"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings." - Nelson Mandela
Creating Pathways to Economic Independence is the Driving Force of VEINCThe economic instability of low-income and impoverished families weighs more heavily on the shoulders of women than men in today's society due to:
- Domestic Violence - Can push women into a cycle of poverty as a result of job loss, poor health, and homelessness (Source: www.cdc.gov);
- Divorce - Almost 50% of parents with children move into poverty after a divorce (Source: www.heritage.org);
- Low-wage Careers - Retail, hospitality, teaching, child care, and waitressing (Source: www.americanprogress.org);
- Primary Caregiving - Women are more likely than men to take time from work or decrease their work hours to provide 'unpaid' caregiving to their family members (e.g., children, elderly parents, or disabled, or their siblings children) (Source: www.urban.org and www.aauw.org);
- Sex Discrimination - Women are paid 77% of what men make - a 22% gap in average annual wages (Source: www.iwpr.org); and
- Unplanned/Unwanted Pregnancies - Impedes educational and employment opportunities when single mothers bear the cost of raising children alone (Source: www.americanprogress.org)
History
Deborah M. Avens founded Virtuous Enterprises, Inc. (VEINC) in 1996. Aven's passion to launch VEINC grew out of her experience growing up in a low-income home headed by her widowed, disabled mother in Prince George's County, Maryland. At age five, Avens' mother was diagnosed with renal kidney failure and her father died of cancer when she was seven. The disability income Avens' mother received didn't meet basic living and medical expenses. And, Avens recalls spending many heatless winters; bathing with heated water from a hotplate, and going to bed with lettuce and mayonnaise sandwiches.
Avens' mother applied for public assistance to supplement the household income, and this is when Avens discovered the biased attitudes towards women on public assistance; sex discrimination against her mother in a male-dominated career; and sadly, domestic violence from her mother's boyfriend who occasionally helped pay the mortgage.
This life experience is the underlying fuel which gave Avens the notion that women-headed families needed resources and services to create economical stability and independence to avoid reliance of public assistance and abusive partners.
Talking about domestic violence or the inability to pay bills was taboo in Avens' community, so VEINC was launched to get women and girls to talk about their experiences through Biblical characters during home-based fellowships and newsletters. The fellowships were therapeutic because attendees were taught how to look within themselves to find answers to heal their wounded souls and spirits, and strength to conquer their external challenges. When the home-based fellowships outgrew the capacity of Avens' home, she realized women and girls needed access to spiritual, personal, and career enrichment services to achieve balanced and fulfilled lives and VEINC evolved from a support group to a nonprofit organization in 1999.
Mission To transform lives of underserved women and girls of the Washington Region through training and development. This mission is accomplished through:
- Lay spiritual, personal, and career coaching services
- Customized training and development services
- Volunteerism, business partnerships, and alliances
- Entrepreneurial training and mentoring
- Bi-annual conferences
- Online blog and community forums
Vision
To serve as a hub for women and girls of all walks of life to receive resources and services that will foster their development and growth in their families, careers, schools, businesses, and communities.
Our Clients
VEINC was formed to address the challenges underserved women and girls face in obtaining access to services and resources to prepare them for spiritual, emotional, and economical stability. Our 'core' clients are: Our Goals