CREW-OC Forms Vital Partnership with Chrysalis

By Dennis Kaiser

Recently, a partnership was launched between CREW Orange County (CREW-OC) and Chrysalis, two nonprofit organizations that believe in empowering individuals. For nearly 30 years CREW-OC has provided opportunities for networking, education, leadership development, and philanthropic involvement for commercial real estate professionals. Since 1984, Chrysalis has offered crucial services including job-readiness classes, résumé preparation, practice interviews, online job application assistance, computer and internet access, phone and message center, mental health counseling, scholarship funds, work wardrobe, support groups, and women’s empowerment programs.

Pauline Hale

Connect Media spoke with leaders involved in both organizations to find out what is behind the partnership, why they believe it is important, and ways they plan to help build better business communities. Check out the responses from CREW Orange County’s Pauline Hale, and Chrysalis’ Mark Loranger in our latest 3 CRE Q&A.

Q: What is Chrysalis and how does it serve SoCal communities?
A (Loranger): Chrysalis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a pathway to self-sufficiency for homeless and low-income individuals by providing the resources and support needed to prepare for, find, and retain employment. Since 1984, Chrysalis has helped 66,000 individuals change their lives through jobs. Annually, Chrysalis provides critical employment services to over 4,100 homeless and low-income individuals through its centers in Orange County (Anaheim), downtown Los Angeles (Skid Row), Santa Monica, and the San Fernando Valley (Pacoima).

Q: What was the impetus behind the partnership, and why is it important for business organizations to come together today?
A (Loranger): The impetus was to provide a variety of opportunities for CRE professionals to give time and money back to the community. By working in concert, Chrysalis and CREW-OC are looking forward to helping change lives in Orange County through volunteerism, connections, and support-focused efforts. The recently-published Point in Time count found nearly 7,000 people are experiencing homelessness in Orange County. With unemployment and homelessness reaching crisis levels in Orange County, we are dedicated to helping men and women find a sense of purpose and a path back to dignity and self-sufficiency, and we are grateful to our partners, like CREW-OC, who are helping us change lives.

Q: What are some of the ways CRE industry can support this initiative? We understand you already have some plans in the works.
A (Hale): As a first step, we are organizing a clothing drive. CREW-OC members will generously volunteer to set up co-branded clothing donation bins in their offices. Clean, gently worn, or new business-appropriate clothing and shoes for both men and women will be collected and delivered to Chrysalis’ Orange County center. From there, it will be sorted and distributed to clients for job interviews and to ensure they have the resources to dress for success. I have witnessed the struggles of Chrysalis’ clients and have seen how hard life can be for our fellow human beings. Since these two organizations are committed to providing meaningful resources to promote career development while jointly making the world a better, kinder place, it’s a perfect partnership, and I look forward to doing great things for our community.

To learn more about CREW Orange County, please visit www.crew-oc.org.

To learn more about Chrysalis, please visit www.changelives.org.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser