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 work and life.
The event will feature remarks from Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, DFSWM Executive Director Jess Roncarati-Howe, and the president of the organization’s board of directors, Tracy Friedenberg. Other dignitaries, including state legislators and Springfield city councilors, will be present for the celebration. Attendees can tour the new facilities and learn about the transformative programs and services offered by Dress for Success Western Massachusetts.
“We are beyond excited to unveil this new space that will serve as a hub of empowerment and opportunity for the women and non-binary people in our community,” Roncarati-Howe said. “It is so important to us that we create an environment where our participants feel safe, seen, and understood. We built out this space with them in mind.”
The new Women’s Career Center will make DFSWM’s workforce-development programming available to hundreds more individuals each year, both on a drop-in basis and through regularly scheduled workshops. Through the center, clients can receive assistance with résumé creation, job searching, career coaching, digital and financial literacy, and more.
Drop-in hours for the center will be Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with some evening hours to be determined and occasional weekend hours by appointment. Information on drop-in hours and upcoming workshops can be found at dfswm.org/career-center.
“This expansion reflects our commitment to creating a space where women and non-binary people can gain the confidence and resources necessary to find themselves on a path to economic stability,” said Takisha Mims, DFSWM’s impact manager, who is spearheading the Women’s Career Center initiative.