We had the good fortune of connecting with Charece N. Sanders and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Charece N., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The Metamorphosis Women’s Empowerment Initiative was founded at a time when I was going through my personal Metamorphosis. I had just turned fifty, in the midst of a divorce, dealing with unresolved issues of my past and spiraling down into a depression so deeply I wanted to detach from my existence. I started seeking help but found a lack of services that addressed my needs. I knew there had to be other women who were going through similar challenges who felt as I did. Since I was unable to find a safe space, I created one. Being a survivor of several of the situations many of the women I work with encounter , I felt it necessary. MWEI works with women from all walks of life. Those walks include previous incarceration, rehabilitation and long term recovery journeys, homelessness, domestic violence survivors, the Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed( A.L.I.C.E.), entrepreneurs, Business owners and such.
I established M.W,E,I, to build a multitude of relationships fashioned to enhance “the womanly Experience”. Our Community Outreach Projects are established to build relationships with community organizations to assist in constructing pathways to better and safer lifestyles for low-income communities. The Metamorphosis WEI Programs focus on the empowerment of women in four primary areas: Food Security, Mental Health, Health Equity and Job Readiness. We believe that it is better to provide a suture to promote healing rather than just a temporary bandage. Therefore, we use a holistic client specific approach to address the whole woman by directly addressing each individual’s specific needs, concerns and issues, and introducing them to and supporting them in endeavors resulting in personal, economic and professional growth.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets Metamorphosis apart from others is my style of service. I am very meticulous about environment and feelings. I created my space to be therapeutic for me as well as the women I service because we share common threads. I remember how I felt walking into resource centers and food pantries and the environment was so cold and unwelcoming. Often the staff made me feel like a charity case and undignified. I felt embarrassed, frustrated and belittled. Metamorphosis has revamped deliverance of social services. Environment affects mood and therefore affects action. I started with the environment and created one which would invoke good feelings. Taking into consideration all the things that affect my mood such as paint color on the walls, furniture, decorations, positive messaging, music and the scent of the environment all make a difference. My door is open daily for any woman to walk in , sit on the sofa, have coffee, tea and refreshments and decompress from whatever challenges they may be facing at that moment. Because I want every woman and her family to know that they are still revered as important, I greet them upon arrival with “Welcome Home”. The point is to have them feel as if they are visiting their best friend or family member at their home.
The mission of The Metamorphosis Women’s Empowerment Initiative is to serve as a catalyst for positive change, to empower, support and advocate for all women of all ages, ethnicities, socio-economic groups, and educational backgrounds in many aspects of their lives. The Metamorphosis WEI Programs focus on the empowerment of women in four primary areas: Food Security, Mental Health, Health Equity and Job Readiness. We believe that it is better to provide a suture to promote healing rather than just a temporary bandage. Therefore, we use a holistic client specific approach to address the whole woman by directly addressing each individual’s specific needs, concerns and issues, introducing them to and supporting them in endeavors resulting in personal, economic and professional growth. Our flagship program “The Everybody Eats Project (EEP) reduces food insecurities and waste while fostering healthy lifestyles. We provide and would like to expand emergency nutritional assistance and hygiene products to low income women and their families affected by various stability challenges including un/underemployment, COVID 19, lack of health equity, housing insecure, elderly, disabled, previous incarceration, substance use disorder recovery, domestic violence and veterans.
The everybody Eats Project was started by a group of women two years ago in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic as just a project in the neighborhood to help a few people who couldn’t leave their homes due to quarantine. Shortly after, the other members opted out but I saw a growing need and continued the service. I incorporated it into a not for profit organization and ran the program out of my living room until August 2021 when I obtained my current home base. I have been self funded since my inception and my delivery vehicle including today is my personal SUV. Our service delivery model is unique in that we employ a humanistic approach by treating each client with integrity by offering a concierge-type, shopping experience at our boutique style pantry; thereby reducing the stigma related to hunger, poverty and getting assistance. Packages are personalized specific to allergies, diet, family size and need. Our approach also reduces waste by empowering families to make their own healthy choices and “shop” for what they actually want and will use.
