Spotlight on SCORE Clients
Step by Step With SCORE-ROCHESTER
SCORE Client of the Year - 2005
March 2005
Step by Step of Rochester, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 1993, works with incarcerated women of all races, all religions and all economic classes to help them claim their personal gifts and strengths as the foundation upon which to rebuild their lives and transition back into the community. Step By Step’s staff and volunteers facilitate a structured, group-sharing process in the prisons. This process is aimed at helping women heal old wounds while discovering the courage to start new lives.
Pat Merle and Margy Mayk.
Founders of Step By Step
Early in 2004, Step By Step contacted the Rochester SCORE chapter for assistance with business planning, office procedures, coordination of activities and volunteers and human resource management. SCORE counselors Bob Longyear and Bob Zinnecker have been actively working with Step By Step in these areas throughout 2004 and into 2005.
Step By Step founders Pat Merle and Margy Mayk say that the partnership with SCORE has resulted in improvement in all areas of their operation and that has resulted in a sense of direction and focus that was needed.
“SCORE has become a part of our team. Their assistance in all areas of our operation has been beyond measure” Pat Merle said.
“It is very comforting to be able to call a SCORE counselor and receive prompt, knowledgeable advice and assistance on any issue” Margy Mayk added.
Step By Step conducts the following programs as cornerstones of its outreach activity:
- “Life History” workshops
- “Family Ties” Parenting Classes
- “Spirituality of Recovery” quarterly weekend retreats
- “Hand in Hand” mentoring linking women in prison with individuals or groups of women to provide transitional skills for networking and seeking resources.
- Weekly support groups for women transitioning back into the community at large.
- Training for former inmates to enable them to co-facilitate groups.
- Speakers groups that provide ex-inmates an opportunity to share their stories within the community at large.
- “Still I Rise” monthly newsletters by and for inmates.
Pictured are members of the Step By Step staff and volunteers
Working with the SCORE team, Step By Step has developed and is in the process of implementing the following strategic initiatives:
- A developmental program that expands Step By Step’s program revenue, the support of individuals, churches and organizations coupled with the solicitation of grant funding that maintains the organization’s financial strengths.
- A public relations program that expands the universe of financial and volunteer supporters of Step By Step programs
- The development of Step By Step’s Board of Directors, administration and personnel for the maximum efficiency and productivity.
- The expansion of Step By Step programs into new areas within our target audience in a manner that financially supports the organization and expands its scope of impact.
To learn more about Step By Step and its programs contact Step By Step at 228 South Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, NY, 585-224-0763 or by email sbys@rochester.rr.com
Visit the web site at http://www.stepbysteprochester.org
If you are active in a non-profit organization, consider how your organization may benefit from SCORE’s counseling. Call 263-6473 for a free counseling appointment at one of our many locations. While you are there, ask your SCORE counselor how you might tap into our 70-plus membership knowledge bank to further address your particular concerns.