I’ll bet you’re all dying to know who has won the chocolate?! I did. I ate it, it’s gone.
Just kidding! There was a tie, so both Rachel and Meg have won the candy. Please send me a place where I can forward it to! Also, as a reminder, please share the newsletter with friends and enemies. Finally, I am going to commit to sending this out every two weeks. I have been a bit loose on the send out date…
We had several couples over for fun last night, outside and didn’t wear masks. Scandalous! We wore dresses, despite the cold, and the guys wore a coat and tie. Kind of a throw back to when people dressed up to go to work. The fellas were jazzed to dust off their snazzy duds. This brings me to a reflection on men’s clothing I would like to address.
Men look better in a suit. Ok, maybe not “better” but smarter? yes, I think smarter. And dashing. They look better because the seem to have direction which I guess is comforting and a turn on. Like the man-in-uniform effect. Do women still think a man in uniform, a suit, etc is sexier than sweats? Why? I mean, what is the difference, really? I don’t know, but, a well dressed man is a rare thing of beauty these days. Meanwhile, We women trot out our latest, up to date threads for almost any reason: kid pick up, grocery shopping, mammogram.
Behold this example of an extremely well dressed guy, Colin Firth. He even looks good wielding a murderous ax. Note the Perfect pocket square and french cuff shirt just an inch below the suit jacket sleeve.
when they (old proverb) say “the clothing makes the man” they have a point. The clothing makes the man look better, sure. And, by virtue of looking better he is probably treated better than a guy in ripped jeans and a t shirt. Mark Twain said” Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” Mark was a strange guy, right?
In a Google search of the phrase above, here is one of the odd questions they show that people have asked:
“How does clothing affect behavior? According to one study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, wearing clothes associated with intelligence, such as a doctor's coat, a judge's robe, or a pilot's uniform, makes one feel and act smarter. Ultimately, your mood can be changed based on the clothes you wear.”
I say, let’s all spiff up and feel better about ourselves and each other! Onward!
This week’s newsletter has a different sort of interview in store for you. I hope you will read what Jennifer has to say with great care. Her work and that of Women’s Lunch Place is vital to the struggling women of Boston. If you are not from Boston, please seek out the organization in your area that serves a similar purpose: supporting women at risk and in need.
Maven of the Week: Jennifer Hanlon Wigon (in her own words)
In the Fall of 2019, I stepped into the role of Executive Director at Women’s Lunch Place, a day shelter and advocacy center in Boston that provides nutritious food and wrap-around services to women experiencing homelessness and poverty. I provide strategic leadership and management with responsibility to oversee and lead day-to-day operations, develop and implement a strategic vision, execute the agency's mission and ensure continued alignment of its programs, and advance fundraising efforts and develop a culture of philanthropy. I work closely as a strategic partner with the WLP Board of Directors to increase public awareness of WLP and strengthen its local presence.
Donate to Women’s Lunch Place and I will match it (up to $1,000)!
Was there the need for an organization like The Women’s Lunch Place prior to deinstitutionalization of mental health care in the late 1970s-1990s? Did one exist?
While private and public institutions have existed to serve individuals and families experiencing the effects of poverty, the rate of individuals experiencing homelessness increased dramatically in the early 1980’s. Due to this increase, the overnight shelters began to close during the day to focus resources. While a few daytime options existed for men, our founders observed that there were no safe options for women, and particularly no services directed specifically to the unique needs of women. Their goal was to create a safe space that offered nutritious food and community.
With the impact of deinstitutionalization, my understanding is that a rise in income inequality contributed significantly to further homelessness. Essentially, low-income housing options became beyond the reach of many poor individuals and families. Government initiatives and private investments can play a part. For example, a reduction in SROs (single room occupancy units) either due to private investment in developing higher end housing or public initiatives to “clean up” depressed areas (where poor people can afford to live). This is somewhat reflected in recent history in Boston with the return of many higher wealth individuals to the city and the resulting pressure on housing prices. It’s definitely a complicated topic with economic issues intertwined with mental health and substance use disorders.
Did you close down during COVID at any time and where did the women go?
Because of the limitations of our physical space (we are located in the basement of a historical church) we were challenged to safely operate the community space and pivoted to take-out meals, a Mobile Food Pantry, and assertive outreach advocacy. We kept all three of our main program areas - healthy meals, direct care and advocacy – open to serve our guests. In fact we expanded our capacity, producing an additional 1200 meals a week for delivery throughout Boston to respond to the critical rise in food insecurity which quadrupled when the pandemic hit. We also increased our capacity in direct care and advocacy, continuing with our plans to implement a clinical internship program. Our advocates ran weekly housing workshops, instituted home visits to ensure stabilization, and began surveying for tech needs to ensure guests could stay connected to their health care providers and other supports. Direct Care staff distributed emergency PPE, developed a new laundry system for guests, supplied toiletries, emergency clothing and other supplies. Direct Care and Advocacy staff worked together to triage guests and quickly connect them with support and services. The overnight shelters stayed open during the day so women could remain in place. There were also several new temporary emergency shelters that came on line to de-densify the large overnight shelters. WLP partnered with St. Francis House on a 100 person hotel conversion project. We provided 2 meals a day (breakfast and lunch) and provided housing and advocacy services to the 24 women at the site. We recently reopened our community space with our traditional restaurant-style meal service!
How many meals are typically served a day? Do the number of meals vary with the weather?
In “normal operations” prior to COVID we served approximately 325 meals/day, but that numbered often pushed towards 400/day. The meal numbers do vary with the weather in that if a bad storm is forecasted, the overnight shelters will generally remain open during the day and encourage guests to stay for their safety. They also vary throughout the month, with the heaviest attendance often in the latter part of the month when financial support like social security and other benefits are depleted.
Do men work at WLP? (just curious)
Yes, we have a couple men on staff. One of our fabulous kitchen staff, with the most incredible knife skills, and our Marketing & Communications Manager. We also have many male volunteers, Board and Advisory Committee members, Young Professionals, and of course, donors that support our mission.
Do you think you have seen the worst of the opioid addiction spike in your guests?
That is difficult to know. On the one hand there is more focus on this public health emergency, but on the other, substance use disorders flourishes in isolation, and this pandemic has certainly been isolating for many. The economic impact of COVID has taken a heavy toll on women’s employment, and we know that translates to housing destabilization. All the health, economic and personal anxieties of the pandemic unfortunately have a negative impact on substance use disorders.
You mentioned the population coming to WLP is aging, where are the younger homeless and vulnerable women going?
23% of our guests are under age 45 so we do serve this demographic. There are service agencies particularly focused on youth homelessness, but other than that I don’t think there is a particular service agency younger homeless women attend. We have many guests that sleep outside, some in the tent cities you hear of in the news, but many that hide as best they can for both safety and to avoid contact with systems that they do not trust.
Did the closing of the Long Island shelter affect WLP?
WLP saw an increase in the number of guests with substance use disorders who had previously received supportive services there. It impacted our guests because there were fewer overnight beds in the system.
Important WLP numbers at a glance: Please add to the list
Number of employees: 25
Number of volunteers: 400+ individuals and 125+ corporate and community groups
Number of guests daily: or, meals served – we serve about 250 women a day and over 1500 unique visitors annually. We are currently serving about 400 meals a day through both our internal meals program and our community meals program.
List of important demographics
Percent of women who have been sexually assaulted?
Research shows that 92% of women who are homeless have experience severe sexual and/or physical assault. The mortality rate for a homeless woman is 10 times that of a housed woman.
Percent of women over 55?
56% of our guests are age 55 and older.
Under 55? Under 30? Or, who is coming to you age wise...
Age Breakdown:
18-30 7%
31-45 16%
46-54 20%
55-64 23%
65-74 21%
75+ 12%
Racial breakdown?
White 36%
African American 24%
Asian 19%
Multi-racial 11%
Native American 8%
Other 8%
Percent with kids?
We do not currently track this data.
Percent with arrests?
22% of our guests self-report past/current incarceration. This type of information is often underreported, and our staff estimate it is over 50% of our guest population.
Percent homeless?
60% of our guests are homeless. Many others live in unsafe or unstable housing.
Where are they from? Foreign born? Born in the US? From Massachusetts?
We do not currently track this data.
What do women do with their kids when there?
