fashionable & dedicated volunteers redressed every mannequin in the store and now you can vote to tell us which one is best dressed!

We wish a warm welcome to our new board members and officers!...

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:25:23 -0400

We wish a warm welcome to our new board members and officers! (Also to our newest Peer Resource Advisers!) And, thanks all to a great Annual Meeting last night. Be sure to check out the bios on all of our new Board Members and Officers on our website: here.

Tonight, even though we are saying farewell to a wonderful...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:24:32 -0400

Tonight, even though we are saying farewell to a wonderful President, Lydia McIntire, and dedicated board members, Betty Pickard & Dr. Willa Bernhard, we’re also welcoming new board members, Ann Thompson, Kimberly Bald, & Robin Serbin, and incoming President Renee Hamad. The future looks bright!

As promised, here is the second episode of Renee’s interview with the lovely Rachel Shaeffer for On the Red Couch. Learn more about Renee’s community involvement as well as what helped bring Renee and Rachel together…

Check out two of our fabulous volunteer facilitators on this...

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 10:42:32 -0400

Check out two of our fabulous volunteer facilitators on this episode of On the Red Couch! Susanne Daniels, founder of Restyled Life & President of NAPW Sarasota Chapter, and Rachel Schaeffer, Host of On the Red Couch, are two extraordinary women the WRCSC is proud to support!

Congrats to all of our Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota...

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 09:44:00 -0400

Congrats to all of our Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County, Inc. scholarship recipients! You are all inspiring and hardworking women. Good luck on your academic journeys; we wish you many future successes.

View the rest of our photos from the 2012 Scholarship Awards Ceremony here.

North Port Sun Article

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:30:17 -0400

You may have seen this great article, by Scott Lockwood, on the WRCSC services in North Port. But if not, here’s your second chance! Thanks to North Port Peer & Challenge Instructor Janet Bresky for your kind words.

By SCOTT LOCKWOOD
Special to the Sun

NORTH PORT — If you’re a woman — or man — in need, there’s a place you can go that will welcome you with open arms and point you in the right direction.

That place is the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County, which has an office in North Port.

The organization, founded in 1979, serves women in four locations throughout Sarasota County. The majority of WRC employees are volunteers and the organization’s financial support comes from individual donors. They also own Encore & More, a consignment shop in downtown Sarasota.

“We’re here primarily to help women, but we do accept men,” said North Port peer resource counselor and Challenge facilitator Janet Bresky. “We’ve had men come in and need the same services. We don’t turn anyone away.”

The first person someone will talk to at the WRC is the peer referral counselor — both an unbiased ear and a sounding board or advocate. They listen to what is going on in the woman’s life and try to determine what the issues are. Resources will be provided to help with those issues and an action plan will be developed before she leaves the center.

“We prioritize their needs and write the action plan to help with each of their needs,” Bresky said.

The Challenge class is the core program of the WRC. It has steered hundreds of women in the right direction and is something Bresky encourages anyone who enters the center for help to attend.
“It’s a program that I think almost any woman can use,” Bresky said. “Basically, we’re going to teach them how to set boundaries, what assertiveness means, how to handle anger issues, women’s health issues, dealing with grief and stress management. We also teach what abuse is and how to define it.

“A lot of times, women don’t even realize they’re being abused. They think, ‘Something is not right here,’ but they don’t think it’s abuse.”
Bresky stressed that the most important aspect of the Challenge class — and perhaps the biggest goal of the WRC — is teaching women to think positively, gain self-esteem and build confidence.
“I always say if you could put those three things in a bottle and just take a sip of it, your life would be so much better,” she said. “Obviously it’s not that easy … or else we’d all have it. Sometimes people have it, and then circumstances in life take it away from them.”

The class has been a huge success in the past. Women who have come in with their heads down, saying it’s too painful to continue, have thrived at the end of the session.

“They’d keep coming and they’d love it,” Bresky said. “When they leave, everybody is hugging and exchanging numbers. They’ve opened up, their shoulders are lifted and they’re feeling a lot better about themselves and their lives. It’s such an awesome program.”

There is a charge for the class, but scholarships are available and easy to obtain by simply talking to Bresky. The next Challenge class will be held July 3-5, with hours to be determined by those who wish to attend the class. Bresky is the instructor.

