Dr. Ludy Green Guest Lecturer for Lura Bradfield Foundation

On October 17, 2008 Dr. Ludy Green spoke as the Guest Lecturer for the Lura Bradfield Foundation for their 12th Anniversary Lecture and Awards Presentation. The purpose of the event was to give awards to women and foundations focusing on women making a difference. Lura Colvin Bradford, 1905 - 1996, was a battered child and wife. Despite her personal trials, Ms. Bradford was an accomplished woman who attended George Washington University, American University, and the Department of Agriculture Graduate School. She was an active member in Ikebana International traveling many countries and dabbled in the arts. Ms. Bradford volunteered for St. Alban's Senior Center, St. Patrick's Episcopal Church E.C.W., the Florence Crittenton Foundation, and many other organizations. Ms. Bradford was careful with her investments in which the Lura Bradford Foundation was created to help benefit many other women to receive their educations and to help battered women, like her, to not be left behind as victims.

Dr. Green spoke to the Lura Bradford audience about the problems surrounding victims of domestic violence especially surrounding the prejudice running deeply through the workforce against "Stay At Home Moms" who attempt to find employment after managing their households. Dr. Green spoke about her dream to help women who have been working "non-traditionally" to find employment which would provide much more than a minimal salary for these women to help themselves and their children. Dr. Green spoke about her business model while reporting impressive results including 537 women to date that she has helped to place in positions earning $30,000 - $160,000 including a senior position in the United States Senate. Second Chance Employment Services helps women across all racial and economic barriers. Women do not have to be in a shelter or homeless in order for them to get relief from Second Chance and receive help in becoming employed.

Thank you Dr. Ludy Green and Second Chance Employment Services for helping to provide all at-risk women with the tools they need to reclaim their lives.

Victor Rivers: "I Am NOT A WOMAN"

Second Chance Employment Services would like to give a special Thank You to Victor Rivers for being our Guest Speaker at our 5th Annual Gala Last Kiss of Summer.

Mr. Rivers, an actor in many films such as The Mask of Zorro, Two for Texas, Blood In/Blood Out, Amistad, The Chain, The Distinguished Gentleman, Lara, Semi-Tough, One Good Cop, Fled, The Lost City, The Air I Breathe, many other movies, the stage, TV shows LIFE, Numb3rs, 24, Star Trek, Jag, Miami Vice, and CSI Miami.

Victor Rivers spoke to the attendees that Domestic Violence is not a "woman's issue", but an issue that effect's everyone. Mr. Rivers told us his harrowing childhood tale, growing up in a household of abuse against his mother, himself,and his siblings. Victor Rivers spoke about the reality of the blind eye the legal system lent him when he went for help. The legal system did not protect Victor's mother physically, financially, or especially her children by denying their mother her custodial rights to the children she cared for steadily. It was only through employment that Victor's mother was able to track down her kidnapped children and remain in her children's lives as their non-custodial parent. Victor's father abused the legal system to out maneuver Victor's mother due to his financial positing as the family bread winner and thereby his father gained sole custody of the very children that he abused physically, mentally, and emotionally. Sadly - this imbalance of representation and financial support to domestic violence victims continues to be perpetuated today in which many times the bread winning parent instead of the caretaker patent gains shared custody ("co-parenting") or sole custody.

Mr. Rivers credits his community in reaching out to him in his teenage years and not giving up on him to give him the strength and guidance to make more of his life than what he was left to deal with by his abusive father. Furthermore, Victor Rivers has also written a book detailing the trails of his family in A Private Family Matter: A Memoir written in both English and Spanish.

Thank you Victor Rivers for breaking the silence and making a stand to protect those who are subjugated in their domestic hell.

Thank You 2008 Gala Donors

Thank you to all the 2008 Auction Donors to the Second Chance Employment Services annual gala Last Kiss of Summer. A listing of all the donors are listed with corresponding links to their businesses in the right column under the heading "Donor List for Silent and Live Auctions for Last Kiss of Summer Gala 2008" and will remain posted until September 2009.

