You may have noticed a new name in recent Working Wardrobes communications. Our recurring giving program, formerly known as the Rebuilding Careers Coalition, has been reimagined as Pathways to Purpose—a name that better reflects the journeys our clients take as they move toward employment, stability, and self-sufficiency.
To celebrate this new chapter, we’re highlighting the incredible supporters who make this work possible. This month, we’re proud to introduce Lisa Harter, a dedicated Pathways to Purpose member whose passion for empowering others is rooted in firsthand experience.
Before moving to California, Lisa volunteered with Connections to Success, a nonprofit in St. Louis that provided career development support, interview preparation, and professional clothing to individuals seeking employment. One experience in particular left a lasting impression.
Her favorite volunteer day involved bringing a mobile wardrobe boutique to a minimum-security prison, serving women who were preparing to be released within the next few months. Many had spent years in prison-issued clothing and had little sense of what size they wore or how to dress for an interview. Volunteers helped each woman select an outfit, complete it with accessories, and take a photo to serve as a reminder of the future they were working toward.
“Many of them cried looking in the mirror and seeing themselves in a different way,” Lisa recalls. “Hopeful as to what the future could hold for them. They were so grateful. The atmosphere was that of dignity and respect.”
When Lisa relocated to California, she began searching for a meaningful way to continue supporting individuals on their journey toward employment and independence. That’s when she discovered Working Wardrobes. What keeps her committed as a recurring donor is seeing the impact unfold every day.
“Pathways to Purpose is a roadmap for clients who have the desire to move toward gainful employment but just may not know the steps to get there,” she says. “They want to work, to contribute to society, to provide for their families, and this program provides the tools to guide them toward meeting those personal goals.”
For Lisa, the importance of this work cannot be overstated. She points to the wide range of individuals served by Working Wardrobes—from veterans transitioning into civilian careers and military families facing financial hardship to justice-impacted individuals and those re-entering the workforce after job loss. “They just need confidence and support,” Lisa explains. “Pathways to Purpose provides that support on so many levels.”
Ultimately, Lisa sees employment as the foundation for stability and independence.
“People who struggle to find employment can end up homeless, unable to care for themselves and their families,” she says. “Employment is the basis for finding suitable housing, the capacity to pay bills, buy groceries, secure transportation, and live a stable independent life that they’re proud of. I look at Pathways to Purpose as providing that fresh start.”
We are grateful to Lisa and every Pathways to Purpose member whose recurring support helps create new opportunities, renewed confidence, and brighter futures for the individuals we serve.
Inspired by Lisa’s story? Join Pathways to Purpose and help provide the ongoing support that empowers individuals to rebuild confidence, secure employment, and create brighter futures. Your recurring gift creates lasting impact, month after month.