Brotherly Love: Putting Women On A Pathway To Independence
By Ukee Washington
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Domestic violence can steal a victim's confidence and trust, and make them feel like they won't ever succeed. But they can. In this week's story of Brotherly Love, a non-profit is coaching women to be entrepreneurs.
Natalie Phillips is on the job and living her dream. She says her God-given gift is cleaning.
"I love to clean. I love it," she said.
Natalie, who studied finance at Temple, started Paradise Cleaning 10 years ago. But she says she nearly gave up, suffering not only from the recession but the pain of an abusive relationship.
"It made me lose myself," she said. "I was literally lost, like lost."
"The one thing that domestic violence does is it kind of leaves a scar and makes you feel that you can't," said Malyka Sankofa, director of women and youth programs at the Enterprise Center.
Malyka oversees Pathways to Independence. It's business coaching for domestic violence victims, a free 8-week program. It gave Natalie the lift she needed.
"Part of what the program does, in addition to helping them develop a business plan and to help them create a platform for their business, is to help them regain their wholeness," said Malyka.
Natalie hooked up with mentors, improved her business outreach, and is landing bigger commercial contracts.
Melinda Engel, one of Natalie's longtime clients, says she's thrilled. "She's such a smart, hard working woman and someone like her should definitely have the opportunity to build her business and grow," Melinda said.
"It's given me, a form of courage that's unbelievable," Natalie said.
Right now the program teaches about 15 women three times a year. Pathways to Independence is funded by Verizon and can always use donations and volunteer mentors to reach more women.
To find out more about Pathways to Independence contact The Enterprise Center of Philadelphia at (215) 895-4071 or visit:
http://theenterprisecenter.com/business/pathways-to-independence/