Photo courtesy of Women’s Resource Center
The Wayne-based nonprofit serves women grappling with a range of issues.
For 45 years, Women’s Resource Center has been resolute in its mission to help women through lifecycle transitions. Elected president of the WRC board of directors earlier this year, Marina Zivik got involved in the organization after she heard that Temple University co-eds were dropping out of school. Most were young mothers, often unmarried and from impoverished backgrounds. “They were all capable, bright students, but just weren’t able to graduate college,” says Zivik.
WRC worked with those students to find childcare, subsidize transportation costs to and from school, and more. These days, WRC continues to support women as they grapple with a range of issues, most rooted in emotional trauma. “We have to help the woman get back on her feet, emotionally and mentally,” she said.
In her time with WRC, Zivik has seen many women return to the center and tell their stories. “It means [they] gained courage and strength and confidence to come back, reflect and share the difficult moments,” she says.
WRC is well poised to help women through everything from pandemics to systemic racism. “With COVID and the social injustice that we observed this year, those needs are more profound and potentially deeper than they were before,” says Zivik. “We have to be extremely agile as an organization.”
