“Helping Women Overcome their Past”

Jim Grimes, The 33 News

April 16, 2009

Finding a job in this economy can be difficult, but when your last employer was a strip club it can be next to impossible. The nonprofit group, “New Friends New Life” is a faith-based organization located in Dallas that assists women who want to leave the world of sexually-oriented businesses.

The group’s Director, Candace Cain, says hiding the past from a potential employer is usually not an option. Cain says “You just don’t come out and say ‘Yes, I was a stripper or prostitute.’  Some have criminal records.”

Kelly Williams says most employers are reluctant to give her a chance. She says “You just want to do better for yourself, but when they hear that…”  Williams, along with dozens of other women involved with the group, are hoping that will change. “They just need to turn it into a positive,” says University of North Texas Graduate student Whitney Kemp.  “They just need to know how to handle the questions, and let employers know how they’ve changed, and what they’re doing to change,” says Kemp.

Dr. Brian Richardson, with UNT’s Communications Department, says the training is not just helping the women, but it’s also giving his students real world experience.  Richardson says, “They just want to reach out to someone and make a difference.”