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Empowerment comes from within
  
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By Holly Cook
It should be stated for the record that Patty Meagher didn’t want to meet with Colorado Community Newspapers for an interview.
The retired Newton Middle School math teacher adamantly said the story should be about the Empowerment Program, where she helps women get their General Education Development diplomas — not about her.
But it’s impossible to tell the story about the nonprofit organization without painting a picture of the people who operate it — especially one like Meagher who believes she’s found her calling validating women who need it most.
The mission of The Empowerment Program is to provide education, employment assistance, health, housing referrals and support services for women who are in disadvantaged positions because of incarceration, poverty, homelessness, HIV/AIDS infection, or involvement in the criminal justice system.
And it’s all free.
“I’m a part of this organization,” Meagher said, “but I’m a very small part.”
The Littleton resident, who taught math for more than 20 years in the district, spends three days a week at 1600 York St. in Denver privately tutoring women seeking their GEDs.
“Mary Ann has been on me for years to retire and come work with her,” Meagher said.
“Last year I knew the time was right to do it. It’s just so fun. It’s so wonderful.”
Ask Mary Ann Figlino, who oversees the GED program at Empowerment how she feels about Meagher coming on board, and her answer is simple.
“We’re the lucky ones,” Figlino says. The twinkle in her eye validates the statement as she leans over and whispers.
A modest Meagher waves her hand and rolls her eyes.
But in speaking with her colleagues, it became clear that Meagher played a significant role in revamping the math department at her former school.
Staff and students recognized her efforts in May when she retired, by highlighting the innovative way she taught using concepts from CBS’s hit show “Numbers.”
They even gave her a signed photo of the leading actor, Meagher said.
“I don’t know Geometry, and I don’t care to,” Figlino said. “Patty knows it all, and she’s brought us into the 21st century.”
Women now can take practice GED tests online because of Meagher’s efforts.
Meagher recalls a story when some of the women at Empowerment told her, “Mary Ann doesn’t know anything after fractions.”
Figlino’s version of the story replaced the word “anything” with an appropriate expletive.
“They’re wrong,” Figlino said with a laugh. “I know decimals.”
But determining who can calculate equations best is merely splitting hairs.
“Yes it’s about the math,” Meagher said, “but it’s so much more.”
When Meagher speaks about the women at Empowerment she hushes her voice to not offend anyone. She refers to the women by first names and knows tidbits about each one. When she shares moments from her time with the women, her eyes tear up — nearly every time.
This is no clearer than when she relays a story to Figlino, about a woman who stood five hours outside a church in Denver to get Christmas presents for her kids. The woman, according to Meagher, not only fulfilled her children’s wishes, but returned to Empowerment on Monday with two garbage sacks full of gifts for others to take home.
“And she’s needy too,” Figlino said.
They know the success rate is hit or miss for the women at Empowerment, but the private tutoring offers something more.
“They come in and do a little math and reading. Some may never pass the GED, but they’re there because they want support, encouragement, and they want to be validated,” Meagher said. “They just have to be validated.”
Validation comes in varying forms at Empowerment, ranging from anger-management programs, to life skills training, to job-readiness training.
In one room, women sew “Flossy Bunnies” — a project that provides an opportunity for disadvantaged women to learn new job and business skills as they work. They also earn money.
Down the hall an orientation begins with nearly 20 more new women.
In Room 303, a group of women practice their fractions, and beg for Meagher’s help.
The list of services goes on and on with each remarkable in its own right, but no other method of validation for these troubled women is more obvious than the deep-rooted care that runs through the hallways at Empowerment.
The organization and the services simply could not be if it weren’t for the hearts and souls of the staff — and that’s the difference between telling a story about a program, or telling a story about Patty Meagher.
“I don’t see any difference in terms of my ability, my ministry, my purpose, to encourage, support or empower the student in either middle school or here, to be in touch with their own talents,” Meagher said. “The only difference is the background. They’re coming with a lot more meat.”
