This podcast originated as a video that you can find on the Founders and Startups YouTube Channel along with two highlight videos:

Piloting a Service on a Shoestring Budget

Measuring Success

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In 2017, Jaime-Alexis Fowler set out to answer the question: "How can we better support people at work?" Jaime-Alexis had often been sought out as a confidante and mentor by individuals who were navigating challenging work situations, and she was drawn to the challenge of creating a robust resource accessible to all who needed it.

Through extensive research and a pilot project, Jaime-Alexis identified a huge gap at critical work moments. Over 40M Americans lack access to support, exacerbating inequality. Without a trusted place to turn to, those with less social capital are more likely to take pay cuts, leave industries all together, or leave jobs without the next role lined up. She and her team recognized that by providing confidential emotional and tactical support during an employee's most challenging moments via text message or live chat, individuals could be made aware of their options and empowered to make the decision about what to do next.

That's where Empower Work comes in.

Founded as a nonprofit organization so that it would be available to anyone who needs it, Empower Work now has a national reach. Trained peer counselors volunteer their time to support people through critical challenges at work. They come from diverse professional backgrounds and are motivated to give back. All go through a selection process and receive robust training to prepare them for the role.

Some of the challenges that Empower Work counselors assist with are:

• Toxic, hostile, negative, or dysfunctional workplaces

• Bullying, intimidating, disrespectful, or demeaning behavior

• Unethical behavior

• Work stress and anxiety

• Microaggressions

• Harassment

• Discrimination

• Performance feedback

• Pay, hours, or benefits issues 

To contact an Empower Work counselor: Send a text to 510-674-1414 or use live chat here: https://www.empowerwork.org/how-it-works

Want to get involved? Learn more about partnering, donating, and volunteering. Or reach out to: team@empowerwork.org.

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Special Thanks To: 

Jaime-Alexis and I send a special thanks to Kevin Gottesman, of Gott Advertising, who introduced us to each other. We've both benefited from his digital marketing and communications strategy expertise, and he's been an Empower Work supporter from its earliest days. Thanks, Kevin!