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Dress for Success Western Massachusetts opens new career center in downtown Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Dress for Success Western Massachusetts is celebrating 25 years of business in 2025, and they celebrated by cutting the ceremonial ribbon at their new career center. “That outfit started my career,” said Eliana Gutierrez. One outfit and one person at a time. Dress for Success Western Massachusetts has opened a new women’s career center in downtown Springfield, and the women in attendance were walking examples of the positive work they have done over the last 25 years. Gutierrez is now a legislative aide for State Representative Carlos Gonzalez, but at the ribbon cutting today, she shared...

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Mayor Sarno, city and state officials join Dress for Success Western Massachusetts for ribbon cutting celebration at new Downtown Career Center

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and city and state officials joined with Dress for Success Western Massachusetts (DFSWM) on Wednesday morning for a special ribbon cutting celebration at DFSWM’s new Career Center located at 45 Lyman Street in Springfield. Mayor Sarno was honored to join Dress for Success Western Massachusetts Executive Director Jess Roncarati-Howe, DFSWM Board President Tracy Friedenberg, O’Dell Womens Center Director Margaret Tantillo, and founder of the Western Massachusetts Dress for Success organization Doreen Fadus to celebrate this exciting milestone for DFSWM as they continue to enhance their services to empower women in our community. State Representatives Carlos Gonzalez,...

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O’Dell Women’s Center presents $250K to eight non-profits serving low-income women from Springfield

We at Dress for Success Western MA want to express our deepest gratitude to the O’Dell Women’s Center for their generous support! Your grant helps us empower women in our community, giving them the tools they need to achieve financial independence and success. We are honored to be recognized alongside such incredible organizations—Girls Inc. of the Valley, United Way of Pioneer Valley, South End Community Center, The Gray House, Inc., HCS Head Start, Hope for Youth and Families, and Parent Villages—all working hard to create positive change in our community. We are truly grateful for your generosity and for helping...

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Dress for Success Western Massachusetts to Open New Women’s Career Center

By BusinessWest Staff January 9, 2025 SPRINGFIELD — Dress for Success Western Massachusetts (DFSWM) is celebrating the opening of its new Women’s Career Center and the completion of its newly constructed office spaces, program areas, and boutique at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to be held on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. at 45 Lyman St., Springfield. The ceremony will mark a significant milestone in the organization’s 25 years of carrying out its mission to empower women and non-binary people to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools they need to thrive in...

Participant and Volunteer Highlights

January 2025 – Susan Megas

Meet Susan Megas – Lifelong Nurse, Mentor & Advocate for Women’s Empowerment Born and raised in New Jersey, Susan dedicated 49 years to a career in nursing. She began at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. For her final 28 years, she worked at Baystate Medical Center, where she led an interdisciplinary evaluation program. This program focused on older adults with memory loss and cognitive changes. “I love helping people, have a problem-solving attitude, and embrace diverse cultures. I respect the differences and perspectives and seek common ground as a means to connect. And I believe that age is mind over...

Participant and Volunteer Highlights

December 2024- Alyn Caley

  Alyn Caley is a Transformation Facilitator and Somatic Inner Healing Guide, Self Love Trailblazer, Mama, and Founder of The Wellspring Wellness Co., a holistic wellness company that mentors women into freedom from trauma so they can increase their impact and influence in this world. Through her own journey of addiction, a 15-year battle with anorexia, and as a survivor of sexual abuse, she has made it her soul’s mission here on Earth to empower women to heal their most painful wounds, so they can activate their confidence, awaken their most powerful gifts, and thrive in a life fueled by...

Participant and Volunteer Highlights

December 2024 – Iris Rivera

  Born in Kentucky on an Army Base and raised in Holyoke, Iris Rivera has lived in Springfield for 19 years. She loves to crochet, design and create clothing, and sing in her spare time. Currently, she is a Property Manager responsible for maintaining twelve properties. Through her experience with Dress for Success of Western Mass, she decided to pursue a training program to become a Line Cook.   Iris has always considered herself a go-getter, striving to learn new things and grow. Iris shared that “the sky is the limit, leaving nothing but the opportunity to gain important values...

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Join the Dress for Success Wester MA 25th Anniversary Club!⭐

    Thanks to supporters like you, Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts serves hundreds of women and non-binary people in Western Mass every year. Your support and belief in our cause keeps us going strong. 25 years strong, to be precise!   In honor of our 25th Anniversary, we’re launching a new peer-to-peer campaign to raise $25,000 to help fund our continuum of workforce readiness programming. We would love it if you could participate.   Will you join the DFSWM 25th Anniversary Club?   Our goal is to recruit at least 25 of supporters to collect donations of $25 or more...