During the holiday season especially, individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty are typically highlighted as those needing support.We would like to shine a light on a group of formerly homeless women who are giving support…

Inspired by a letter from a resident in Jubilee Women’s Center’s program (see photos), executive director Cheryl Sesnon this year proposed a different approach to the usual practical gift from Jubilee’s board of directors to each of the 43 residents. With the help of Scott Smalling, a Jubilee donor and owner of Relief Bed, Cheryl purchased a relief kit (including sleeping pad, hat, gloves, personal hygiene items, first aid kit, rain poncho, and emergency blanket) for each resident at a significant discount. Jubilee board members and community partner Caffe Vita covered the cost.

This week the women at Jubilee are giving away their gifts. They will spend time personalizing each kit with items they know from firsthand experience will provide comfort for someone else experiencing homelessness this holiday season—things like a gift card, a personal note, and comfort items they wish they’d had when experiencing homelessness. In return, like Julie shares in her letter, the women of Jubilee receive the joy of knowing they have helped someone in need more than themselves at the holidays.

Jubilee Executive Director Cheryl Sesnon was presented with a special award from US Senator Patty Murray during a Democratic fundraising event in Seattle on Monday. In front of an audience of 1200+ at the Washington State Convention Center, Cheryl and two other community leaders were recognized with Senator Murray’s “Golden Tennis Shoe” Award, which celebrates people who’ve accomplished something extraordinary in service of others. Cheryl described the day as upbeat and inspiring, including an opportunity to visit privately with the Vice President, Senator and other elected officials in a post-event reception.

Seattle University has honored Cheryl Sesnon, executive director of Jubilee Women’s Center, with the 2016 Community Service Alumni Award. This award recognizes Cheryl’s contributions to the Seattle community along with her work and leadership in the nonprofit sector. Cheryl will formally receive the award at Seattle University’s 31st Annual Alumni Awards ceremony on April 29.

Read the full story on the Seattle University website at https://www.seattleu.edu/alumni/community/Community-Service-2016/.

For residents at Jubilee Women’s Center who are healing from crisis and trauma, the holidays often stir up pain. Please help us keep the season bright for the women who live in our Capitol Hill residences.

We invite you to share your holiday spirit with a gift to a woman at Jubilee. Your gift makes this challenging holiday season a little more joyful by giving her a treat to open and, even more meaningful, sending a message that others care about her.

You may purchase an item from her wish list, host a drive at work or among friends to collect several items, or choose one of these always-appreciated gifts:

– Grocery gift cards (Safeway, QFC, Trader Joes, PCC, Whole Foods)
– Drug store gift cards (Walgreens, Rite Aid, Bartell)
– Amazon gift cards
– Coffee shop gift cards (Tully’s, Fuel, Cafe Ladro, Victrola, Starbucks)
– Tickets and passes to plays, concerts, movies and sporting events

For more information and wish list details, email Angie at [email protected] or call 206-442-2951. Please bring your gift to Jubilee Women’s Center at 620 18th Avenue East by December 18.

About Jubilee Women’s Center

Since 1983, Jubilee Women’s Center has supported women as they heal and transition out of poverty and homelessness. Jubilee’s three community-living residences, located in Capitol Hill and the University District, provide a safe, affordable and dignified environment for about 60 women each year. Guided by a care manager, each Jubilee resident sets goals for growth and development and works to address the complex issues that caused her homelessness.

Jubilee is also a critical resource for 1,500 non-resident women each year, providing job readiness and financial management classes, technology and life skills training, an open computer lab, customized referral services, and a free clothing boutique to any low-income woman in need. Learn more about Jubilee at jwcenter.org.

Jubilee Women’s Center supports women experiencing poverty to build stable and fulfilling futures, one extraordinary woman at a time. Led by the guiding principle that all women are to be treated with respect and dignity, Jubilee’s programs and services help women make positive, permanent life changes.

Tucked away in a residential area in Capitol Hill, Jubilee quietly helps formerly homeless women in the community with affordable housing, education and support services so they can heal and move from crisis to independence.

Volunteers are a highly valued part of the Jubilee community of support, making a significant impact on the lives of the 42 Jubilee residents and more than 1300 other low-income women in the Seattle area who rely on Jubilee for free clothing, computer access, classes and referrals.

