Women's Job Seminar teaches job preparedness, gives women fresh start



MILWAUKEE -- Some women in Milwaukee have a whole new perspective on what they're capable of. At the Women's Job Seminar in Milwaukee on Friday November 6th they got the tools and inspiration to succeed.

Melissa Flores sits poised and confident, a person she didn't know she could be.

"All of the things people tell me I can't do, I'm just going to build a step and use it to climb higher," said Flores.

She's one of 150 women at the job seminar at Manpower, put on by the United Way, the Sojourner Family Peace Center and Community Advocates.

Flores got there by way of a bad relationship. She lived at the Sojourner Family Peace Center's shelter, came to the seminar a year ago, and landed a job in the restaurant industry. She's back again, ready to own her own business.

"I've worked jobs all my life, I'm ready for a career," said Flores.

The seminar teaches job preparedness skills, so women feel ready to enter the workforce.

"They leave here armed with a ready and crafted updates resume, on a jump drive they can take with them, they also leave practicing the eight most common interview questions, developing those best answers, practicing them over and over," said Karissa Gretebeck with the United Way.

Many of the women in the room have been abused in some way. Physically, emotionally, sexually or financially, but they say this event has given some the confidence to move forward.

"Many of them believe that they are worthless because of what has happened, and that is not true, and we`re here to say that it isn`t true'," said Carmen Pitre with the Sojourner Family Peace Center.

Flores is determined to succeed.

"I know I am going to take the next step and become my own CEO," said Flores.