Access to transportation is a challenge for the majority of our clients so delivery is offered. To date we have assisted over 4200 people in The Poconos, and the surrounding areas with a specific focus on those who are unable to leave their homes. Within a year based on community need, the Everybody Eats Project evolved and expanded and is the gateway into a broader holistic service network that goes beyond immediate needs to target the root causes of food insecurity and develop a plan to sustainability and stability for our clients.
This fall in response to the identified additional needs of our clients, we have expanded operations by offering on-site health screenings, and increased our food storage capacity to feed more families, as well as implementation of our new programs and services such as The Rebirth Project and Our Annual Women’s Health Fair,
The Metamorphosis Rebirth Project of the Poconos was designed to empower, encourage and support women through the post recovery/ reentry process by providing a safe haven for them to obtain supportive services, mental health resources, and peace of mind after rehabilitation and reentry to the community. By addressing 5 crucial areas (Safe space, Healthy Lifestyle, Motivation/self fulfillment, Community and Self sufficiency) we aim to assist in creating a positive post recovery/reentry experience. With our Rebirth Project of the Poconos, we seek not to work with large numbers of women. but rather to work with a limited number and follow them meticulously through the reentry/ recovery process with our individualized case management approach. We begin to address challenges of depression, self worth, relationships, and safety by offering peer support groups, one to one mentoring as well as referrals for additional mental health resources.
The M. W. E. I. Healthy Lifestyles programs focus on assisting our service communities to achieve health equity promoting the healthiest lifestyle possible. Through strategic alliances with medical agencies, community organizations, independent health consultants and fitness instructors, we offer a variety of services and referrals to address our communities’ most pertinent health concerns such as breast and cervical cancer, obesity, high blood pressure, malnutrition, homelessness, well baby care, mental health, disease reduction and personal safety. One of our most successful programs is our Annual Women’s health Fair. In observance of Women’s Health Month for the last 2 years, The Metamorphosis Women’s Empowerment Initiative /Everybody Eats Project in collaboration with The Passion for Christ Church, Adagio Health, the Lehigh Valley Health Network, The Pennsylvania Department of Health, and a collection of other community organizations, hosts a Community Women’s Health Fair. We offer an opportunity for women who are uninsured or underinsured to obtain free/ low cost mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, Covid 19 Vaccinations and boosters, cardiovascular screening such as blood pressure checks, glucose and cholesterol testing , products and information centered around women’s health and wellness. We invite approximately 300 community residents to attend. This service to the community is necessary especially for those who are underserved.
It is critical to change the thought process of a person to stimulate a change in behavior and achieve positive outcomes. Therefore, not only addressing the physical needs of our clients is important but also caring for their mental health is mandatory. The combination of programming implements a holistic approach to maintaining wellbeing. Good nutrition and lack of hunger will reduce the rise of illness, which decreases absences from the workplace, minimizing the probability of job loss which can lead to eviction and homelessness which continues to perpetuate the cycle of poverty and give rise to the destructive residual impact on mental health, increasing the numbers of those who are relying on minimal resources.
We seek first to address the proximate, presenting issue which is typically food insecurity. By implementing a thorough intake analysis, we often uncover additional challenges that contribute to the primary complaint. This has inspired us to create and implement additional services to assist in addressing those challenges also. In doing so we develop a long term strategy to encourage self sustainability to increase their job skills and self esteem. By giving the clients the empowerment , advocacy skills and helping to maintain dignity which raises self esteem, we catapult them through their individual metamorphosis to becoming productive, positive and self sustained members of society.
For a long time, I’ve felt the need to be that person to help everyone. Often it’s at any time day or night. To me this is not a job that I do but a passion that I have due to my life experiences. When I say I am every woman who walks through my door, it is because I know and feel their pain. This is why I go out of my way to make every client feel welcome , without judgment and most importantly feel safe and secure.