It’s easy to volunteer for a single project or an ongoing role. Jubilee welcomes individuals, work teams, faith communities, civic groups, professional associations, social clubs, family, friends and so on. Here are some ways to get involved:

• Plan and prepare a meal for residents
• Donate women’s clothing for the free boutique
• Coordinate a drive for most needed items
• Host a holiday Giving Tree
• Staff the reception desk
• Sort clothing and assist in the boutique
• Help with a fundraising event
• Tend the garden or mow the lawn
• Share graphic design or photography expertise

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Jubilee Women’s Center, visit http://www.jwcenter.org/get-involved/volunteer/, email [email protected] or call 206-957-5512.

One of our nonprofit partners is quietly making a big difference for the women we serve at Jubilee Women’s Center–and we’d like to shine a spotlight on them.

Les Dames d’ Escoffier Seattle Chapter is a nonprofit invitational organization of women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality, including chefs, winemakers, cookbook authors, caterers, restaurateurs, chocolatiers, food photographers and consultants. The organization’s mission is focused on education and philanthropy, and Jubilee Women’s Center is one very grateful beneficiary of their community outreach efforts, including a recent cooking class for residents hosted by JoAnne Naganawa, owner of Kitchen Resources food consulting.

During the past four years, a number of Les Dames have volunteered at Jubilee preparing meals for the residents, teaching cooking classes, supporting fundraising events, contributing clothing to Jubilee’s free boutique, and lending financial support. Most noteworthy is that these accomplished women—busy, successful restaurant owners, entrepreneurs and executives—make the time to give back to other women in the community.

Here are some of the local Les Dames who have supported Jubilee:
Breanna Beike, chef at Seattle Yacht Club
Bridget Charters, instructor at Art Institute of Seattle
Maria Coassin, owner of Gelatiamo
Lisa Dupar, author and owner of Dupar & Company and Pomegranate Bistro
Beverly Gruber, owner of Gourmet Travel Culinary Tours
Molly Hancock, vice president of programs at FareStart (also a Jubilee board member)
Leslie Mackie, partner at Macrina Bakery and Café
Sue McCown, product development manager at Seattle’s Best Coffee
JoAnne Naganawa, owner of Kitchen Resources
Thoa Nguyen, owner of Chinoise Café and Waba Sabi

Our sincere appreciation to Les Dames for all they do in the community and, especially, for supporting and inspiring the women of Jubilee!

About Jubilee Women’s Center
Since 1983, Jubilee Women’s Center has supported women as they heal and transition out of poverty and homelessness. Jubilee’s three community-living residences, located in Capitol Hill and the University District, provide a safe, affordable and dignified environment for 42 women. Guided by a care manager, each Jubilee resident sets goals for growth and development and works to address the complex issues that caused their homelessness. Jubilee is also a critical resource for more than 1,300 non-resident women each year, providing job readiness and financial management classes, technology and life skills training, an open computer lab, customized referral services, and a free clothing boutique to any low-income woman in need. For more information about Jubilee Women’s Center, please visit jwcenter.org.

Jubilee Women’s Center provides safe and affordable housing and supportive care for women in transition out of poverty and into self-sufficiency. This time of year offers an opportunity for the Jubilee staff and greater Capitol Hill community to bring the warmth and spirit of the holidays to the women of Jubilee.

Much gratitude to the local businesses, faith communities, school groups and individuals who support the Jubilee residents each year with Christmas gifts, trees, meals and most important, the knowledge that they are surrounded by people who believe in them and support them.

Jubilee still has some resident wishlists to fulfill, as well as a need for bus passes and gift cards for grocery and drug stores. If you can help with a donation of any of these items, please contact Angie at [email protected] or 206-442-2951 by December 17. Happy holidays!

Jubilee Women’s Center, which provides community housing and support services for single homeless and low-income women, has taken its place among the local nonprofit stars as part of the STars on Broadway project, a joint effort of Sound Transit and the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce.

Now in its fifth and final year, the STars on Broadway project “celebrates nonprofits on Capitol Hill that make life brighter for everyone,” according to Sound Transit. Each featured nonprofit is recognized with a 4×4 foot star designed by a local artist and hung on the red construction wall surrounding the future sight of Sound Transit’s Capitol Hill light rail station at the corner of East John and Broadway. A lighting ceremony December 5 marked the debut of the 2014 honorees, along with all of the previous years’ recipients. The stars will remain lit throughout the winter.

