Women’s Center of Jacksonville plans expansion as demand for services grow

Uh, let's talk about what you're doing now and how the, the Women's Center of Jacksonville is, is doing that for other people.

I, I mentioned it at the start of our conversation that, uh, you've already secured a state, uh, appropriation and a $500,000 matching gift.

What are those early wins? I mean, it's five months in as being CEO.

What do those early wins tell you about the support here in Northeast Florida for the Women's Center of Jacksonville, and about the, the needs that you're seeing across our region?

Sure.

It is such a beautiful thing to come into this organization, so, um, state...

It's state-of-the-art, best-in-class work that's happening.

As a matter of fact, you know, these, uh, this type of work happens across the state, right? We service four counties, but there are organizations that provide this in all corners of our state, and a lot of, um, what they're using is based off of some of the stuff that has been developed in our organization, the way that we, um, do forensic exams, the way that we do- nurses do our charting.

You know, uh, all of that work is an example for really great and important and sophisticated work, um, in our, not just our community, but across the state.

So I, uh, people...

This organization was founded 30 years ago, um, uh, with a group of volunteers creating, uh, supports and resources for women who need it.

And what...

Shirley Webb, one of our founders, who also supported, you know, the growth of Hubbard House.

And so it's got this really strong foundation that I think people see and are wanting to latch on to supporting this really beautiful, important work.

So I think to the note of the resources coming in, it's, um, when you see it, you immediately, there's no way that you can't support it.

It's really, really important and special work.

The need also, um, I actually was just reflecting with the team over the last few weeks.

There is incredibly high demand for this need, uh, both in our, in all areas of our work, our counseling, our community education, our rape recovery work.

We have wait lists.

Um, we are really, uh, we're needing more support to be able to provide more support in our community for folks who need it.

Uh, we have companies that reach out to us, which we'll probably talk about this later, um, wanting trainings, you know, for their teams that we can provide.

Um, we have folks who are reaching out often wanting and needing the mental health counseling supports that, um, we're having a hard time keeping up with.

Mm.

So the early wins of these resources are really gonna help set us up for the demand that's happening right now and the growth, uh-

Mm-hmm

Uh, let's talk about what you're doing now and how the, the Women's Center of Jacksonville is, is doing that for other people.

I, I mentioned it at the start of our conversation that, uh, you've already secured a state, uh, appropriation and a $500,000 matching gift.

What are those early wins? I mean, it's five months in as being CEO.

What do those early wins tell you about the support here in Northeast Florida for the Women's Center of Jacksonville, and about the, the needs that you're seeing across our region?

Sure.

It is such a beautiful thing to come into this organization, so, um, state...

It's state-of-the-art, best-in-class work that's happening.

As a matter of fact, you know, these, uh, this type of work happens across the state, right? We service four counties, but there are organizations that provide this in all corners of our state, and a lot of, um, what they're using is based off of some of the stuff that has been developed in our organization, the way that we, um, do forensic exams, the way that we do- nurses do our charting.

You know, uh, all of that work is an example for really great and important and sophisticated work, um, in our, not just our community, but across the state.

So I, uh, people...

This organization was founded 30 years ago, um, uh, with a group of volunteers creating, uh, supports and resources for women who need it.

And what...

Shirley Webb, one of our founders, who also supported, you know, the growth of Hubbard House.

And so it's got this really strong foundation that I think people see and are wanting to latch on to supporting this really beautiful, important work.

So I think to the note of the resources coming in, it's, um, when you see it, you immediately, there's no way that you can't support it.

It's really, really important and special work.

The need also, um, I actually was just reflecting with the team over the last few weeks.

There is incredibly high demand for this need, uh, both in our, in all areas of our work, our counseling, our community education, our rape recovery work.

We have wait lists.

Um, we are really, uh, we're needing more support to be able to provide more support in our community for folks who need it.

Uh, we have companies that reach out to us, which we'll probably talk about this later, um, wanting trainings, you know, for their teams that we can provide.

Um, we have folks who are reaching out often wanting and needing the mental health counseling supports that, um, we're having a hard time keeping up with.

Mm.

So the early wins of these resources are really gonna help set us up for the demand that's happening right now and the growth, uh-

Mm-hmm