Daughters of Wisdom, USA Province

The Daughters of Wisdom grant to The Opening Word has allowed the program to sustain teachers and integrate the career development curriculum into daily instruction. This program supports women in developing skills needed for the workforce, including mathematics, computer, communications, customer service and more. Students work with their classroom teacher, and the student to teacher ratio is low – 8:1.

The grant has also allowed for expanded hours for the program’s Case Manager, who meets individually and in small groups with students each week, providing much needed information related to health, financial literacy and social-emotional wellness. The Case Manager makes referrals to local organizations as needed, and brings professionals to Opening Word to facilitate workshops on topics related to wellness. The first workshop to be held this school year will inform women about early detection of breast cancer as well as provide facts related to the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines.

“The support from the Daughters of Wisdom has allowed us to keep two very integral parts of our program intact despite the financial effects of the pandemic: the career development program and the individualized Case Management support,” said Gillian Kessinger, Executive Director of The Opening Word.

The Opening Word is a literacy, ESOL, and job readiness program; the purpose of which is to unlock the language ability of adult participants, providing them with a key to future personal empowerment, increased civic and social responsibility and enhanced skills for membership in the workforce. The program is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville.

Daughters of Wisdom Award $5,000 to The Opening Word