Laura Shapiro has been a dedicated Career Coach with Working Wardrobes for the past eight months, helping clients sharpen resumes and practice for interviews so they can present their skills with confidence.
In her sessions, she focuses on drawing out real strengths—sometimes from clients who arrive feeling like they have none. One memorable coaching moment began with a client saying, “I have nothing good to put on my resume,” and ended with him realizing, “I do have something to offer! I have skills that I can use.”
Laura chose to volunteer because she believes deeply in our mission of second chances and the dignity of work for all who are able—values that mirror the heart of Working Wardrobes.
What she enjoys most is meeting “interesting, hardworking, skilled, persistent” clients who are eager to learn and apply their abilities.
Laura also recognizes a wider ripple effect: “Working Wardrobes shows the community that people from all backgrounds have so much to offer. They model persistence, hard work, eagerness to learn and apply their skills.” She adds that our work helps raise awareness of systemic barriers and includes advocacy for “fast, efficient, low cost transportation; prison systems that provide sufficient access to robust skill development and education, and for affordable housing in our community.”
Looking ahead, Laura is excited for Working Wardrobes to continue helping clients find work and thrive in our local communities.
And a fun fact: she once swam across the Hudson River in New York—a fitting metaphor for the grit and determination she brings to every coaching session.
Thank you, Laura, for the encouragement, skill-building, and hope you bring to our clients. Your work helps people rediscover their value—and take the next step toward employment with confidence.