In 1991, the Coalition for the Homeless established the First Step Job Training Program to help homeless and low-income women develop the skills and confidence they need to obtain living-wage jobs and achieve financial independence. Over the past 30 years, First Step has grown and adapted its curriculum to meet the demands of the modern workplace, empowering more than 1,700 women to build new lives for themselves and their families.
First Step’s holistic approach helps homeless and low-income women – so many of whom have experienced tremendous challenges in their lives – to realize their full potential. Our comprehensive social services and self-esteem building workshops are paired with computer and job skills training, internships, networking opportunities, resume building, and more.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York City, the First Step staff quickly adapted to create an innovative remote classroom model for the program. This new curriculum has been wildly successful, and many of our recent graduates have already found meaningful employment – no small feat in the current economic environment.
As we all work to get past the last, very difficult, year, the need for First Step is greater than ever.
Follow #IAmFirstStep on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. To learn more about the campaign, click here.
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Sponsors
Advocate: Jennifer & Peter Wallace
Benefactors: Richard H. Lewis & Joan M. Sapinsley Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Sustainer: Burke & Company LLC
Patron: Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C.
Sponsors: Yvette Arsenec-Weir & Claude Weir Clutter Therapy, LLC Barbara Kolsun Telstra
“I Am First Step” celebrates the hundreds of women who have rediscovered the best in themselves with the help of the Coalition’s renowned First Step Job Training Program.
Since its founding 30 years ago, First Step has graduated more than 1,700 homeless and low income women. Every one of them came to the program with her own unique story of hardship and struggle – but also armed with the determination to push forward and take control of her life.
All First Step does is help each woman recognize and develop her own intrinsic strengths. Each graduates the program with renewed confidence, and a full set of skills that allow her to build a better life for herself and her family.
The Coalition traditionally raises awareness of, and support for, the First Step Program through our annual Women Mean Business Luncheon – which notably features the moving stories of our graduates. Since the pandemic has precluded our ability to hold this wonderful event, we are launching the “I Am First Step” campaign on social media to allow our graduates to publicly celebrate their own strength and resilience. Please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn to hear these amazing women speak.
Please also spread the word about this campaign by sharing the graduates’ clips. Let the women of First Step know that they do not stand alone! We are all First Step.
Thanks to our generous supporters, partner corporations, dedicated staff, and volunteers, First Step will continue to empower homeless and low-income women to transform their lives.
To learn more about the First Step Job Training Program, click here.
Want to help share I Am First Step and the stories of its amazing graduates?
Click here for our social media toolkit, and find more shareable videos and graphics here.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and use the hashtag #IAmFirstStep to share.
Click any of the graphics below to download and and share them on your own social media.
Click here to find Instagram, FB, and LinkedIn Story-sized graphics.
