LIVES AROUND. THAT’S THE GOAL OF A SPECIAL PROGRAM AIMED AT HELPING HOMELESS WOMEN GET JOBS. KCRA 3’S LISA GONZALES WAS THERE FOR TODAY’S BIG GRADUATION. CARLY RUGGIERO. VERY BIG DAY. VERY BIG DAY FOR ME. A BIG DAY AND A NEW BEGINNING. MONICA MONTALVO FRENCH IS ONE OF 17 WOMEN WHO JUST GRADUATED FROM THE WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT JOB READINESS PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS EVERYTHING TO ME RIGHT NOW. I CAME FROM THE BOTTOM AND I’M MOVING TO THE TOP. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. A SINGLE MOTHER WHO EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MONTALVO FRENCH, DECIDED TO JOIN THE INTENSE NINE WEEK PROGRAM TO TURN HER LIFE AROUND. WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT IS STABILITY. IT’S A LOT OF WHAT I DIDN’T HAVE BEFORE. IT’S GIVEN ME A LOT OF PROMISE AND A LOT OF HOPE. I REALLY ENJOY IT. I COME EVERY DAY LOOKING FORWARD TO A BRIGHTER DAY. EVERY DAY. I LOVE WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT. WE FEEL EMPOWERED. THOSE NINE WEEKS ARE VERY INTENSE AND COMPACT. THEY HAVE A VOLUNTEER CAREER MENTOR THAT THEY WORK WITH AN EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST, A HOUSING SPECIALIST AND A SOCIAL WORKER SO THAT THEY CAN REALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR HOMELESS SITUATION. LISA COPE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT. THIS IS THEIR 97TH GRADUATING CLASS, AND THEY HAVE FOUND THE SECRET TO SUCCESS. WE SCREEN FOR MOTIVATION. IF SOMEBODY IF ONE OF THE SHELTERS OR ONE OF THE OTHER REFERRING AGENCIES MANDATES THAT THEY COME, THEN IT’S NOT THEIR CHOICE AND THEY’RE NOT GOING TO INVEST. WHAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTED FROM THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL? I WANT TO GO INTO HEALTH CARE AND BE A NURSE FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE NURSING HOMES. PLANNING A FUTURE TO HELP OTHERS, JUST LIKE SHE WAS, HELPED AND EMPOWERED IN SACRAMENTO LISA GONZALES KCRA THREE NEWS. IF YOU’D LIKE TO MAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE YEAR END GIFT TO HELP END HOMELESSNESS IN SACRAMENTO,