Dick Alwood of Centry Corp. holds the drywall as Stephan L. Winninger from NuUnion Credit Union drills it into a wall at 1712 E. Michigan Ave., the new location for The Women’s Center of Greater Lansing. NuUnion donated $5,000 toward the new building, which will provide space for computer classes, job training and a professional clothes closet.
Lansing — Board members and contributing partners of the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing met Tuesday to begin a renovation that will triple the floor space between the organization’s two buildings.
Women’s Center directors acknowledged several contributing partners and celebrated the beginning of construction by hanging the first piece of new drywall.
The 2,000-square-foot space that will be used for a computer lab, kitchen and clothes closet.
Coordinators from the MSU Women’s Resource Center and MSU Family Resource Center said they often refer students to the Women’s Center, 1712 E. Michigan Ave., if their specific needs will be better suited by the organization.
“We’re all aware of each other’s programs and collaborate,” said Lori Strom, MSU Family Resource Center coordinator. “I encourage folks to support them. The strength of our relationships is how we collaborate.”
The center in Lansing provides counseling and support groups for the purpose of helping women achieve their goals.
“Right now, we only have three computers we can use at any given time,” said Manuela Kress, co-director for the center.
“We’ll be able to serve many more women than we’ve been able to serve.”
Co-director Cindie Alwood said the new lab will include 12 computers and should be ready to open by late March or early April if everything goes as planned.
The center has provided personal and career counseling, employment services and crisis management for women in the Lansing area since June 2005, all while sharpening their clients’ technological abilities.
“Our primary focus is employment and economic self-sufficiency,” Alwood said. “In order to do that in this day and age, you need computer skills. Today’s market requires people to be technologically savvy.”
Aside from technology-related lessons, the center offers the only sexual-assault survivor support group in the area and a professional clothes closet filled with attire that can be used for interviews.
Strom said she’s heard positive reviews from students who have attended sessions at the center.
“Their programs are very relevant for students,” Strom said.
“I’m totally impressed with how far they’ve come and how much they’ve sacrificed to help more people.”
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