Little Black Dress Initiative
The Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) is an advocacy event that seeks to raise community awareness to the issue of poverty in Arizona. Throughout the week of June 12th – June 18th, 2023, LBDI Advocates will wear the same little black dress for five consecutive days to illustrate the effects poverty can have on a woman’s access to resources, confidence, and professional opportunities.
• Dress: The little black dress is a visual representation of the lack of opportunity for women and families living in poverty.
· Button: Wearing the button that reads “Ask me about my Dress,” invites dialogue among colleagues, friends, and strangers to raise awareness around poverty and its impact on families.
About Hope's Crossing
Living in poverty is most often thought of as low income, working poor, and lack of access to financial resources. While all of that is true, poverty expands beyond income and cross the threshold of our emotional and mental health, cultural poverty, and that of our belief systems passed down through generations. Diminishing barriers for women at the various levels of poverty restores their sense of hope, rebuilds families, and creates thriving and sustainable communities.
Hope's Crossing is participating in the Little Black Dress Initiative (LBDI) aimed to bring awareness to the effects of poverty on women and families. During this week-long campaign, Hope's Crossing will be fundraising to expand programs that will combat the impact on women experiencing all level of poverty. Our programs and services are designed to build self -confidence, self-esteem, and arm them with the life skills and training necessary to become contributing members of our community.
Join The Challenge
Join the Challenge and help us raise funds.
Hope’s Crossing is seeking LBDI advocates that are interested in participating in the week-long virtual event as team leaders and members that will participate in this online awareness and fundraising event. Check out our campaign page: Hope’s Crossing’s Little Black Dress Initiative 2023. For additional details, please contact Laura Bulluck@602.795.8098 or Laura@Hopescrossing.org.
Meet Victoria
A single mom of 1 son and an Army Veteran. Victoria enrolled in Hope’s Crossing Fundamentals of Freedom program in 2016, looking to restore her self-esteem and rebuild her confidence after an experience with the criminal justice system. After losing her Nursing License, Victoria was searching for employment. Victoria graduated from the Fundamentals of Freedom Program in 2017.
With the support of Hope’s Crossing team and Veterans Services, Victoria enrolled in the ASU School of Social work and was able to complete her internship at Hope’s Crossing working with women on a similar journey. Victoria also obtained her MSW at ASU and again, interning with Hope’s Crossing, she begin to harness the self-esteem and confidence necessary to step into her new career, working with the VA.
Victoria is still connected to Hope’s Crossing and volunteers as the Community Outreach Coordinator part-time. If you look closely, you just might meet her tonight. Because of the support of the Little Black Dress Campaign, Victoria’s Little Black Dress Story is an example that when you empower a woman, you can change the world.
Meet Dana
Had years of domestic abuse as the victim and the abuser. Dana enrolled in the Hope’s Crossing program in 2018 seeking support in rebuilding her self-esteem, ending the cycle of abuse, and helping her build discipline around healthy relationships.
Dana completed the Fundamentals of Freedom Life Skills program in 2019 and began to rebuild her life, mending relationships and mastering healthy communication.
Dana was able to maintain employment on her journey to wholeness and her Little Black Dress Story includes showing up whole, healthy, and confident in who she is as a woman.
Meet Cynthia
59-year-old mom with adult children and teenage grandchildren. Cynthia’s journey leads her to years of childhood trauma, abuse, addiction, and homelessness. As a woman of strong faith, Cynthia has a passion for art and artistic expression and uses this passion to share her story.
Cynthia enrolled in Hope’s Crossing program in 2018, looking for support in her addiction recovery, rebuilding her self-esteem, and reconnecting with her family. All of which she felt was impossible. Cynthia enrolled in the Fundamentals of Freedom Life Skills Program in 2019 and graduated from the program in 2020. Cynthia’s long-term goal was to find employment, but in her words, “my first order of business is to get me AA degree from Phoenix College”.
In May 2022, Cynthia graduated from Phoenix College with an AA Degree in Art. The next stop for Cynthia is employment and we are honored to support her achieve this goal too. Because of the support of the Little Black Dress Campaign, Cynthia’s Little Black Dress Story is an example of grit and determination.
Meet Liz
Liz is a passionate educator working with the kiddos in the Catholic School System. Liz has been on a journey to transform her life from years of domestic abuse from a family living with alcohol addictions.
Liz enrolled in the Hope’s Crossing programs in 2019, seeking help to rebuild her self-esteem, take charge of her self-worth and rebuild her life.Although Liz has a Little Black Dress Story is centered around healing and transformation, at the center of it all, Liz shared she must maintain her employment to remain sustainable.
Liz enrolled in the Fundamentals of Freedom program in 2019, COVID has prevented her from attending in-person classes but is actively participating in our virtual Grief and Coping Classes.
With the support of the Hope’s Crossing team, Liz continues to fight through the barriers that hold her back and maintain her course towards a renewed mindset. Because of the support from amazing donors and the Little Black Dress Campaign, Liz’s Little Black Dress Story is filled with hope for her future and a healthy support system that she can count on when needed.
Meet Mimi
“MiMi”, a single mother of 4 beautiful children who has had a journey filled with multiple experiences with the criminal justice system. MiMi enrolled in the Hope’s Crossing program in 2014, looking desperately to find a program that can help her once and for all maintain her sobriety.
MiMi enrolled in the Fundamentals of Freedom program Life Skills program seeking support to understand her addiction, and her criminal behavior and rebuild her self-worth.
With the support of the Hope’s Crossing team, MiMi was able to graduate from the Fundamentals of Freedom program and began a 6-year journey of Sobriety. Because of the support from amazing donors and the Little Black Dress Campaign, MiMi’s Little Black Dress Story continues to be a bright light for other Hope’s Crossing clients she speaks to.
Meet Vee
A woman of restored faith, after a lifetime of struggles to overcome alcohol addiction. As a member of the Navajo Community, Vee’s culture has been a light for her on her journey to recovery. A mother of 3 daughters and 1 son, Vee is working very hard to maintain her sobriety and heal from the lifelong trauma that served as a source of her addiction.
In 2016, Vee enrolled in Hope’s Crossing program to look for resources to help her rebuild her self-esteem, start a path of sobriety and find employment to sustain herself.
After a roller coaster of setbacks and relapses, Vee finally enrolled in the Fundamentals of Freedom Program in 2019, funded in part by the Little Black Dress Campaign. Vee was able to get intensive emotional support from the Hope’s Crossing team, graduate from the program, and lock in the skills necessary to maintain her sobriety.
Because of the support of the Little Black Dress Campaign, Vee’s Little Black Dress Story is an inspiration for us all. Vee dressed up in her symbolic Little Black Dress and obtained employment and is now happily married.