 | Community Family Life Services is delighted to present the latest edition of Community Conversations. Because of you, CFLS provides women and their families with the tools to regain security and stability, self-sufficiency, and self-actualization. Our e-newsletter features CFLS client success stories, staff spotlights, event information, and new engagement opportunities. We hope you and yours are staying safe and healthy. - Ashley McSwain, Executive Director | | | | | | | | Once Upon a Time:
A Spring Affair CFLS was delighted to attend the Once Upon a Time: Spring Affair Gala and Benefit Auction for the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC. | | | | | | Lili'luokalani Trust Visits CFLS CFLS was delighted to receive a visit by Lili'luokalani Trust, an organization that provides opportunities for Hawaiian children to realize their greatest potential—living healthy, joyful, and prosperous lives, while contributing positively to their families, communities, and the world. CFLS had the honor of connecting with Lili'luokalani Trust during the CFLS Speakers Bureau's recent participation in the 19th Annual Hawaii International Summit on Preventing, Assessing & Treating Trauma Across the Lifespan Trauma Informed Care from a Cultural Perspective. Thank you, Lili'luokalani Trust, for your support! | | | | | | | | We Got You Covered - June Events | | We hosted two events this month on June 7 and June 21, and both had awesome turnouts! We Got You Covered is a status neutral approach to HIV education, testing and treatment that emphasizes a continuum of care no matter if a woman is HIV negative or positive. This approach brings a woman’s health to the forefront and helps her take control while offering strategies to help her know her HIV status. This understanding ensures that she is covered and equipped with resources, tools, care, and information to support her through her journey. | | | | | | | | | | Diane at TEDx Pearl Street CFLS is delighted to share that our own Diane Carter was a featured speaker at @tedxpearlstreet 2022, the largest TEDx event for ideas worth spreading in the DC area, on June 9. This year’s theme was Mavericks & Moonshots, and Diane spoke about Gender Responsive Justice – One Woman at a Time! | |  | | CFLS Featured on FOX 5 DC On June 7, CFLS was featured on FOX 5 DC to highlight the MORE THAN Mother Conference! During the event, we delved into the challenges mothers face in accessing services and stabilizing their families amidst community violence, domestic abuse, incarceration, homelessness, mental illness, and substance use. | |  | | | | | | | | | More than Conference 2022 Our MORE THAN Mother Virtual Conference was presented by the CFLS Speakers Bureau. This 3-day event featured an amazing lineup of guest speakers, including Congresswoman Lauren Underwood; Tracey Helton Mitchell; and researchers from the University of Rochester, Vera Institute, Johns Hopkins University, and Temple University to explore the Intersectional Identities of Moms in Crisis. | |  | From June 7-9, we delved into the challenges mothers face in accessing services and stabilizing their families amidst community violence, domestic abuse, incarceration, homelessness, mental illness, and substance use. MORE THAN Mother is an ode to the power of women to navigate crises and become more than caregivers; they are leaders, innovators, healers, protectors, visionaries, and relentless fighters. | | | | Welcome Baskets from Break a Difference and JP Morgan Chase | | We are thrilled to share that we received a huge donation of Welcome Home Baskets from Break a Difference and JP Morgan Chase! Special thank you to, Bryan Weissbach, for making it possible. Each Welcome Home Basket consists of a 12 gallon flip-top storage bin packed with the following home essentials: Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Laundry Detergent, Clorox Wipes, Dustpan & Brush, Bath Towel, Hand Towel, Wash Cloth, Dish Soap, Sponge, and Handmade "no-sew" blanket. | | | | | | | | CFLS Featured at 2022 NOFSW Conference | | CFLS was thrilled to be featured at the 2022 National Organization of Forensic Social Work Conference. CFLS Executive Director Ashley McSwain and CFLS Speakers Bureau Member Charnal Chaney led the Opening Plenary, "Women’s Reentry and Healing Through Storytelling." | | | | | | The plenary offered examples of creative and innovative strategies to support the needs of women impacted by incarceration and trauma. There is a strong call for social workers to provide supports and service that demonstrate an understanding of the lived experience of the clients they serve. CFLS introduced how storytelling can be the vehicle for client change and a deeper understanding of the client choice. Becoming more conscious of ways of thinking and beliefs that influence choice-making is a crucial tool to effectively serving those most in need, especially