As executive Director of The Metamorphosis Women’s Empowerment Initiative and Lead host of Cafe Conversations, an empowerment focused talk show, I have been an outspoken advocate for empowering women and girls. A task I accepted at the age of 14. Being an African American woman continuously struggling to secure my rightful place in today’s society, has reinforced my notion that there is a persistent need for advocacy on behalf of women. Creating the Metamorphosis Women’s Empowerment Initiative, has been one of my greatest achievements. With the goal of inciting a call to action to make changes which will produce better outcomes especially for those who live in underrepresented communities, I encourage women to use their voices and talents to be the spark for change.
I was born and raised in Harlem, NYC. Growing up in the inner city inspired me to become a voice for the youth in the African American community serving as a writer, newspaper editor, youth activist and advocate for teens who were survivors of suicide attempts, rape, and sexual assault. She worked with various youth organizations to implement programs around New York City to assist teen mothers to return to high school and the workforce, decrease teen parenthood, reduce adolescent drug use and trafficking and empower young adults to become entrepreneurs.
My passion for community service and outreach prompted me to serve in the medical profession for 16 years in the nursing field as a medical assistant, phlebotomist and Ventilator/Tracheostomy nurse servicing pediatric and adult clients who suffer from traumatic brain injuries and in need of Respiratory assistance. Adamant about leading by example, I continuously work to exemplify the true beauty of today’s woman from the inside out. Consistent with my community service endeavors, I currently occupy seats as a board member of The City of Hope, (P.A.T.H.) Pennsylvania Treatment and Healing and The Pocono Chamber of Commerce Multicultural Committee. I am an active member of The Interagency Council of Monroe, PA (IAC), Founding PA Chapter Member of ( B.I.G) Believe, Inspire, Grow and the Pocono Chamber of Commerce to continue work as an advocate for better lifestyles for underserved communities and individuals. I have been recognized by the Pennsylvania Commission for Women and Adagio Health as a recipient of the Health Equity Heroes Award 2021 for my work to increase health equity for women in low income/ underserved communities. I was recently nominated for the “ 2022 Bizzy Award and Inaugural Woman In Business Award” and named as the 2022 Winner of the Best of Stroudsburg Award for Association or Organization Category.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the beautiful Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania. In the summer we are covered with beautiful green trees and brightly covered flowers. the waters in the lakes and rivers glisten in the sun. Our hiking trails and mountains are known for memorable sights and animal encounters. If you came to visit this time of year , I’d take them to one our resorts with an indoor waterpark. The themed resorts such as Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari Resorts, and Camelback all don beautiful hotels, restaurants, fantastic water parks and arcades. During the Winter, we are one of the premiere areas for skiing. Our Mountain tops glisten with snow. If you’re a thrill seeker snow tubing is the way to go. Most lodging have fireplaces, I always like to curl up with a blanket in front of the fireplace or around an outdoor fire pit and talk with friends with a cup of hot chocolate or watch a great movie.
My ultimate favorite time of the day is when it’s time to eat. The Poconos prides itself on small businesses so you will find many family owned diners. We would probably take in breakfast at one of these, because they serve grits and I love grits with scrambled eggs and cheese or fish and grits. For Lunch or dinner If we didn’t cook, which is one of my favorite things to do when I have company, We’d probably go to Texas Roadhouse for steaks. Our area does have its share of the usual fast food chains ( McDonalds, Burger king, Wendy’s, KFC, Popeyes) and restaurants ( Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Chili’s) but I’d prefer to create a more family homestyle experience.
We are a very Artsy town. Our small art studios and exhibitions are beautiful. We have farmers markets every weekend, apple picking, corn mazes, pumpkin patches and for those who like wines some of the most beautiful vineyards in the area. If you are looking to flex some muscle there are gyms close by, or you can try axe throwing which can be very therapeutic if you need to let off some steam.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My volunteer team, especially Vincent, Aisha, Mike and Laurie are my rock. My volunteers are my backbone and I couldn’t do what I do without them.
Website: www.Metamorphosiswei.org
Instagram: @Metamorphosis_WEI
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/Metamorphosiswei