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Esperanza Threads
United States
Esperanza Threads
Project Coordinator:
Sister Mary Eileen Boyle
Project Overview:
Esperanza Threads (Bedford, OH, USA) is an organic clothing cooperative composed of low-income women in the Cleveland metropolitan area where unemployment is high and opportunities are scarce. At the site in Bedford, the women take orders for the clothes they design and make clothing according to contracts. In addition to their work, the project runs the Budding Sewing Entrepreneur Program in the Northeast Women’s Pre-Release Center (a minimum security prison in Northeast Ohio). The program offers a sewing class to women at the Center with hopes of hiring some of the women to work with Esperanza Threads after they have been released.
Recent Accomplishments:
Managing to undertake a number of contracts using assembly line sewing Beginning to employ on-the-job training
Number of People Directly Served by Project:
In 2007, 8 women participated in the Budding Sewing Entrepreneur Program and 4 women participated in on-the-job training at Esperanza Threads manufacturing organic clothing
Number of People Indirectly Served by Project:
23 children and spouses of the women at Esperanza Threads
Goals for 2010:
To enroll women in job readiness courses before starting on-the-job training at Esperanza Threads
To increase the amount of contract work
IPM Funding Goal for 2010:
$2,500
Community Impact:
Before working at Esperanza Threads, Sheila spent many years in prison. Fortunately, she was able to participate in the Budding Sewing Entrepreneur Program while she was there. In 2007, she was released and two months later started working with Esperanza Threads. Since then she has been successful in her job, bought a car, and got married. She is very proud of all she has accomplished since she has been released and is grateful that Esperanza Threads gave her the job opportunity and support to help her achieve her accomplishments.
How your donation may be put to use:
$250 provides a sewing machine and supplies for the project
$260 provides clothing tags and equipment for the Budding Sewing Entrepreneurs program, which helps low-income women develop skills for clothing production and small business management