Volunteer opportunities and community outreach programs are available at Empowerment.
For more information, visit www.empowermentprogram.org.
The retired Newton Middle School math teacher adamantly said the story should be about the Empowerment Program, where she helps women get their General Education Development diplomas — not about her.
But it’s impossible to tell the story about the nonprofit organization without painting a picture of the people who operate it — especially one like Meagher who believes she’s found her calling validating women who need it most.
The mission of The Empowerment Program is to provide education, employment assistance, health, housing referrals and support services for women who are in disadvantaged positions because of incarceration, poverty, homelessness, HIV/AIDS infection, or involvement in the criminal justice system.
And it’s all free.
“I’m a part of this organization,” Meagher said, “but I’m a very small part.”
The Littleton resident, who taught math for more than 20 years in the district, spends three days a week at 1600 York St. in Denver privately tutoring women seeking their GEDs.
“Mary Ann has been on me for years to retire and come work with her,” Meagher said.
“Last year I knew the time was right to do it. It’s just so fun. It’s so wonderful.”
Ask Mary Ann Figlino, who oversees the GED program at Empowerment how she feels about Meagher coming on board, and her answer is simple.
“We’re the lucky ones,” Figlino says. The twinkle in her eye validates the statement as she leans over and whispers.
A modest Meagher waves her hand and rolls her eyes.
But in speaking with her colleagues, it became clear that Meagher played a significant role in revamping the math department at her former school.
Staff and students recognized her efforts in May when she retired, by highlighting the innovative way she taught using concepts from CBS’s hit show “Numbers.”
They even gave her a signed photo of the leading actor, Meagher said.
“I don’t know Geometry, and I don’t care to,” Figlino said. “Patty knows it all, and she’s brought us into the 21st century.”
Women now can take practice GED tests online because of Meagher’s efforts.
Meagher recalls a story when some of the women at Empowerment told her, “Mary Ann doesn’t know anything after fractions.”
Figlino’s version of the story replaced the word “anything” with an appropriate expletive.
“They’re wrong,” Figlino said with a laugh. “I know decimals.”
But determining who can calculate equations best is merely splitting hairs.
“Yes it’s about the math,” Meagher said, “but it’s so much more.”
When Meagher speaks about the women at Empowerment she hushes her voice to not offend anyone. She refers to the women by first names and knows tidbits about each one. When she shares moments from her time with the women, her eyes tear up — nearly every time.
This is no clearer than when she relays a story to Figlino, about a woman who stood five hours outside a church in Denver to get Christmas presents for her kids. The woman, according to Meagher, not only fulfilled her children’s wishes, but returned to Empowerment on Monday with two garbage sacks full of gifts for others to take home.
“And she’s needy too,” Figlino said.
They know the success rate is hit or miss for the women at Empowerment, but the private tutoring offers something more.
“They come in and do a little math and reading. Some may never pass the GED, but they’re there because they want support, encouragement, and they want to be validated,” Meagher said. “They just have to be validated.”
Validation comes in varying forms at Empowerment, ranging from anger-management programs, to life skills training, to job-readiness training.
In one room, women sew “Flossy Bunnies” — a project that provides an opportunity for disadvantaged women to learn new job and business skills as they work. They also earn money.
Down the hall an orientation begins with nearly 20 more new women.
In Room 303, a group of women practice their fractions, and beg for Meagher’s help.
The list of services goes on and on with each remarkable in its own right, but no other method of validation for these troubled women is more obvious than the deep-rooted care that runs through the hallways at Empowerment.
The organization and the services simply could not be if it weren’t for the hearts and souls of the staff — and that’s the difference between telling a story about a program, or telling a story about Patty Meagher.
“I don’t see any difference in terms of my ability, my ministry, my purpose, to encourage, support or empower the student in either middle school or here, to be in touch with their own talents,” Meagher said. “The only difference is the background. They’re coming with a lot more meat.”
Volunteer opportunities and community outreach programs are available at Empowerment.
For more information, visit www.empowermentprogram.org.
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