Photo by Suzanne Rushton Photography

By Tayvie Van Eeuwen
@tayvieeee

The epidemic of poverty in the Lower Mainland is easy to see. While hot food programs, clothing pick-ups, and hygiene resources allow homeless communities to meet some of their basic needs, where does the work of empowering people into the workforce begin?

Bridging the gap is Dress for Success, a local organization that focuses on assisting marginalized women in Vancouver through various programs that help women enter the workforce and become gainfully employed.

Twenty years ago, Dress for Success opened its first affiliated branch in Vancouver, starting a global chain of independent organizations aimed at creating opportunities to inspire women into work. Since their opening, they have transformed from simply providing professional attire to a full-scale career resource– allocating women towards career programs and centres, leadership training, employment retention programs, as well as suiting women to make a stunning first impression at a potential workplace.

“Our vision of the world is where women have the independence to strengthen their families and communities and we know that economic empowerment is fundamental to strong economies,” says Amy Robichaud, Dress for Success’ new Executive Director and a philanthropic and nonprofit veteran.

“In 2018, we served just over 2200 women, but there’s the need to serve three times that amount. So my goal and how I came into this role is really with this mandate to grow our impact, both in terms of how many women we serve and how we are able to support the women we are already have.”

Since 1999, Dress for Success has helped upwards of 35,000 women in Vancouver. If you base this on the median income of women in the city, this creates an economic engine of $1 billion that has been placed back into the community and local women.

“If you think about it today, in Vancouver on average women still earn about $7,000 less than men per year,” explains Robichaud. “So if you extrapolate that over the next 20 years and assume we are going to serve another 35,000 women, that’s a quarter billion dollars of economic activity that is being lost due to gender inequality because we don’t have support for women’s economic empowerment.”

“Part of what we are doing is not just getting women into the jobs, but helping us close that gap through our career programs. It’s not just about the first paycheck, but the equality of those paychecks as well.”

To fund their incredible endeavours, the organization holds an annual fundraising event called IMPACT 360. This year, on May 8, Dress for Success is celebrating their 20th anniversary through a unique Roaring Twenties theme. The signature evening will combine live and silent auctions, delicious appetizers, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music, and a fashion show. Above all else, the fundraiser stems from a lively party that brings the community together “to do good and get good.”

“[Our 20th anniversary] is a real opportunity for us to reflect on our work over the next twenty years and how we can create full economic inclusion for all women in the Lower Mainland,” says Robichaud.

“Economically empowered women are fundamental to an inclusive and sustainable society,” continues Robichaud. “We need to be a bigger part of keeping that a reality going forward so that we can work towards greater economic change and growth, poverty reduction, security for women, and ultimately gender equality in our community and society.”

By coming to IMPACT 360, participants are contributing to Dress for Success’ goal of sponsoring 100 women in the coming year. To take women through the programs they provide, it’s about $1000 simply for the services, excluding the value of volunteer time. Adding these numbers together, Robichaud says they hope to raise the $100,000 necessary to continue this programming.

“Women’s economic empowerment helps everybody. By closing the gender gap economically, it is not just women who will benefit, it’s every last one of us. I can’t think of anything else that is of such undeniable good.”

IMPACT 360 will be held on Wednesday, May 8, at Regency Lexus, Vancouver. The event runs from 6:30 PM- 9:00 PM, including food, drinks, and entertainment. Tickets are $200 (including a tax receipt of $125) and can be found here.

A self-declared witch, Tayvie spends her time with all things magic. She loves a good sunset, iced coffee, and every known essential oil. Catch her chilling with her black-cat sidekick, Shadow, and hiding by the ocean. Look for her bold eyebrows and vintage style, and you’re bound to find her.