2015 Grant Impact Results Show Improvements for Women and Girls

In collaboration with Gateway Community College, grantee Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF) hosted a "Girls & STEM Expo" to encourage the recruitment, retention and achievement of girls in STEM.

Recent reports from the Community Fund for Women & Girls 2015 grantees indicated successful outcomes within enhanced quality programs addressing the unique needs and challenges experience by women and girls in the Greater New Haven region.

"The Community Fund for Women & Girls uses a results-based approach centered around increasing skills and knowledge, changing attitude and behaviors and, ultimately, changing the circumstances of women and girls' lives so that greater equity in social and economic outcomes is a reality," explains Fund Chair Susan Garcia Nofi.

Supported programs for girls and young women included computer coding basics, college prep, mentoring and personal development. Participants across all programs reported an increase in knowledge, improved or newly required skills and greater confidence to forge healthy lives and secure successful futures. Nearly 100 percent of participants in each program reported an overall positive impact on their lives.

For example, 100 percent of girls who participated in the Boys & Girls Club of New Haven's Project ASCEND mentoring program, in partnership with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, felt they had a better understanding of how to prepare for and apply to college. One hundred percent of participants surveyed also felt they had improved their leadership skills.

Participants in supported programs serving women — improving immigrant women's language skills and providing support and knowledge to young expectant mothers — reported increased knowledge and skills as well as a sense of empowerment navigating their circumstances. In particular, immigrant participants in Literacy Volunteers of Southern CT's language classes spoke of achieving personal goals, such as obtaining US citizenship, securing employment, enrolling in college or starting a business.

Overall, grantees reported positive outcomes in their goals of improving the physical, social and emotional well-being of girls and young women, and many reported improving education and/or career prospects of participants. The Community Fund for Women & Girls has awarded more than $1 Million to more than 200 programs since its establishment in 1995.