Junior League of Long Island Helps Women Transition into Workforce

First Step, a program of the Junior League of Long Island, helps women in need with career training and complimentary business outfits for job interviews to help them transition back into the workforce.

The Junior League of Long Island, a nonprofit organization of women volunteers, hosted its sixth annual First Step Program on Jan. 27 at its Roslyn Village headquarters. Twenty-three Long Island women who are transitioning back into the workforce received complimentary business outfits for interviews and their first days on a new job.

First Step
Courtesy JLLI

First Step helps Long Island women re-enter the work force and gain financial independence by providing free professional clothing and a career training session. Participants are referred by local social service agencies, including Family Service League, Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, FEGS, The Retreat, and EOC of Nassau County’s Displaced Homemaker program.

Junior League members personally assisted attendees with selecting appropriate clothing for their career. An informational seminar on interview skills and résumé writing was facilitated by Jennifer Muccioli, manager at KPMG in the People and Change Advisory practice in Melville. Suzanne Cochrane, general manager of Helms Bros. Mercedes Benz & Bayside Volkswagen, provided insights to the group on achieving success in a male-dominated industry. Transportation, lunch, and child care were provided to all participants at no cost.

“First Step reaffirms the potential of all women to achieve self-sufficiency by helping them transition into the workforce with business-appropriate outfits and accessories. Many of these women have overcome tremendous obstacles in their lives and are now at a place where they are ready to work and start on the road to financial independence,” says Kelly Morgano, president of the Junior League of Long Island. “First Step would not have been possible without the generosity of Long Islanders who donated clothing and accessories.”

For more information on the First Step Program, visit jlli.org.