Women Helping Women

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

One of the eight foundational pillars of The Country Club of Virginia’s Strategic Plan is Community Engagement. Our Club has had a number of long-standing relationships in the community, but we wanted to find powerful ways to connect individual departments to the Greater Richmond community.

The Membership, Communications, and Strategic Initiatives Department is an all-female team that sought out a way to give back to local women in need. We drew upon our talents and career-based skill sets to lead a resume building class at The Healing Place for Women at The CARITAS Center. The Healing Place is a long-term peer-driven residential recovery program serving the Greater Richmond community where women suffering from substance use disorders carve pathways to sobriety, employment, and spiritual wellness.

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

The women at The Healing Place were at varied stages of their recovery, so we created four stations to help with their resume building and job search. The stations offered were:

• Building a Resume
• Searching for a Job
• Applying to a Job
• Interview Tips & Tricks

In addition to the activity stations, CCV donated warm meals and desserts to all participants. A sign-up sheet allowed us to follow-up with the attendees and provide copies of any materials that were handed out during the session. By the end of the engagement, most attendees had enhanced resumes and identified jobs they were planning to apply to.