Impact100’s grant enabled us to expand our GED program so that we could help many more women living in poverty earn their high school equivalency degree.
Oasis changes the lives of women and children in Paterson, New Jersey by breaking the cycle of poverty through compassionate programs designed to feed, clothe, educate and empower. Paterson is a city of 150,000 people—one third of whom live at or below the poverty line ($26,200 annual income for a family of four). Many Paterson residents are Black, Latinos, or recent migrants to the United States—they suffer poverty at higher rates than average.
Oasis’ holistic education programs include GED, ESL, Computer Training, Job Readiness and Citizenship, as well as academic after-school programs for children and teens. We provide meals, food pantry packages, diapers, and personal hygiene products. We have three full time social workers and a family navigator to assist families with any challenges.
Impact100’s grant enabled us to expand our GED program so that we could help many more women living in poverty earn their high school equivalency degree. Specifically, we added a basic literacy and numeracy class, so that women tested in at early elementary school levels could gain the proficiencies they needed to move forward. Impact100 members are engaged at every level of the process. They are thoughtful and thorough and are true partners in the work they support.
The engagement does not stop once the grant period is complete, as Impact100 members continue to engage and support Oasis programming on many levels.
