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CIRV program aims to empower women
YOUNGSTOWN
Leaders from the community are working together to crack down on violence against women in the area.
The Community Initiative to Reduce Violence, in partnership with several community agencies, announced a Women of Worth Conference and Academy at the city council chambers Thursday.
Partner agencies selected 50 women identified as being at high risk for a weekend conference Nov. 14-15 at Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center, 14755 Cadiz Road, near Cambridge.
The women will be provided with information and resources to make better choices for themselves and their families.
The academy portion will include monthly events to further educate women on life skills and on prevention, and will conclude with a graduation ceremony.
“The Women of Worth program is a proactive approach to eradicating female violence in our community,” said Guy Burney, the coordinator of CIRV.
Mayor John A. McNally said the program will help enable women by providing them with opportunities.
Burney said the conference will focus on three things: education, values and health and fitness.
Partner agencies are Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing our Neighborhoods, Beatitude House, Heart Reach, Home for Good, Life Skills, Queen for a Day, Sojourner House, Victory Assembly Liberty Campus, Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority and the YWCA of Youngstown.
“It’s going to give them more community engagement,” said Dollaine Holmes, a family self-sufficiency specialist for the YMHA.
Holmes added that providing resources will help empower women and reduce crime in the area.
Additionally, Burney said the program will cost, at most, $7,000 that will be covered by grant funding along with assistance from the agencies.