Pennsylvania Women Work leads individuals toward financial independence.
About us
At Pennsylvania Women Work, we empower job-seekers with the skills they need to achieve their career goals. We work right alongside you every step of the way. We are your cheerleaders, community, and support system.
When someone joins our organization, they are surrounded by caring people that are here to help them create a career plan and achieve their goals to start, grow, or transition in their career.
Our vision
PA Women Work’s vision is a future in which all people are empowered to succeed in the workforce, earn equitable compensation and attain economic security.
Our mission
The mission of Pennsylvania Women Work is to empower women to advance in their careers and achieve self-sufficiency through life-changing career development programs and mentorship.
Our values
Here at PA Women Work, our work every day is centered around our core values. We take these to heart and are dedicated to upholding them.
Collaborative
We work best when we share and engage with each other in a positive environment, and incorporate a variety of opinions, backgrounds and ideas to achieve our mission.
Serve with integrity
We approach our work with dedication, honesty and commitment. We hold ourselves accountable to one another, our community, and our clients. We operate with high standards, honesty and trust.
Person-centered
We believe that a personal approach centered on an individual’s strengths and whole self creates the optimal environment for growth in work and life.
Adaptable
With ever-changing work and hiring trends, cultures and needs, we strive to be nimble and adapt our services, programs and approach to best serve our community with relevant, timely support.
Inclusive
We believe that engaging with and promoting diverse experiences, perspectives, genders, and backgrounds is necessary to create an equitable work environment for all.
Our roots
In the 1970s, divorce rates in the United States began to climb. Many women needed to find a job to support themselves and their children. Among those affected were Laurie Shields, a 55-year-old widow, and Tish Sommers, a 57-year-old divorcée, who struggled in their job search after spending many years at home raising their children. Laurie and Tish, like many others in their situation, were too old for youth programs, but too young to receive Social Security payments. They weren't poor enough to receive welfare, but they barely had enough money for their basic needs.
Laurie and Tish took action and assembled a national coalition of activists known as the Displaced Homemakers Network in 1979. Their motto became, “Don’t agonize, organize!” The group’s efforts resulted in a federal grant across 39 states for career development for women.
When the national network disbanded, a dedicated group of Pennsylvanian women, headed by Mary Ann Eisenreich, founded Pennsylvania Women Work in 1993 and began offering the organization’s flagship program, New Choices, across the state. Since its founding, Pennsylvania Women Work has helped over 72,000 women in career transition. Today, our work has expanded to offer more than 150 workshops each year, along with career mentorship and new programming.
Annual report
Our fiscal year 2023-2024 annual report is available now.
If you’re an established professional looking to lend your skills, a job-seeker searching for support, an employer in need of qualified candidates, or simply interested in our work, we want you to join our community.