Here are the 2014 nonprofit STars on Broadway and their artists:
Jubilee Women’s Center
Rebuilding lives, one extraordinary woman at a time
Artist: Keely Dolan

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Promulgating universal joy and expiation of stigmatic guilt
Artist: Clyde Peterson

Artist Trust
Supporting WA State artists creating in all disciplines
Artist: Evan Blackwell

Hugo House
A place for writers – to read words, hear words and make your own words better
Artist: Vis-a-Vis Society

Seattle Area Support Groups
Promoting well-being through peer support
Artist: Ken Turner

Learn more about Jubilee Women’s Center at jwcenter.org or the Sound Transit Capitol Hill wall project at STartwallproject.blogspot.com.

SEATTLE —  Jubilee Women’s Center and the Sisters of Providence today announced that Jubilee, which provides community housing and support services for 33 single homeless and low-income women, will assume ownership of Sojourner Place, a 10-bed residence and transitional living program founded by the Sisters of Providence for single women and pregnant women who are homeless.

The Sisters of Providence will officially gift the Sojourner Place University District premises and program to Jubilee Women’s Center on October 25, 2014. Sojourner Place will retain its name, but will become part of Jubilee Women’s Center, which operates two residences in north Capitol Hill that last year housed and supported a total of 53 women, and served nearly 1300 others with referral services, educational programs, a computer lab and a free clothing boutique.

“We are pleased to welcome Sojourner Place to the Jubilee Women’s Center community as part of a long-term strategy to help more low-income women access housing and support services,” said Cheryl Sesnon, executive director of Jubilee Women’s Center. “The partnership unites two organizations already aligned in mission, values and programs, offering a combination of holistic support services and community-oriented residences that fills a critical need in Seattle.”

“The partnership also creates synergies that allow us to reduce operational costs so we can direct more resources to expanding and deepening services to the growing number of women experiencing homelessness and poverty in the Seattle area,” said Sesnon.

In 2013 the Sisters of Providence and the Providence Pariseau board of directors—the sponsors of Sojourner Place—began their search for a partner who could continue the Sojourner Place ministry and approached Jubilee Women’s Center. Over several months they constructed an agreement that would preserve Sojourner’s housing and support services for low-income women and allow the Sisters of Providence to transition their ministry to an organization  positioned for growth.

“The Sisters of Providence are excited to find an excellent partner in Jubilee Women’s Center,” said Judith Desmarais, SP, Provincial Superior, Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Province. “We feel strongly that the Jubilee Women’s Center’s board of directors and its executive director Cheryl Sesnon will provide the thoughtful leadership to make this collaboration a success—ensuring that this beloved ministry of the Sisters of Providence will continue to benefit homeless women in the Seattle area for years to come.”

Some Providence Pariseau board members, who oversaw Sojourner Place, and at least one Sister of Providence will become part of Jubilee Women’s Center board of directors, and others will provide volunteer services.

Sesnon will make the first general public announcement about Sojourner Place at Jubilee Women’s Center’s 17^th Annual Benefit Breakfast on October 2 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.

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About Jubilee Women’s Center
Since 1983, Jubilee Women’s Center has provided safe, affordable and supportive community housing in Seattle. The mission of Jubilee is to support women experiencing poverty to build stable and ful­filling futures, one extraordinary woman at a time. Led by the guiding principle that all women deserve respect and dignity, Jubilee’s programs and services help women transition from trauma and economic crisis to independent living. Last year 53 women received housing and one-on-one support to help them rebuild their lives. In addition, Jubilee served nearly 1,300 low-income women with technology training, life skills and job readiness classes, individualized community referrals, an open computer lab, and a free clothing boutique. For more information about Jubilee Women’s Center, please visit jwcenter.org.

About Sisters of Providence
Sisters of Providence are Catholic women religious who respond to the needs of the poor and vulnerable through education, parish ministry, health care, community service and support, housing, prison ministry, pastoral care, spiritual direction and retreats, and foreign missions. Mother Joseph Province encompasses Alaska, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Washington, El Salvador and the Philippines.  For more information, please visit the Sisters of Providence website, sistersofprovidence.net.

About Sojourner Place
Sojourner Place was founded in 1987 as a ministry of the Sisters of Providence to provide transitional housing and programs to Seattle-area women in poverty, including homeless pregnant women. The 10-bed residence, located in the University District, is named for Sojourner Truth, a prominent and powerful speaker in women’s rights and the movement to abolish slavery in the mid-1800s. Sojourner Place served 44 women and nine children in 2012 and 26 women and six children in 2013. In addition to housing and food, these women were offered comprehensive assistance and access to resources, including care management, advocacy and referral services, life skills/parenting classes like money management, counseling, and reunification efforts for mothers with children in foster care. Sojourner Place also provides continuing support to its alumnae.