Because our hours are 7am-2pm, dependent children would most often be in school during this time. However, we do have children in the shelter, especially on the weekend. Our programming is focused on women verses children/families, and while we welcome and serve children, we also try to provide information and guidance on programming that would be beneficial to the children. That said, when kids are in our community, our staff goes above and beyond to welcome and entertain them, and if there is an infant, let’s just say there is a lot of staff competition to give that mom/guardian a break!
What would you like people to know about WLP?
I would people to know that we serve an incredibly vulnerable population. 70% of people living in poverty in the US are women and children. Most of our guests have lacked access to the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) like safe neighborhoods, good educations, healthcare, and living wage jobs. Many have suffered trauma and/or are members of multi-generation families experiencing poverty. For 38 years WLP has provided a safe daytime location where a woman can engage in community – or not. Some of our guests with mental health challenges just want to sit alone and not engage – that is ok; we are still providing safety and support. We are built on the 5-tier public health model in which every guests has access to basics – in our case safety and nutrition. Others will move further along to access supportive services and create pathways to independence.
What books are on your bedside table?
Right now I am reading Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall which was a gift from one of our Advocates. It is a critique of the feminist movement and a call to a broader, more inclusive platform focused on basic needs (SDOH) and away from the privilege of traditional white feminists. I also just pulled Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens off the shelf. It’s one of the most beautiful books I’ve read in many years and I am looking forward to revisiting it. Finally, I have a daily check-in with a gift from a friend that has sustained me through a difficult loss – Healing After Lossby Martha Whitmore Hickman.
What do you do to relax?
Not enough! Thankfully we have two dogs that get me up and out, and nothing beats a walk on the beach at low tide – a favorite weekend activity.
What category would you add to the Guide?
I am an advocate for openness about and access to resources for mental health. Would be great to have that integrated in your platform.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
For the longest time I wanted to be a doctor – a surgeon actually – and my high school studies were focused on the sciences. I even interned at MGH. For some unknown teenage reason, when I was applying to college, I suddenly decided I wanted to study business – and that’s what I did. After a couple decades in the non-profit space, I like to think I have translated those business skills to helping heal various communities.
IS there a recipe you would like me to add to the newsletter?
I actually love to cook but don’t follow too many recipes in my day to day meal prep. I love middle eastern cuisine. My daughter and I have worked our way through many of the recipes in Jerusalem by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi and Soframiz by Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick. However, the recipe I will share is for a Lemon Souffle Cake that is my son’s favorite. It’s on my mind because he is coming home this weekend from college to get his first COVID vaccine shot and has dropped a lot of hints about it being served! It’s a great springtime recipe.
Lemon Souffle Cakes (serves 6-8)
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
4 egg whites
Homemade whipped cream
Mint to garnish
Preheat oven to 325 F.
Lightly coat six, 10 oz, ramekins with nonstick spray.
Beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
Add sugar and beat until combined.
Beat in egg yolks until creamy.
Gradually beat in lemon peel, lemon juice, flour, salt and milk – beat 3 minutes on medium speed.
In separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Fold yolk mixture into beaten egg whites.
Divide evenly among prepared cups.
Place in roasting pan and add hot water to reach halfway up the sides of ramekins.
Bake uncovered for 10 minutes.
Reduce heat to 300 F and bake 30 minutes more or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool and chill.
Loosen sides and invert on plates.
Garnish with whipped cream and mint.
Question of the Week!
What is your favorite Spring Flower?
Dogwood blossom. Each year I can’t wait for the dogwood to bloom. It’s a late bloomer …and does not bloom until around Mother’s Day. The bloom lasts a long time: close to four weeks. The soft pink is my favorite. The showy part of the dogwood flower is actually not the flower at all but the bracts (protective leaves) If you look closely, the flower is actually the yellow cluster in the center.
Hyacinth, any color. The smell is something that i have never found in a manmade product. So, I wait for spring each year in anticipation of my favorite smell.
Crocus. I can see the winter is almost over when I see a crocus! Full of hope.
I hope you have enjoyed the latest newsletter. Please consider donating your time and/or money to the Women’s Lunch Place. They do vital work in our city for its less fortunate women.
And finally, for all our sakes and your own put some snazzy clothes on!
Kim