New Directions Career Center

A genuine place for women in transition at any stage in their lives.
Remarkable faculty and programs.

I am a 2011 graduate of New Directions E3 program which stands for Educate, Empower, and Elevate. This is a program set up in Collaboration with the United Way's "Women Leadership Counsel". The WLC provides a volunteer mentor to each woman participating in the E3 program. Through the E3 program I have been able to go from being basically homeless (living with my daughter), to getting set up in an apartment with a roommate and starting Columbus State Community College full time to pursue an associate of science degree in Civil Engineering. While doing this I am also employed full time as a cabinet maker for a company in Hilliard. I am now in my second year of my degree at Columbus State, have managed to win the Anne Bostwick Scholarship of 2,000.00, and have plans to transfer to Ohio State University for my Bachlor's degree in Civil engineering. After that I plan to enter an MBA program to make myself an even more well rounded and capable employee. It is my hope that I can continue with the help of New Directions programs and services, to find opportunities to help me pay for my education along the way. Right now I am an Honors student and hope to be able to continue that. New Directions Career Center's wonderful programs and staff support have given me my life back in more ways than I could ever possibly have imagined! I now volunteer as much as my schedule will permit to try and give back a piece of what has been given to me. If you have the courage to face whatever fears you may have and move forward in spite of them, then I highly recommend New Directions Career Center as your starting point.

Excellent Services provided excellent and committed staff/volunteers. The month long program was life changing for me. Also, advanced career services are extremely helpful. This is a top quality organization that provides services to help you THRIVE.

The Center has an intensive classroom program called New Directions, where you are given a wealth of information from 9am-3pm. From talking to many of the clients, it would be more effective, if there were less breaks and the program started at 10am. It would be easier for women to attend the program because there are so many obligations before 9am. I like the supportive, encouraging attitude of the volunteers and really loved the positive attitudes of Amy Brown and Cindy Kazalia. What I and some of the others clients were bothered with was an undertone of juvenile perception from one of the instructors there. No matter what are circumstances are that brought us there, we are still adult women.

New Directions Career Center is a non-profit organization with professionals who help those involved in the job search. I've attended a few workshops and have a career counselor at NDCC. The workshops have been helpful and my career counselor is knowledgeable and helpful.

One of the best opportunities I've had at NDCC is the opportunity to have periodic mock interviews. The Interviewer was from a local company and had experience interviewing. From this experience, I've been able to practice interviewing, get feedback from the Interviewer and subsequently have Informational Interviews with the Interviewer.

I got connected to New Directions Career Center through networking. I was searching volunteer opportunities I could get involved with while job searching. New Directions was a great fit.

I got involved quickly teaching classes for their clients Networking, Resume Development and internet job searching. It was great way for me to reach out and help others and still keep myself motivated.

Their clients are fun and motivated. I enjoyed talking having the chance to help people and share my expertise.

After getting laid off, I was at a networking meeting where a New Directions staff member presented info about the organization. Immediately I knew that I wanted to help. I found the staff to be friendly and committed to helping their clients. I was honored to be able to help the clients in their journey to find meaningful employment.

I was newly divorced had no job, didn't know were to go or who to go to for help, the only thing I knew to do was pray, day and night. Someone told me about New Directions Career Cnt. I went and spoke with Cindy K. and she was so helpful and kind, everyone there was very nice at a time, when I could hardly look at myself. They gave me hope and kindness, and support, when I needed it. This is one of the best places for a woman to go to get help with starting back in the job force. These people are great and blessed. If you know of anyone that is jobless and in need of a great place to start, Go, no run to New Directions Career Center. These are very helpful people, and when you are at the lowest point in your life, this is the best place to go..... God Bless every woman that needs help and support, and is on her own. Gods Speed.

New Directions Career Center has offered trained volunteers and staff members for job search assistance here at the library. All the staff and volunteers have been well-versed in their areas, helpful, and friendly. Additionally, they have been very attentive and professional in all their dealings with our library.

