Suited for Change                                         By June Soh

NARRATOR:
37 YEAR OLD, FLORENCE BENNETT DOESN'T HAVE A JOB. SHE LIVES ON WELFARE WITH TWO CHILDREN. BUT TODAY, SHE IS SPENDING HOURS AT A WASHINGTON BOUTIQUE TO CHOOSE CLOTHING.

NATURAL SOUND - FLORENCE BENNETT:
"I like this-Yea, especially with collar, right?"

NARRATOR:
SHE IS SELECTING TWO SUITS ALONG WITH MATCHING ACCESORIES SUCH AS EARRINGS, SCARVES, SHOES, PURSES AND EVEN STOCKINGS. A PERSONAL SHOPPER ASSISTS HER WITH CHOICES.

NATURAL SOUND - FLORENCE BENNETT:
"They really have the right feeling because they have geometric and stripes, so I think I like that."

NARRATOR:
CAN SHE AFFORD THESE? IT DOESN'T MATTER. ONCE YOU ENTER THE SHOP 'SUITED FOR CHANGE, MONEY IS NO GOOD.SUITED FOR CHANGE LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN WASHINGTON, D.C. IS NOT AN ORDINARY CLOTHING SHOP. IT'S A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, WHICH PROVIDES PRIMARILY PROFESSIONAL CLOTHING FREE TO LOW-INCOME WOMEN SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.

"I like this program because it's good for people like me that have low to moderate income and can't afford things right now when trying to get out in the workforce to do their best.

NARRATOR:
SUITED FOR CHANGE, WAS FOUNDED BY FIVE LOCAL YOUNG PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN 1992. CLAUDIA ASKEW, IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS. SHE IS A SENIOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER AT A NEIGHBORHOOD REINVESTMENT CORPORATION.

CLAUDIA ASKEW:
"I think good outfit is very helpful for men and women for getting a job. Even if you have all the skills you need, if you walk in to the interview and you don't' look professional you would not get the job most likely. So we do provide very, very important service."

NARRATOR:
THE WOMEN WHO COME TO 'SUITED FOR CHANGE' FOR BUSINESS OUTFITS MUST BE REFERRED BY JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES.
AFTER COMPLETING A JOB TRAINING COURSE, GRADUATES CAN CHOOSE TWO SUITS AND ACCESSORIES TO MIX AND MATCH. ONCE THEY LAND A JOB, THEY CAN RETURN FOR THREE MORE SUITS TO CREAT A WHOLE WEEK'S WARDROBE.
THE RESULTS CAN BE DRAMATIC.FLORENCE BENNETT IS LOOKING FOR A CLERICAL POSITION.

FLORENCE BENNETT:
"Oh, sure. I feel confident. I feel like I can conquer the world so to speak."

NARRATOR:
PAMELA HUDSON, 27YEARS OLD, A MOTHER OF FIVE, RECENTLY COMPLETED COMPUTER TRAINING.

PAMELA HUDSON:
"I feel really great. I truly believe those outfits will help me to get a job."

NARRATOR:
CAROLIN AVERY, A MOTHER OF TWO CHILDREN IS LOOKING FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE JOB.

CAROLIN AVERY:
"It will give me a door to a corporate place. Yes, these are corporate clothing. I think it's wonderful. Stuff is good quality. You can't beat these. It's like a department store."

NARRATOR:
EACH AND EVERY CLIENT, OF SUITED FOR CHANGE, IS ASSISTED BY A VOLUNTEER PERSONAL SHOPPER LIKE ELAIN CLAYMAN. SHE IS ONE OF ABOUT 150 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATING ON A DAILY BASIS.

ELAIN CLAYMAN:
"Many times you really do see a difference." We really able to help them to see how they look, how they can possibly look their best for whatever it is they are going to do. And it's very rewarding to be able to do that to people.

NARRATOR:
FOR THE LAST 7YEARS, 'SUITED FOR CHANGE' HAS PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL CLOTHING FOR ABOUT 3,500 LOW-INCOME WOMEN IN WASHINGTON, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA. MOST OF THE CLOTHING WAS DONATED BY LOCAL PROFESSIONAL WOMEN. ALL TOGETHER FOUNDERS AND VOLUNTEERS OF 'SUITED FOR CHANGE' BELIEVE THEIR SMALL EFFORTS WILL HELP ENABLE WOMEN TO BREAK THE BOUNDS OF POVERTY, AND BUILD PROMISING FUTURES FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY.

I AM JUNE SOH, REPORTING.

For more information on Suited for Change see: http://suitedforchange.org/