Offering Women Better Employment Options

Yesterday, the Grace Institute, an organization dedicated to providing tuition-free job-training programs to underserved women, held its first Bronx info session. After years of holding info sessions at its Manhattan headquarters, the institute visited Refuge House in North Fordham to promote its upcoming daytime training program.

The program starts in February and runs for four and a half months, Monday through Friday, and offers classes on computer software, office procedures, business writing and math. At the completion of the training course, graduates receive a certificate, as well as job placement assistance.

Staying committed to its 100 year-old mission, Grace Institute aims to provide women with skills that set them apart from other job candidates. After graduating from the program, women who were previously stuck in minimum wage jobs often find positions that lead to more fulfilling careers.

The Norwood News was at the institute’s recruiting kick-off yesterday, which was held in a classroom on the second floor of Refuge House. The event was hosted by Mary Mulvihill, Executive Director; Michelle McEvoy, Admissions Manager; and Irlem Adames, a 2004 Grace Institute graduate. Mulvihill hopes to generate excitement within the community, and she encourages any woman who is currently unemployed to stop by Refuge House and learn about the program.

To qualify for Grace Institute training programs, candidates must: 1) have a GED or high school diploma, 2) be able to legally work in the U.S., and 3) be fluent in English. The institute is holding information sessions in January, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 11 to 2 p.m., at Refuge House, 2715 Bainbridge Ave., 2nd floor. For more information, call the Grace Institute at (212) 500-5953.