I have been a client of the center for two years. The resources are outstanding and the asociates are a delight to deal with. With this current economy, it has been extemely difficult to cultivate the waters of unemployment. They are always there with a kind word, a positive outlook, a gentle nudge and suggestions when you have exhausted every idea of your own. I would recommend this organization to anyone in need of help in their career search!

In November I called New Directions Career Center for help in my life. I was depressed, alone, feeling worthless, out-of-money, frustrated, bitter, angry and full of resentment as I was loosing my apartment and everything that went with personal freedom. I was placed into a 4 week class that would supposedly teach me how to reorganize my life, learn new ways of thinking and embracing the world. Well, what I got was far more than money could have bought. I was able to participate in this program for free because of my income. Little did I know that the emotional pain I came with would be lifted; the financial distress would be bridged; my physical torment woudl be conquered; and my spiritual life which was disorganized would become my greatest strength. I love this program and feel that this program should be in the top 100 training programs nationwide. I have 2.5 years of my PhD program done, a M.A. in Language, Literacy & Culture and a B.A. in African American Studies. Throughout all of my educational experiences this was the richest, most gratifying and personally rewarding journeys I have ever experienced. I found myself, my inner strength and have been able to reprioritize my life in a way that I cannot even begin to say. This program heighten my barriers so I could ovrcome them. It wrapped my emotions into a envelope complete with letting go of my assertiveness. It enabled me to explore skills that I had put into the deepest parts of my mind. It renewed my inner spirit and gave me tools in which to become a healthy individual. Seven months later I have interviewed people in the field of grant writing to explore the local needs and criteria and have now begun writing over 100,000 in grants for a local church. I am receiving on the job training (while being paid through a senior employment center) to learn three computer programs that I need to be marketable. I have begun to develop my Facebook page. I have read books that I never would have to learn how to deal with the present moment, and how to let go of the tragedy, pain and resentment that I had been carrying around for 17 years. I smile, laugh, cry with joy, and beem with levels of excitement that say more than words will ever say. I have even learned to love my mother and for that to happen was awesome. I owe a great deal to this organization for showing me that I needed to believe in myself. FOr all those of you who have disposable income and really want to impact the life of a woman over 50 in an immeasurable way - donate to this organization and change the life of a woman forever. To my donor - whom I have never met, you are the greatest, because without knowing me, but in your belief for this program, I thank you from the bottom of my heart - because if you hadn't cared enough to donate I wouldn't be looking to buy land and build an Art Therapy school in my new hometown. Bridging the unemployment scenario when you are on a cane is hard, when your hair is gray, when your smile is not showing, when you self-esteem is gone. But with a program such as this - new live's, new journeys, new hopes can be built in a way that change and alter the life of a woman forever. Thank you to the team of women who patiently work with us and give us their undivided attention so that we can succeed again. I am forever grateful for their dedication and belief in those of us who have fallen - but can be reborn through New Directions. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Gayle Wanamaker

Ten years ago I was invited to a style show luncheon and was not only fed and entertained, but also surprised to find a whole new purpose for my own life. As a business woman of more than 30 years I was looking for a way to give back to my community. I was touched by the stories of the women whose lives were changed 180 degrees by the New Directions Career Center. They were women from all walks of life, brought together in a common quest to better themselves. The Center is unique not only because of it's amazing success rate in helping women attain their goals, but also for its certified counselors and highly trained staff. These are people who really care about each person who enrolls in our programs. I started on the Woman of Promise Committee, of which I am still a member. The Woman of Promise event each year honors a graduate who has accomplished her goals and who has truly changed her life. The heart warming story of our honoree is the focal point of a gala fundraising event that produces nearly a quarter of our budget each year in April. Just come once and you will be hooked for life. You will be inspired as you hear how each of our graduates has conquered unfathomable odds to emerge the woman they are today. I know I will always be involved in some way with New Directions Career Center. So should you!

I went through their program in '09 and because of their guidence I was encouraged to and am now attending college to obtain my nursing degree. Since my graduation from their program I have found the support from Cindy Kazalia to be constant and up-to-date. Thanks to all of you there at New Directions for helping define my goals and giving me the courage (at 52 years old!) to continue reaching my goals!

