Our philosophy

The Maura Clarke Ita Ford Center believes that an individual's education must go beyond the classroom and encompass all walks of life.  Through MCIF's Open Arms Project, participants receive services in 4 different areas:  Empowerment, Legal, Workforce, and Education. 

Workforce:  Entrepreneurship

Our philosophy is to assist economically disadvantaged women to move to economic independence. Our hands-on training includes:

MCIF Crafts course provides participants with assembly, sewing skills, and  to entrepreneurs in the garment industry. In the process of providing specialized sewing services to these entrepreneurs, who are primarily clothing designers, the seamstresses forge connections, generate income, and improve their skills. Additionally, MCIF offers these women training and access to our facilities.

MCIF offers women the opportunity to participate as trainees, to enhance their industry-related skills in our lines of products and their generic soft skills including problem solving, teamwork, and responsibility.

• Crafts, including handmade jewelry
• Greeting Cards (Coming soon!)

Employing our women

Our goal 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

We provide entrepreneurs with access to technical assistance in business planning, capital, and legal services through our resources or referrals to other organizations.