those impacted by the criminal justice system. Thank you, NOFSW, for having CFLS! To learn more about the 2022 NOFSW Conference, please visit https://www.nofsw.org. | | | | | | Adjust Your Crown: Hair Care Drive and Symposium Huge thank you, to all staff, for their dedication and thoughtful consideration of the needs of our clients in putting this amazing event together. | | | | | | | | | | Entrepreneur Clients on Radio | | Clients of the CFLS Entrepreneurship Program were featured on the radio to talk about their business, how they got started, and how CFLS has been able to support them with the growth of their business. To listen, please visit https://www.empowerdc.org/taking_action. | | | | | | Women in Business Pop-Up On June 7, we celebrated and supported amazing female small business owners and artists. Check out more photos from the event in this Facebook album. Our Employment Program includes traditional supports and an entrepreneurial initiative to navigate the client’s path to traditional employment while exploring ways to identify supplemental income. Developing ways to earn supplementary income gives clients hope, purpose and most importantly money to address their day-to-day needs. | | | | | | | | | | FEATURED CFLS INITIATIVES | | | | | | | | | | | | Passport to Success A first of its kind, the Passport to Success App provides the ability for clients to securely store all personal information in one place. Clients who have chronic health challenges, experienced domestic violence, who are homeless, or who have been to jail or prison often do not have the current information that is required to facilitate their forward movement. By giving clients a tool that puts them in charge of their own data, they feel empowered, liberated, and have more control over their own life and their own choices. The Passport to Success App is designed for use by both clients and case managers. The app allows case managers to work in partnership with the clients as they fill out the passport and collect relevant information. The App is available on Google Play, App Store, and the web. For more information, please visit www.cflsdc.org/passport-to-success. | | | | | | | | | | Virtual Services Department CFLS has secured laptops, tablets, hot spots, and other technology to equip our clients with the necessary tools to participate in ongoing virtual programming. With this investment, we are able to expand our service offerings virtually on a permanent basis. The ultimate goal is to serve our clients just as we would in person. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | Thursday, September 22, 2022 | 6:30 PM EDT - 8:30 PM EDT
Busboys and Poets Brookland - Pearl Bailey Room Join us as we fundraise and premiere a documentary detailing the stories of three dynamic women from the CFLS community who have overcome the difficult challenges of experiencing HIV, incarceration, and homelessness. Through this documentary, we demonstrate how CFLS is dedicated to supporting the journey of women who have been incarcerated and its intersection of HIV/AIDS. Our goal is to eliminate the HIV/AIDS stigma while promoting prevention, awareness and health and wellness. Come hear how you can be part of the journey and support the women who inspire us all while learning of the impactful work of CFLS. | | | | | | READY TO GET INVOLVED WITH CFLS? | | | | Interested in working with us? We're expanding our team to better serve our community! CFLS is looking for candidates with a demonstrated passion to serve reentry and justice affected women. | | | | | | | | Follow Us on Social Media Together, we can do more to support justice-involved women in the District of Columbia. Whether you're interested in one of our open positions, volunteering with us or making a donation, we'd love to connect with you. Please don't forget to follow us on social media at @cflsdc. | | | | | | Support CFLS with AmazonSmile Every time you shop through AmazonSmile, 0.5% of your eligible purchases will be donated to CFLS. Simply select CFLS to receive donations from your eligible purchases before you begin shopping. | | | | | | | | Volunteer Opportunity CFLS continues to thrive and grow thanks to our vibrant and compassionate volunteer community. We invite you to consider this new opportunity to get involved as a Virtual Clothing Closet Coordinator! In this role you will: - Organize donations
- Take photographs
- Post online
- Prepare orders
- Manage pick up
To volunteer, please call us at 202-347-0511. | | | | | | Thank you for your continued support, it makes a tremendous difference in the lives of women, children, and families.
Thank you for being a part of the CFLS family and for taking the time to read our e-newsletter. | | | |  | | | | | Community Family Life Services
305 E Street NW | Washington, District of Columbia 20001
202-347-0511 | ecalloway@cflsdc.org | | | | | | | | | |
