Dress for Success Cincinnati

Mission

Our mission is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help them thrive in work and life. We believe each woman deserves the chance to dream and reach her potential because when she does, her impact on her family and the community will be profound.

History

Since 1999, we’ve been one of the few organizations in Greater Cincinnati focused specifically on the needs of unemployed and under-employed women and their families. We have served over 19,000 women since the founding of Dress for Success Cincinnati.

Dress for Success was found in the basement of a church in Manhattan in 1997. Nancy Lublin inherited $5000 that year. Instead of spending on herself, Nancy decided to use it give other women the tools they need to pull their families out of poverty and achieve lifelong economic independence. Since then, Dress for Success has grown from that single location in Manhattan to a global network, spanning 145 cities in 24 countries. Together, we have served more than 1.2 million women.

Programs

Our Career Transformation Center promotes self-sufficiency and gives women the tools necessary to find and keep a job, including financial literacy courses, allowing them to succeed in the workforce. Services can be accessed at our downtown location or via the Mobile Career Transformation Center, which provides services at off-site locations throughout our operating area.

Through StyleHER, each client receives a complete interview outfit when she has a job interview and an additional week’s worth of work-appropriate apparel and accessories when she becomes employed. She works one-on-one with a highly trained volunteer Personal Stylist who helps her select professional attire and also provides support and encouragement. Most of the clothing we distribute comes from women who donate to us to help another woman succeed.

Through HigherHER, we work with women both individually and in group settings, to prepare for employment, job search and advance in their careers. 

Our Career Center promotes confidence and professionalism by providing clients with career guidance, technology skills and support in their job searches. The Career Center gives our clients a competitive edge when searching for new employment or vying for a promotion. Staff members and volunteers work one-on-one with clients helping them to create superior resumes and cover letters, providing career counseling and mock interviews and facilitating access to professional skills training courses.

Our career development program helps unemployed and under-employed women gain professional skills, accelerate their job search and build confidence through weekly training sessions, one-on-one career coaching and networking in a supportive environment. 

Finally, EmpowerHER offers ongoing support to help employed women reach levels of economic self-sufficiency and the goal of being able to give back to the community. EmpowerHER provides educational opportunities and a network that helps women unfamiliar with the workplace continue to develop skills and advance in their careers. 

Jeweleen's Story

Jeweleen Lycan first came to Dress for Success for an interview suit back in 2018. Jeweleen was living in a shelter at the time. Today, thanks to support from Dress for Success, she is working full-time in property management, and looking at her future with a career focus. She recently signed up for the mock interview to prepare for a real interview she had later that same day for a position with better pay and benefits. 

Jeweleen is still weighing her options to change jobs but shared that she wore the original interview outfit she got from Dress for Success which gave her confidence during the interview. Furthermore, she has been clean from substance use for five years, recently purchased her own car, and hopes to pursue a long-term career in real estate and property management. She told the Times-Gazette, "If I can do it, anyone can. My life has completely changed. It was an illusion. I had to be shown that." Jeweleen now gives back by offering free weekly yoga instruction to women in residence at First Step Home.