Participants learn an ancient art and modern job skills

September 9, 2009

Standing at a tub of something that  looks for all the world like purple oatmeal, Syd dips a frame into the vat and gently pulls out what  soon will be two more sheets of beautiful handmade paper. With a practiced hand, she pushes a few extra flower petals and leaves into the pulp before setting the form aside to dry.

Scattered around the tidy WomanCraft studio on Chicago's West Side, nearly a dozen other women are quietly engaged in creating , finishing, and preparing to mail the  unique, sustainable paper products that come from this program. In one corner of the industrial loft,  memory books, note cards, picture frames, and custom wedding and corporate invitations fill several plastic bins.

Like Syd, the women working on this sunny October morning all have  faced a variety of barriers to employment—from homelessness to addiction, from domestic violence to incarceration. And also like Syd, they're now all earning a paycheck, serving as part of a team, and preparing for future employment opportunities.

"We offer two kinds of employment here: transitional jobs, where women work here for several months, and artisan positions, which are ongoing jobs for as long as the women want them," says director Nancy Phillips. "Both offer the women skills in teamwork, communications, problem solving, and critical thinking." 

WomanCraft has been in operation for a decade, started by Deborah's Place as part of its mission to break the cycle of homelessness for women in Chicago. Last summer, the program became a part of Heartland Alliance, which added the transitional job component to its operations.

"We're a social enterprise. We market our product and think about sales, like any small business, but we are in business to provide employment to women who need the opportunity," Phillips says. "Our products are made from shredded, reused office paper, so we're a green business, as well."

For Irene, who has been an artisan at WomanCraft for four years, the special nature of the product makes the work even more meaningful. "Seeing the paper ready at the end gives me a sense of pride and self-confidence that I helped make that. And we get thank you cards sometimes from the brides, and I like knowing that we had a positive effect on somebody's life," she says.

WomanCraft has expanded the last few years, as good press has fueled an increase in demand for custom wedding invitations. Those ecologically minded couples around the country now account for about three-quarters of its business. As the market for corporate products continues to expand, Phillips hopes to see a growth rate of 25 to 30 percent a year. "We have the space and equipment," she says. "With more market demand, we can keep adding more women working here. Our customers know that purchasing from WomanCraft allows us to support more women who have the courage and drive to create a better future for themselves and those around them."

• Learn more about WomanCraft

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