ABOUT US

BACKGROUND:

Some of the principles of In-the-Making (ITM) that make the organization unique and that have been the basis for the organization's success in the last eight years are identified and noted so that there will be a building on the past. We want to communicate how we believe this success can be maintained and continued. Beyond the principles that are articulated in the agency mission, we wish to emphasize that the agency is unique in its structure and functions: the relationships between staff and workers; the workers that are served; and the ways services are provided.

All of these factors, taken together, are the model of ITM that is important to preserve if the accomplishments of the organization are to be continued. We are not suggesting that there is only one road that ITM must take to guarantee its future success. There are many different organizational models that fulfill different goals. But we suggest that the way ITM operates is maximally suited to the goals of the organization and the needs of the population served.

PURPOSE/ESSENSE

In-the-Making is designed to assist unemployed and underemployed women to achieve job skills as well as personal development and personal fulfillment goals and the inner strength that is needed to help themselves and others in the future. It is expected that program participants will set personal goals and work to achieve these goals using their inner resources and strengths to help themselves, their family and their community. The program is passionately committed to holding people accountable. That accountability allows individuals the opportunity to sign their name on a portrait of success - no matter how small that portrait might be. It gives them their next growth challenge in a defined and measurable form.

ITM believes that unemployed and underemployed women need choices in their lives to achieve their goals. This includes the kind of education and employment programs in which they are enrolled. While traditional education and training programs are one model for learning educational and vocational skills, and many women can succeed in these programs, non-traditional programs, such as ITM, can be more successful with non-traditional students who may have had a more difficult time achieving personal goals within a traditional setting. Thus, ITM provides an option for women who are motivated to achieve but whose personal strengths thrive in the supportive and enriching setting that ITM provides.

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STRUCTURE:

Most traditional programs have a hierarchical structure with a Board of Directors at the top as the body that make policy, an Executive Director who implements this policy, and a staff who carry out the implementation plan. Program participants usually have little input in decision-making.

We believe that the policy-making and implementation structure of ITM is more egalitarian and circular. While the fiscal responsibility is with the Board of Directors, decision-making is shared, and all staff has specific functions.

Communication is both ways - from the center of the circle outward, and inward to the center of the circle.

At the center circle are the active assembly and Sophia (sewing) workers. Everything revolves around their needs. The center circle also includes: the Leader/Administrative Director - the Staff and the pending Business Development Director - the Board - all with equal status.

The second circle surrounding the center circle includes Formers - past program participants who can serve as supporters, advisors and mentors.

The third circle includes Community Leaders who surround the formers and the actives supporting both in accessing resources, planning, organizing, advocating.

The fourth circle involves all who work with ITM supporting its mission: i.e., Bee-in-Your Bonnet -ITM's advocacy program and all other ITM's funding corporations, business partners, religious organizations, public officials volunteers, stake holders etc.

We believe this model is inclusive, interactive, inspirational, and egalitarian and optimizes the skills and strengths of all program staff, workers and the community.

The final outer circle is the mission which encircles all of the other circles.

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FUNCTION:

Workers participate in the Assembly Center, the Sophia Center, and the Wisdom Center. All workers, upon employment/enrollment, accepted the responsibility to be self-directed and to be in pursuit of other educational, vocational and/or training programs and to be in-the-making of change.

Along with the workers in the center circle is the Leader/administrative director with responsibility to inspire and monitor program effectiveness. The Leader maintains the ongoing efficient operations of the organization, is responsible for day to day operations, supervises the staff, and reports to the Board on the overall objectives of the organization.

Also within the center circle is the Business Development Manager who reports to the Leader and is responsible for fiscal management, identifies, develops, and implements new business opportunities (Assembly and Sophia), reviews sales results, and supervises Assembly and Sophia supervisors.

The staff is included in the inner circle. The Assembly Supervisor is responsible for job training, all tasks related to shipment and delivery, and all personnel placed off site.

The Sophia Assistant oversees orders and deliveries. The Sophia Assistant maintains the day to day operations of the Sophia Center under the supervision of the Business Development Manager. The Communications Assistant helps link workers to resources and needed services (including formers and walk-ins). The Communication Assistant is responsible for case management of active employees (and others), the ongoing development of former employees, and the incorporation of community leaders.

All those within the same inner circle, where decisions are made and answers found, use the question - what does it mean for the people ITM is serving? All in the same inner circle are of equal status.

The incorporation of formers, community leaders and community stakeholders into the circle of responsibility expands the horizons of ITM.

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PROGRAMS:

Programs include:

• the Assembly Center where workers do light assembly, inspection, sorting, packaging, collating and custom tasking. Workers participate in the Assembly program for three months;
• Case Management incorporates personal development goals and accountability of such objectives;
• Sophia Center (sewing and crafts) is a revenue producing program via its sales;
• the Wisdom Center (where women share their wisdom of experience and grow in their inner strengths) by sessions weekly for one hour of conversation, engagement, inspiration and team building.
• Bees-In-Your-Bonnet, an Advocacy group of service providers who "collect the honey of justice and sting for justice".

FUNDING:

ITM receives 70 percent of its funding from the Siemon Company in Watertown for the assembly center. A minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 women are in the training/employment services in the assembly center on a regular basis. They work 20 hours a week and earn (2007) $7.65 per hour. In the Sophia Center 4 of the 5 workers earn $8.65 per hour as seamstresses. Unemployment insurance is not available for assembly workers, but workman's compensation would be available, if needed.

Thirty percent of ITM funding comes from grants, contributions, corporations, and public sources - including $24,000 (which covers rent, utilities and some insurance) from the Waterbury Development Corporation WDC (for the past 7 years). Also a new State program, Access to Recovery, ATR, provides financial assistance for vocational training and case management for substance users.

ITM has not gone into reserves during the past 8 years of existence. That is largely dueto the community support and the reputation of ITM; all work, Assembly and Sophia, is on time and of quality. Another factor for recognition is the contribution of two leaders, Sr. Marie F. Burke and Sr. Rosemary McKenna. They have been supported by their own religious congregations for the eight years at ITM. Their congregations have contributed significantly to women in Waterbury.

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POPULATION SERVED:

The population served by ITM is generally not receiving welfare, but may have experienced incarceration, substance abuse, or domestic violence problems; some have been homeless. Most come from the Waterbury area, have minimal job skills, and low educational level. They are all women of different ages. All are motivated to change and are working on GED, ESL, and/or adult basic education. Volunteers, mostly church members, are mentors/tutors to active employees. Participating is a personal growth program is a prerequisite of participating in ITM. The characteristics of the population served is especially suited to the accountability, responsibility, personal growth, and inspiration embodied in ITM. The non-traditional framework emphasizes success and the centrality of the women working in the program in decision-making, optimism, creativity and restoration.

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OUTCOMES:

There are three major, measurable outcomes of ITM:

• Individuals learn job skills and job responsibilities and accountability;
• Individuals form relationships as a way of being and are helpful to others and helpful to themselves. Through relationships individuals share the workload and work habits, and work collaboratively and respectfully; and
• personal growth, which involves trust, accountability, being tough but gentle when situations need some action, a "can do" attitude, and advocacy for change.

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CONCLUSION:

ABOUT OUR WORKERS

July 1, 1998 - December 30, 2006