Thank You 2007 Gala Donors

Thank you to the 2007 Donors for Last Kiss of Summer for the Live and Silent Auction. Second Chance Employment Services would like to thank those who helped make last year's auction such a great success as we prepare for our upcoming 2008 Gala. Thank you to last year's donors:

· Borghese, Inc.

· Freed Photography & Videography

· German Embassy in Washington, DC

· Grace + Gumption: Lanah Hamilton

· Green and Blue

· Gregory Fine Portraits

· Johnson's Florist and Garden Centers

· JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes

· Main Event Caterers

· Marriott Wardman Park Hotel

· Sassanova

· The Family Groove

· The SalesDoctor

· The Studio Theatre

· Toka Salon and Day Spa

· Tranquil Space Yoga

· Washington Nationals

Thank you again for helping Second Chance to break the silence!

SCES July Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2008
CONTACT: Betsy Barrows
202-331-7451 (office)
http://www.blogger.com/Betsy.SecondChance@gmail.com

THE "QUIET CRIME" is silent no more
Hollywood and Washington's Finest Expose Harsh Realities of Domestic Violence at SCES "Last Kiss of Summer V" Fundraiser

WASHINGTON, DC - July 8, 2008 - What do Emmy tickets, The Four Seasons in Georgetown, and the handsome actor Victor Rivers have in common? They are all key components in one of Washington’s most spirited and sophisticated annual fundraising galas, “Last Kiss of summer V,” to be held September 23, 2008, in support of Second Chance Employment Services.

“Last Kiss of Summer V” is an event not to be missed, featuring dining, dancing, and live and silent auctions -- all in support of America’s only employment agency exclusively founded to aid victims of domestic abuse.

The event's keynote speaker, Victor Rivers, an accomplished actor, author and activist, will share his shocking boyhood experience of torture at the hands of an abusive father and explain how he turned this nightmare into a positive, personal mission to put an end to what he calls "our greatest yet most curable social disease."

Rivers, who has starred in more than two dozen films, (including the dramatic Mask of Zorro, the Incredible Hulk and the hilarious Distinguished Gentleman), delivers a powerful message that shatters the conventional belief that domestic violence is strictly a women's issue.

This elegant evening will also feature an exclusive auction including tickets to the Academy Awards, rare vacation getaway packages, private Embassy dinners, the finest salon services in Washington, and many more one-of-a-kind opportunities.

Since the inception of the “Last Kiss of Summer” five years ago, more than $500,000 has been raised from auction, ticket, and sponsorship sales to support the programs of Second Chance Employment Services.

Established in 2001 under the inspired vision of Dr. Ludy Green, this innovative non-profit organization provides professional training to “at-risk” women who are victims of domestic abuse. SCES enables victims to attain economic self-sufficiency through meaningful, long-term employment. SCES human resource professionals provide support such as interview skills, etiquette, resume coaching, and job training. Clothing, makeovers, psychological support, plastic surgery, dentistry, legal counseling and more are all provided free of charge by SCES volunteers.
"Our goal is to help infuse these women with a sense of newfound confidence so that they present themselves properly to future employers," explains Dr. Green. "The only real justice for these victims is financial independence. We work hard to give it to them."

For information about sponsorships, ticket sales, or auction donations call
703-356-3099. For more information about Second Chance visit http://www.scesnet.org/

80s Song Focuses On Domestic Control Issues

Voices Carry was written back in the 1980s by the band 'Til Tuesday focusing on many control issues in a domestic relationship. The lead singer is Aimee Mann.

The video shown above is from a live performance. The MTV /original version can be viewed on YouTube by clicking HERE. Voices Carry was a video played repeatedly by MTV when it first came out holding similar overtones to the song My Name Is Luka by Suzanne Vega which I blogged about in an older post for Second Chance Employment Services on Tuesday, June 19, 2007.

Barbara Krumsiek Sponsors Last Kiss of Summer Gala!

