Sacramento State’s Women Studies Student Association has teamed up with the local organization, Women’s Empowerment, to help collect dresses for the 13th Annual Gala where a 100 formerly homeless women will be recognized for their achievements.

 

The dresses collected in the drive will be available for women  who went through Women’s Empowerment eight-week program, in which they gained confidence and skills to prepare them to get a job.

 

“The gala is a huge celebration for these women who have accomplished so much,” said WSSA Vice President Karah Letson. “It is a great way to honor these women and let them know they have the support of their family, friends and community. They deserve to be celebrated.”

 

This is the first time WSSA has participated in the annual gala, but Letson said the organization looks forward to working with Women’s Empowerment and other outside organizations in the future.

 

WSSA is open to all majors and is an organization that brings awareness to women’s issue on and off campus.

 

“As an organization, we want to create a safe space for individuals to come and have intellectual conversations with one another,” Letson said. “Some of the Topics we discuss are women’s rights, sexuality, intersectionality and gender. We want to bring awareness to contemporary issues and women’s rights.

 

Communications Chair of WSSA Jessica Arauza said the organization saw the dress drive as an opportunity to reach out to fellow women in the community, considering the organization also  focuses on empowering women.

 

“We encourage people to bring in their used dresses and shoes to donate because most of the time they only go worn once,” Arauza said. “These women, who hardly have anything, could really benefit from it.”

 

WSSA has a box located at the Women’s Resource Center where dresses, shoes, jewelry, purses and shape-wear can be dropped off until May 9.

 

Women studies major Rachel Symons interned and volunteered with

Women’s Empowerment and has been part of the gala committee for the past two years. Symons was the one who brought up the opportunity to WSSA to help with the gala.

 

Symons said she has grown to love the organization and her most memorable experience was when she heard the women tell their stories at a graduation ceremony two years ago.

 

“It just showed the profound effect homelessness has on women and the hope and hard work they put into their families,” Symons said. “For a few moments, I was speechless. It was such a profound thing to see all of these elements of what the program does for women graduates.”

 

This year’s gala theme is a celebration of independence and will be taking place in June.

 

The gala will include a sit down dinner, silent auction, live auction and an inspirational program where some of the graduates will have the chance to share their stories.  

 

Created in 2001 by Lisa Culp, Women’s Empowerment has worked with a number of community organizations on the journey to helping women in Sacramento accomplish their goals through a holistic approach.

 

According to the Women’s Empowerment website, 90 percent of the women who have gone through the program have been victim of domestic abuse.

 

The website also states there is an alarming rise in the number of homeless women and children in the streets of Sacramento. Fortunately, 80 percent of women who go through the program are no longer homeless within three months.

 

Aside from empowering women through confidence and job skills, Women’s Empowerment also offers health programs, child care and helps participants regain a home for themselves and their children.

 

Letson said WSSA is excited about its opportunity and some members are planning on actually helping out for the day of the gala.

 

“We have extended the invite to our members about volunteering at the gala and many have said they would love to help,” Letson said.  “We will be helping with event cleanup, setup, and decorations. I am in high hopes that our officers and members will be able to do more volunteer work.”