Some Reflections on the Women Blessing Women Program –
“Where Are They Now?”
By Glenda Gamble Brown
Special to The Truth
Women Blessing Women (WBW) was a non-profit organization
organized in 1998 by the Catholic Diocese of Toledo. The
program served women with low incomes in Lucas County and
who needed to obtain their GEDs, Job Readiness Skills and
Empowerment Skills to better their lives. Due to lack of
funding the board voted to close the doors in May of 2012.
Many volunteers, donors such as and community partners
planted seeds of good faith for many women who came through
the doors. For they knew from Jeremiah 29:11 scripture
which says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward
you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give
you an expected end. Special thanks to Toledo Rotary
Club and UPS!
Many women benefited from the program receiving their GED,
Employment and Life Empowerment. From those seeds of Faith,
donor dollars and thousands of hours of volunteer, time many
women are blooming in life and I would like to share some of
their success stories with you. I am so proud of these
women!
Thank you to Bishop Duane
C. Tisdale and Friendship Baptist Church for embracing the
vision to help women and men achieve their GED. Thank you to
the many WBW volunteers who continued after the doors were
closed. With your sacrifice many of these ladies were able
to achieve their GED, continue their education and work in
their desired field. “It is amazing that many of these women
work in the medical field where they are caring for others.”
Sue Nowak and Kay
Shrewsbery, former WBW volunteers continue to volunteer at
Friendship Baptist Church with the GED Program. So if you
are interested in achieving your GED contact Friendship at
419—534-5437. Leave a message and someone will contact you.
If you have received your GED from WBW or Friendship New
Vision GED classes we would love to hear your success story!
Reconnect with us for
reunion activities and empowerment. Contact us on Facebook
“Empowered Women” (Friends of WBW & SOS). You may also
contact Glenda Gamble Brown
Tracey Graves Steele
attended Women Blessing Women on Page Street. After
participating in the Empowerment Workshops and GED Classes,
with determination Tracey received her GED in December 2011.
Tracey used to say in our empowerment classes that she
couldn't smile and didn't like to look in the mirror at
herself. Tracey learned how to smile and with empowerment
and confidence has accomplished many of her goals. She
obtained her driver's license and start driving.
Tracey became employed at Arista Home Healthcare. She is a
Home Health Aide. To my surprise Tracey ended up taking care
of my mother and this was a blessing for me for she is such
a caring person. Tracey has not stopped smiling!
April
Halterman, a single parent, attended Women Blessing Women on
Page Street and received her GED in November of 2010. April
participated in the program and continues to raise her
children.
Her
son has graduated from high school and her daughter will be
graduating soon.
With
confidence, she set goals and have achieved them for herself
and her family. April is current working and has within the
year obtained her driver's license and purchased a new car.
April keeps in touch with former WBW women and also attends
the WBW Reunion gatherings.
Keonna Hutcherson, a single parent, was working part-time
while attending Women Blessing Women for the GED program.
After WBW closed Keonna was determined and pursued taking
the GED on her own and passed in 2013.
Keonna is seen in her photo here at her daughter's
graduation. Both mother and daughter were pursuing their
careers in Nursing. Keonna attended Stautzenberger College,
where she graduated with a certification for a Practical
Nurse in December 2019..
2020 Update:
On April 10, 2020, Keonna took her State of Ohio Board of
Nursing and passed the first time! She is now a LPN
(Licensed Practical Nurse) and currently employed at Park
Terrace Nursing.
Nichelle Hutchen known as Nickie became a young mother twice
at a very early age and says of those difficulties: “While
in high school after having my second child and him becoming
very ill I ended up missing quite a bit of school. I ended
up dropping out with only a half of year from graduation.
After the death of my son of my son, I went to achieve my
GED. After completing the classes I acquired my STNA
certificate, and years of working in the nursing field. I
decided to attend Davis College for a year and a half only
to then find out that the GED was not real.
“I was very hurt
and confused. I thought all of my time and effort was lost.
I didn't do anything for years then I thought about getting
my GED again. I saw GED classes being offered in a community
newspaper for WBW. I hesitated at first but called and spoke
with Annette Reed. She answered my questions and reassured
me that WBW was a good program and legit.
“I started classes
in 2009 and received my GED in 2011. After I received my GED
I went back to WBW and volunteered and tried to help empower
current women striving to achieve their GED. I returned back
to Davis College to continue my education and graduated May
9, 2014. I was unable to walk for graduation due to the
death of my husband Minister Hutchen. I was truly blessed by
Women Blessing Women staff and classes.
“I currently am
employed at Mercy St. Vincent hospital as a medical
technician. I am also a member of Eastern Star Missionary
Baptist Church. Ms .Glenda also known as " Ms. G" She has
blessed and helped a lot of broken women”
Terryann Simpson
said: I attended WBW while I was working part-time at
McDonald's restaurant. I was a single parent but my goals
were high. After receiving my GED I began volunteering at
Sunset Nursing Home and later was employed. I attended
Chamberlain University where I received my Bachelor's Degree
in Nursing. I graduated Sigma Theta Tau International Honor
Society of Nursing in July 2010. I just accepted a new job
as a Clinical Manager.
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