Barbara Krumsiek will be sponsoring Second Chance Employment Services Annual Gala Last Kiss of Summer to be held at the Four Seasons in Washington, DC on September 23, 2008, 6:30pm to midnight. She is the Chair, CEO and President of Calvert Group, Ltd., a leading investment management and mutual fund firm headquartered in Bethesda, MD. Calvert offers the nation’s largest family of socially responsible mutual funds. "Corporate philanthropy isn't something that happens in your head," says Barbara Krumsiek. "It starts in your heart, and it happens on the ground. It has to come together in that way." Before joining Calvert as CEO in 1997, Ms. Krumsiek was a Managing Director at Alliance Capital Management LP in New York City.

Some of Barbara Krumsiek’s accomplishments are:

• Serving on the Board of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
• Serving as Vice-Chair of the Board of The Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation
• Serving on the Board of Goodwill of Greater Washington
• Serving on the Board of Trickle Up Program in New York City

• Serving on the Council for the Future of Courant at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences

• Supporting of the Girl Scouts in the National Capital Region

• Serving on the Women’s Advisory Board to the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital
• Serving the Greater Washington Board of Trade
• Serving the Greater DC Cares
• Serving the Cultural Alliance of Washington D.C.

• Serving the Board of Visitors for the Howard University School of Law

• In 2007 she accepted the “Women of Concern” award from Concern Worldwide for ‘developing innovative and precedent setting initiatives that strive to empower women worldwide.’
• In 2007 she began serving Washington D.C.’s regional Chamber of Commerce
• In 2007 she began serving on the board of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
• In 2007, she began serving the Federal City Council

• In 2007 she joined the board of PEPCO Holdings, Inc
• In 2006 she was named one of “Washington DC’s 100 Most Powerful Women” for the 3rd time by Washingtonian Magazine

• In 2006 she was named one of the “Top 100 Maryland Women” by the Daily Record
• In 2005 she was awarded the Athena Award by the Women’s Business Owners of Montgomery County

• In 2004 she was named one of 50 “Women Who Mean Business” in Washington D.C. by the Washington Business Journal

• In 2002 Georgetown University awarded Ms. Krumsiek the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, citing her work in advancing the critical dialogue regarding the role of business in society
• In 2000, the Rutgers University Alumni Federation added her to the Hall of Distinguished Alumni
• In 2000 Douglass College and the Associate Alumnae named her to The Douglass Society

Barbara Krumsiek’s education is equally impressive. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors from Douglass College, Rutgers University, Bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Ms. Krumsiek got her Master’s degree in mathematics from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University.

Ms. Krumsiek, a native New Yorker, resides in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband, Bart Leonard, and their two daughters.

Thank you Barbara Krumsiek for supporting Second Chance Employment Services and helping to break the silence!

Cynthia de Lorenzi Partners With SCES

Second Chance Employment Services is proud to welcome a new partner, Cynthia de Lorenzi!

Cynthia de Lorenzi has given so much to the community. SCES is pleased that a woman of such dynamic background has partnered to help at-risk women find suitable employment. Ms. de Lorenzi’s many accomplishments include:

- Co-founding Success in the City (SITC) in 2004. SITC is the unconventional networking organization for senior level executive women to encourage, embrace and celebrate the value of meaningful peer relationships and friendship.

- Business ventures in GoGawGaw, an international Web development firm and de Lorenzi Group, a business development firm dedicated to connecting business to opportunity.

- Co-founding the North Texas Technology Council in 2002 and served as its CEO and continues to serve as an Advisor.

- Served as the Southwest Regional Director of the Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan, grassroots educational organization advocating fiscal responsibility and reform of entitlement programs to ensure the viability and fairness for all generations.

- Serves as a Board member of the Community Business Partnership & Women’s Business Center to provide the training, assistance and support women need to start and grow successful small businesses in Northern Virginia.

- Ms. de Lorenzi’s has been vital in the regional efforts of the Telework Coalition, including leading by example and implementing telework programs in her own businesses and serving on the planning committee for Washington Area Council on Telework (WACOT) conference.

- Founded the Bob de Lorenzi Scholarship fund at George Mason University in honor of her late brother. The Bob de Lorenzi Scholarship will be awarded annually to an adult man or woman, returning to school after a personal or career interruption, to complete an education delayed or postponed.

- Helped initiate the Bob de Lorenzi Telework Award given to individuals or entities that demonstrably followed the ideals and commitment to foster telework and telecommuting, as pursued by Bob de Lorenzi, a founding member of the Telework Coalition.

