Since our inception in 1994, Southwest Creations has been driven by an ambitious social mission: to alleviate poverty and build economic opportunity across generations. We provide dignified employment and on-site childcare while engaging our employees and their families in improving their skills and capacity as leaders. We have a holistic and multi-generational approach to employability and access to education.
We believe when a woman is given an opportunity to earn income, she will invest in her children first – a strategy shared by many projects across the world. We also understand that women from low-income communities, for whom English is a second language or who may lack a high school diploma face major barriers to economic success and equal access for themselves and their children.
CHILDCARE + SUPPORT FOR NURSING MOTHERS | On-site childcare has been a central part of Southwest Creations since our inception. Our employees can work and develop their skills while their children are cared for in a nurturing environment. Safe, affordable childcare for $.25 an hour frees parents from concern, and money saved on childcare can be spent on necessities. In turn, our employees remain focused on their work and are more productive.
PARENT-SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT | Our employees don’t have to choose between receiving a paycheck and engaging in their children’s education: all employees receive paid School Involvement Leave. Research shows that parental involvement improves academic achievement, and we are proud of the 93% high school graduation rate and 83% college attendance rate among our youth.
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE AS A FAMILY | Our intergenerational training and mentorship series promotes college attendance and focuses on the needs of immigrant and Latino families. Our goal is to build increased understanding of what it takes to be on the track to college.
LEADERSHIP + EMPLOYABILITY | In today’s uncertain economy, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure our employees have up-to-date skills, which are vital for family stability and ending cycles of poverty. With this in mind, we created our leadership and employability programs that provide both on and off-site opportunities for employees to improve English skills, prepare for the GED, improve English skills, and build skills in facilitation, tutoring and program oversight.
HEALTH + WELLNESS | We recognize that there is a direct link between a family’s economic success and their physical well-being; therefore, we’ve developed a health program that focuses on access and prevention. We ensure each employee has some type of health coverage and an established primary care provider.
