Area nonprofits teaming up to improve lives of women, girls

An organization that takes homeless, pregnant and parenting youths under its wing has been "adopted."

Southern Nevada Children First, 720 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 30, has teamed up with Soroptimist International of Las Vegas Valley, which also promotes improvement in the lives of women and girls.

The organizations began collaborating about two years ago, said Monique Harris, executive director of Southern Nevada Children First.

Soroptimist members, who are typically retired women, collected household items for Harris' clients. A Soroptimist woman wrote in her will that her furniture and other items should be bestowed to a needy Southern Nevada Children First woman.

Harris has been the recipient of Soroptimist International of Las Vegas Valley awards and funding.

The latest boost directly serves the children, said Soroptimist International of Las Vegas Valley project manager Virginia Derricott.

The group is funding a revamp of a 10-feet-by-11-feet room reserved for clients' children, who range from newborn to age 5, to sleep and play while their mothers receive support. The program, which Harris launched in 2007, offers social services, classes, computer time and job and life-skills training to homeless, pregnant and parenting youths.

The playroom has had several incarnations, Harris said, and includes cribs, toys and a TV for the children and volunteers who watch them.

It had white walls and carpet that needed to be cleaned repeatedly, Harris said.

"We haven't been able to know what to do with it," she said.

Soroptimist International of Las Vegas Valley worked with Harris on a plan to paint the walls light yellow, add child-friendly flooring, purchase a changing table and establish activity stations.

A Southern Nevada Children First client upped the ante and has painted a mural of a fairy tale scene on one of the walls, Harris said.

"She said she wanted to give back," she said.

Last year, the children of the about 138 women Southern Nevada Children First served used the room, she said.

About 150 more women with children are expected to join services this year, Harris said.

"Our goal is to help young women and girls," Derricott said. "We support nonprofits that support women, too."

For more information about the organizations, visit soroptimistlasvegas
valley.org and childrenfirst-nv.org or call 487-5665.

Contact Centennial and North Las Vegas View reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@viewnews.com or 477-3839.