Jerri Rosen, founder of Working Wardrobes, decided to make a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims. A long-time fashion enthusiast, she combined that love with concern for women needing both skills and a great ensemble to ace a job interview. In 1990, with a handful of friends, she hosted the first Day of Self Esteem: a life-changing event that served 67 women from local domestic violence shelters. That event created the foundation upon which Working Wardrobes became a thriving organization, dedicated to preparing thousands annually to enter and re-enter the workforce.
Over the years, Working Wardrobes adapted to meet the needs of their community. They made their services available to men in 1997 and young adults in 2000. In the early 2000s, they started offering tailored services to address the unique challenges faced by military members and the justice impacted. In 2012, they created VetNet, which offered full wraparound services to both men and women to make the transition from the military into the civilian workforce.
To date, Working Wardrobes has provided over 142,000 people with the resources, confidence, and skills they need to find and maintain gainful employment and achieve lasting economic stability. Their clients come from a diverse set of backgrounds. Whether they served in the military, are impacted by the justice system, survive domestic violence, experience homelessness, or face food insecurity, Working Wardrobes addresses their barriers to gainful employment with individualized support and resources.
Jerri was honored many times for her work with Working Wardrobes and her volunteer efforts, most recently as the first Woman of the Year by J.Jill, in 2020, for “making a difference to the Orange County community.” She led Working Wardrobes for 30 years before she retired in 2021. After a long and courageous battle with cancer, she died in 2025.
Interviewed by Winn Claybaugh, Jerri reminds everyone that something as simple as a donated outfit can rebuild a person’s self-esteem and help them to a fresh start in life. As Jerri often said, “Somebody’s future is hanging in your closet.”
RELATED LINKS
Website: https://www.workingwardrobes.org