WRC can also help those with disabilities. Calls are made while the woman is in the office, and they are usually assigned a counselor within 48 hours.

“Part of what we do is we want to educate the women and then empower them to feel that they can do these things,” Bresky said. “We want to make them feel that it’s not a crime at this point in their life because their having a tough time.”

The number of people that the WRC helps has increased significantly during the economic downturn. More than half of the calls the center receives are housing issues, mainly due to spouses leaving or disabilities. In some cases, clients have already lost their home and cannot afford to rent on their own.

“We do our best and we work very closely with (North Port) Social Services to see if we can get someone qualified for assistance,” Bresky said.

WRC also offers career counseling and employment classes. Career counselors help with résumé writing, and classes are offered to teach women the dos and don’ts to say for résumés and job interviews. Tests are offered to help determine which career might be best — a big help for those who have been out of work for an extended period of time due to marriage or the economy. There is also a returnship program offered for women looking for a career change or re-entering the workforce. Upon completion of the career adviser’s program, women are ready to begin job interviews and receive a voucher good for a free outfit at Encore & More.

Bresky has one final message for those out there who may need help — now or in the future. “We need the women of North Port to know that we’re here,” Bresky said. “No matter what your issue is, we can be a great starting point because we will listen and we will try and get you to the right people.”

For more information, visit www.thewomensresourceCenter.org, or call 941-429-3720.

Utilizing Pinterest for Your Business

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:41:15 -0400

Utilizing Pinterest for Your Business:

What a great article just in time for the WRCSC’s class on Pinterest for Your Business & Personal Life, which will take place on June 28th from 6 to 7:30 at the SRQ site and will be taught by Susanne Daniels. $8 for nonmembers/$5 for members

Just call 941-366-1700 to register or for more information!

The photos from our 5th Annual Sharon Monk Golf Tournament are...

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:51:26 -0400

The photos from our 5th Annual Sharon Monk Golf Tournament are now on our website! Come see what fun we had while fundraising for WRCSC programs and services: http://www.thewomensresourcecenter.org/?page_id=2476

Are you curious about the strategy behind the WRCSC’s...

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:10:09 -0400

Are you curious about the strategy behind the WRCSC’s programs and classes? Here is a glimpse of how our services help reach women on the continuum of poverty to homelessness, as compiled in June 2011.

"Four Ways Women Unintentionally Stunt Their Careers"

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:32:30 -0400

"Four Ways Women Unintentionally Stunt Their Careers":

Food for thought in today’s Returnship orientation.

Returnship is an ongoing program designed especially for women seeking to reenter the workforce after a prolonged absence. For more information, give our Sarasota office a call at 941-366-1700!

We always have time for positive feedback...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:44:24 -0400

We have been getting so much positive feedback about our event last Saturday, Boot Camp for Women Entrepreneurs, which is the direct result of both a need for entrepreneurship support and the excitement that each of our high-caliber facilitators, dedicated volunteers, and tireless staff each had in bringing this program to the women in our community. Below is a letter of thanks received by our Executive Director that we really wanted to share with everyone:

Dear Janice,

I’m not sure where to begin to express how much I enjoyed and how many benefits I received from the Boot Camp for Women Entrepreneurs. From the lovely setting for the conference, to the warm reception, to the dynamic women who challenged us with their expertise in their respective fields… WOW!

It was a day jam-packed with useful and relevant information for any woman either interested in starting or owning her own business.

Being a very new entrepreneur I might not have been able to afford the $200 or more this event was worth, but I am thankful it was $25 and I was able to attend.

Bless each of you who worked so tirelessly to make this incredible event possible. As I was leaving, I heard nothing but excitement, enthusiasm, and praise from the participants. Now, it is my turn to take this information and make it happen in my own endeavor. Thank you again—I am singing the praises of the WRC and all your contributions to the women of our community!

Owner, Photography by Francie

Thanks so much for your lovely words!

You've been patient! Our Renaissance Photos are now up on our website.

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:24:42 -0400

You've been patient! Our Renaissance Photos are now up on our website.:

Our 2012 Renaissance Luncheon: The Reinvention of Self was a smashing success! The Luncheon, on March 12th at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, featured keynote speaker Gail Sheehy, author & journalist, and emcee Michael Saunders. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe also played a musical part of the afternoon! Thanks again to all who supported us during our largest fundraiser of the year!