Alia was introduced to the Women Rising program this past August, after searching for not only specific services at Fortune, but a program that would connect her with a strong community and women role models.

The Women Rising program offers unique support for women in the Fortune community, including family, employment and behavioral health services. Women in the program also have access to the JoAnne Page Women’s Lounge, a safe space for women to gather with comfortable seating and books from the Liberation Library. Alia and other women in the community find solace in having a private space to relax. 

The Women Rising program introduced Alia to a strong network of women. Upon starting the program, she found a sisterhood that welcomed her and extended kindness and support. The instructors encouraged Alia to challenge her thinking and acted as a resource by offering guidance and one-on-one assistance when needed. 

“They make every participant feel heard and important and that is the biggest thing to take away from this. They really are concerned about you, and they want to see you win.”  

Going into the program, Alia’s main goal was to find employment. She wanted a refresher on how to conduct herself professionally and how to answer questions in an interview about her justice history. Her instructors brought in a representative from Human Resources at Fortune to teach women in the program how to best navigate these difficult interview questions. 

After completing the Women Rising program, Alia was hired full-time at Fortune. She now works in the Benefits Access department, and she proudly cites the skills she learned in the program as tools she uses almost daily. 

“The course taught me a lot about de-escalation and emotional regulation. Things like learning to ground myself by counting to ten. It was good because you don’t realize how necessary those tactics are until you find yourself in a situation where it is needed. I can look back and think that what they taught me made sense, and I know how to utilize them.”

The two-week program enhances skills for employment, while also providing tools to empower women in their daily lives. This includes assistance with family reunification, legal rights and financial responsibilities, mental health and more. 

The Women Rising program utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI) as a method to help women in the program better understand their feelings and behaviors. They learned grounding techniques and breathing exercises to help regulate emotions during challenging situations.