Since the day we opened our doors in 1974, Rosie’s Place has been committed to women’s empowerment. The Self-Advocacy Initiative is our program dedicated to that commitment. Self-Advocacy is designed to help our guests develop problem-solving skills and confidence through workshops, advocacy, peer groups and education.
We operate under the belief that poor and homeless women can be each other’s own best advocates, if they are given the resources to make progress on their goals, plus the support to take calculated risks. With our work, women from all walks of life have become more skilled self-advocates. One way we do this is by providing various avenues for Rosie’s Place guests to provide feedback on our services and policies. Encouraging a guest to speak up at Rosie’s Place is just a small step towards reclaiming her voice in the larger community.
The goal of this initiative is to better equip and empower our guests to handle conversations and challenges with utility companies, teachers, doctors, banks and the court system. By creating new programming and by collaborating with existing organizations in the Boston area, Self-Advocacy is seeking to provide opportunities to boost self-esteem, increase knowledge of resources and foster community among poor and homeless women. Self-Advocacy includes initiatives such as a guest-led computer and iPad lab, self-defense classes, and the STEPS program. STEPS (Striving Together for Empowerment and Personal Success) is an opportunity for women to create personal goals, record their progress, attend monthly meetings with their group, and receive rewards for goals met. Rosie’s Place hopes that all of these programs deepen a sense of individual self-confidence in our guests while simultaneously strengthening and developing community.
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