- Selected by Washington Business Journal as one of 2006 top 25 Women Who Mean Business awardees
- Winner of the 2003 Bob de Lorenzi Memorial Telework Award
- Co-founder of Success in the City
- Co-founder the Washington Bureau for ISP Advocacy
- Board Member, Community Business Partnership & Women’s Business Center
- Board Member, TelecomHUB

- Board Member, Telework Coalition
- Board Member, Livingston Communications, LLC
- Special Advisor, Stargazer Foundation
- NVTC – Tech Emergence Committee – Vice Chair
- Capital Gaines – Advisor for a new Distributed Work Concept
- Forum Moderator for Capital Society Forum – An organization of CEO’s seeking to further develop leadership skills
- Finalist for 2004 Women in Technology Entrepreneur of the Year
- Served on the Virginia Joint Commission on Technology and Science’s (JCOTs) Advisory Committee on Computer Crimes
- The Association of Contingency Planners (ACP)
- The Mid-Atlantic Telecommuting Advisory Council (MATAC)
- Co-founded the North Texas Technology Council (NTTC)
- Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2006
- Advisory Board of Vitalia MedSpa

Cynthia de Lorenzi also writes the blog for Success in The City called “Powder Room Diaries”. A link to Ms. de Lorenzi's Blog is found in the right column of this page. You know I love that she is a blogger!!

I am so excited and would like to give a warm welcome and thank you to Cynthia de Lorenzi for partnering with Second Chance Employment Services.

Last Kiss of Summer IV Host Committee

As I had reported before, the Second Chance annual Last Kiss of Summer gala in 2007 was a huge success! Above is a picture of the Host Committee. Here are just a few of the people in the above:

Front Row: Ludy Green (center in white), David Blanken (2007 gala chairman, right of Ludy in black), James Schenck (2006 gala chairman, left of Ludy in blue)

Back Row: Barbara Freedman (behind David Blankin in black), Stephanie Willson (left of Barbara), Joseph Green (far right in dark suit)

Thank you David for chairing this event and making it so memorable!

The Hershey Company Agrees To Job Partner with Second Chance Employment Services

(Andre Goodlett, The Hershey Company)

In early November of 2007, The Hershey Company signed an agreement with Second Chance Employment Services to hire Second Chance's at-risk clients whose skills match Hershey jobs.

I met with Andre Goodlett, Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion of The Hershey Company's Human Resources Department, and put together the agreement on behalf of Second Chance Employment Services domestic violence victims seeking employment.

Thank you Andre Goodlett and The Hershey Company for helping to create the roadways to make a big difference in the lives of so many woman. Thank you for helping to break the silence and lend a helping hand for women becoming financially independent.

Ludy Green is nominated as Washingtonian of the Year!

The Washingtonian selects men and women who make a difference in Washington as Washingtonian of the Year. Recently Ms. Ludy Green, President and CEO of Second Chance Employment Services was selected. The Washingtonian printed the following article regarding Ludy Green:

"Like too many children, Ludy Green grew up with domestic violence.

As a congressional intern , she helped with childcare at My Sister's Place, a woman's shelter. And as a human resources professional, she volunteered for women's and children's causes. She found that to escape abuse, women needed financial stability and the ability to achieve it.

In 2002, Green left the corporate world to start Second Chance Employment Services, which gets battered women that stability through well-paying jobs. It is, she believes, the only such placement agency in America.

Second Chance helps client write resumes, practice interviews, and find new suits, childcare, or transportation. Drawing on her contacts with employers from IBM to Marriott to hospitals and associations, Green has encouraged recruiters to look at her clients first. She's brought in career coaches, makeup consultants, and even a dentist and a surgeon who replaced one client's knocked-out teeth and repaired another's scars - at no cost.

So far Green has placed 473 abused women and helped more that 1,000 with legal aid, job training, psychological services, and more. With new offices in New York and LA, she is reaching even more women and employers.

'However long I live, I want to do this,' she says. 'I never wanted to see another woman who is financially trapped. I couldn't help my mom, but I always knew someday I would help other women.'"