Skirts & Pants on Fire! And everything else went up in flames.
Written by Jerri Lee Rosen
In 2020, Working Wardrobes had empowered over 105,000 people to overcome barriers and step into the workforce with confidence. Then came the devastating four-alarm fire.
What happens when everything you’ve built goes up in flames? If you’re Jerri Rosen, you rebuild-with more courage, more compassion, more community, and more success than ever before.
Skirts and Pants on Fire is a behind-the-seams look at Working Wardrobes: a nonprofit stitched together by thousands of volunteers, staff, and supporters. It’s more than a memoir. It’s a movement. It’s a love letter to everyone who turned devastation into dignity.
Skirts & Pants on Fire- Honoring Jerri Rosen’s Legacy with Sam Dawson
In this heartfelt episode of Real Talk, Real Growth, CEO Bonni Pomush sits down with author, speaker, facilitator of Sam’s Salons, founding member of Impact Giving, and one of Jerri’s dearest friends, Sam Dawson, to honor the life and legacy of Jerri Rosen, founder of Working Wardrobes. Together, they reflect on Jerri’s resilience, leadership, and unwavering belief in possibility—and the journey of completing her memoir, Skirts & Pants on Fire.
About Jerri
With a handful of friends, Jerri Rosen founded Working Wardrobes with a profound vision: to help people overcome challenges and achieve the dignity of work. What began as a one-day event serving 67 women from domestic violence shelters blossomed into a comprehensive career development program that continues to transform lives every single day.
Jerri’s compassion, leadership and innovative approach to workforce readiness created a legacy that extends far beyond clothing – it restores hope, builds confidence, and creates pathways to self-sufficiency.
Her motto, “The Power of a Paycheck,” reflected her belief in economic independence as a cornerstone of personal dignity. It also exemplifies the “Power of One” – the power of one person to make a lasting difference in the world.
Jerri’s vision continues to guide Working Wardrobes. We honor her memory by expanding her mission and touching more lives each day.
Hear Jerri in Her Own Words
Listen to Jerri share her wisdom, passion, and vision in these podcast episodes. Her voice continues to inspire and guide our mission.
