WOW: WOMAN OF WONDER ROZA ARZOLA AND JILL HALVERSON DOWNTOWN WOMENâS CENTER
These two WOWs prove that when we come together, even from the most distant places and past, we can create solutions, community and loving unity. In this case of WOW, the founding mothers of the Downtown Women's Center. Roza, among thousands found herself on the streets of LA in the mid 70âs after the closing of the state run psychiatric hospitals. Although mental illness haunted her, she was exceptionally resourceful and with her experience as a cook and housemaid, she sort of created her own B&B. She would lay out cardboard for other homeless to sleep on and cook for them in exchange for their promise to watch out for herâŚ. Brings me such awful chills keeping in mind that the unaccompanied homeless womanâs reality at night is to simply keep moving on foot to be safe. Luckily for Rosa and so many women to follow, Jill Halverson had a dream, a plan and a nest egg. Jill, a social worker met Roza in the parking lot where Roza had settled. Jill noticed over the conversations over coffee that although Roza was homeless with some mental illness, she was a bright, loving, interesting woman with a keen sense of humor. Jill also realized that unlike homeless men, that the simplest things, like staying cleanâŚ.which was really important to Roza, were near impossible because city services were not available for homeless women like they were for men. Jill would watch Roza collect water in pails and then set them in the sun to heat up enough so she could the create a cardboard shower enclosure to bathe. Jill found her mission. Using her life savings she bought a house downtown in 1975 and open the doors to the first shelter for women only, where there was always a pot of coffee brewing and Roza had her first place to call home in years. Today the Downtown Women's Center has moved and renovated an old shoe factory to a beautiful day shelter that feeds, educates and provided health services, but also houses around 71 homeless womanâŚone of them until recently when she need additional care was Roza, who is still a bright hope for all women. Two women, one mission âŚâŚ..WOW!! Beauties- Please look for the details on the Holiday Blessing Bag driveâŚâŚ. I know you have at least one âimpulse buyâ handbag in your collection that is just never right. Let it go and get some real girl love this holiday. Pull it out and start filling it with that extra sample or gift bag item you will never use. pick up an extra chapstick or box of feminine product or pack of gum and watch your blessing bag grow. AND that included you male Beauties too! xoxox Learn more about the Downtown Women's Center at @www.downtownwomenscenter.org