New Directions has a program which educates participates on career options. Part of the program is a session with a panel of employers. We discuss the types of jobs we offer and the opportunities in the market. We also provide tips for a professional job search. I have been volunteering since 2006. It has been a wonderful experience to share my insights with those that have a desire to learn. New Directions makes this exchange possible. Thank you!

I learned about New Directions Career Center for Women (NDCC) in 2007, the most hellish year of my life. I was a college graduate but had dead-end jobs, a terrible marriage and no self-esteem. I'd heard about places like this on Oprah. I wrongly thought NDCC was a place for homeless minority women who were high school dropouts, not a place for a white, privileged and prideful college graduate. I couldn't have been more wrong. NDCC was the perfect place for me, and is the perfect place for all sorts of women in every station of life. New Directions was THE impetus for my incredible life transformation. I cannot say enough good things about this organization. Everything that I do today in my career and my relationships is a positive result of my association with NDCC. I even got the black suit that scored me my big break at NDCC's Clothing Closet. What a blessing. In the 4-week class (I was awarded a "scholarship" by NDCC which allowed me to attend - MANY thanks to donors like the United Way of Central Ohio) I learned how to dream again. NDCC is a safe place. The classes are small, and we are all equal. We are all broken. But we all come out of NDCC with more potential than we ever, ever could have imagined for ourselves. Since the New Directions class I took, I started out with small steps, but the biggest thing I adopted was a belief in myself. The invited speakers helped me get a job right away. From that job I eventually dreamed up a life in Hawaii a year later, and now I've been living, working and thriving here for 2 years. NDCC is what helped this ever be a possibility in my mind. NDCC - WOW - Honestly, I feel like I owe my life to them in so many ways. I was so, so broken when I went in. I am now divorced, beautiful, confident, competent in my field (I actually have a "field" now!) and love to inspire others the way NDCC did for me. If you can donate to NDCC, KNOW that they are doing exactly the kinds of things one hopes for non-profits: changing lives. REALLY changing lives. Thank you New Directions. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I am a new volunteer for this program, but I am seeing wonderful support in this community for people involved in a job search and the need for "hands on help." Everyone is professional and dedicated to finding all avenues available for enrichment, guidance, and empowerment.

I started volunteering at New Directions Career Center in 2008. I immediately felt comfortable with the professional staff and the clients they serve. I help out with conducting mock interviews, and teaching classes on effective interviewing, resume writing and cover letters. The clients are always eager to learn and open to advice for their job searches and career advancement. I usually meet the clients after they have ompleted the program and find they are extremely well prepared to begin the next phase of their professional lives. It is exciting to see their enthusiasm and self confidence. As a former recruiter in the local Columbus market, I find that everyone is very professional and prepared for interviewing and securing a new opportunity. I look forward to my continued work with New Directions in the future.

New Directions Career Center provides comprehensive career counseling to individuals, mainly women, and is staffed by licensed counselors who assist clients on an individual basis. The center offers several programs to individuals in transition, regardless of ability to pay, including an extensive 4-week program entitled New Directions. Since 2008, I have volunteered and, most recently completed an internship at the center. In leading/observing such classes as Communication & Assertiveness, Computer Basics, Goal Setting, Understanding Your Career Personality, Identifying Work Values and Networking and Informational Interviewing, I have observed many lives changed, barriers to employment successfully eliminated and economic independence achieved.

I have been a guest speaker for this program since January 1999. As a professional speaker, I motivate and inspire the women to cope with change and deal with their adversities. I also encourage them to continue their education as they work towards their careers. The class sizes are small and the women seem to bond strongly in a short period of time together. Based on their interaction in class, they are supportive of one another and sympathetic to the problems of their classmates. Occasionally one of the women that was in my class will come up to me in the community and say hello. I am always pleased to know that their life situation is better than when I first met them in class. The people who ask me to speak to the classes are very professional. They are also protective of the privacy of each person in the class. During class discussions, the students share what they have focused on in the various class sessions and refer to their resources given to them in the class. They have a "can do" spirit and a sense that life will be easier in the days ahead. They have always spoken highly of this program and are grateful that they could be a part of it.