Women of Impact: We are Women United
Thursdays start out quiet in the common area at House of Ruth. A group of women gather at the table, sign in, and await the start of their monthly professional development session with D.C. United. The sessions are far from a typical soccer-centric activity, and for the women of D.C. United's front office, these few hours are among the most meaningful moments of their day.
What began as a one-time workshop to celebrate Women’s History Month in 2023 has since grown into a lasting partnership between D.C. United and House of Ruth, a nonprofit committed to providing safe housing and support for women and families facing homelessness and domestic violence. House of Ruth is the definition of D.C. United’s community values of empowerment, opportunity and service.
The idea to bring interactive professional development sessions for women experiencing transitions came to life came from Danita Johnson, President of Business Operations and Tess Weiss, Community Relations and Foundation Manager, who also leads Women United’s community program. This program is designed to uplift women in transition throughout the District so they may gain and maintain employment to provide a path to upward mobility. In many scenarios, our Women United participants may find themselves in unique circumstances which can easily feel like the possible is not possible. However, with support and encouragement from D.C. United female-identifying staff in the front office, they have been able to develop and learn new skills, gain confidence and achieve the goals they have set out to accomplish to rise above their situations.
The very first session was centered on sharing practical tools like fine-tuning résumés, building your personal brand, preparing for interviews, and building a readily available list of professional references. Over time, it became clear that the true value of the sessions went beyond the activities themselves. The inclusive and safe space created in each room, along with the meaningful conversations and listening ears, proved to be the real gems. Additionally, in each Women United session participants walk way with tangible resources and tools to help them navigate and plan their next steps.
“Through Women United, we’ve built more than just a series of workshops. We’ve created a supportive, empowering community. Our sessions are intentionally designed to support job readiness, confidence building, emotional awareness, and navigating workplace culture. Over time, we’ve seen tangible outcomes: women securing employment, including roles right at Audi Field, finding stable housing, and gaining consistency in the small but critical things, like access to feminine hygiene kits and gathering in a welcoming, newly refurbished space made possible by the D.C. United Foundation. It’s a powerful reminder that when we show up with care and consistency, real and lasting change happens,” said Tess Weiss, Manager of Community Impact & D.C. United Foundation.
Each session is structured with care and clear expectations, creating a space where women feel comfortable sharing and know that what is said in the room stays in the room.
"The program participants truly look forward to the sessions with the women from the D.C. United front office. Over time, the staff have built meaningful relationships with the participants. While the focus is on professional development, the lessons often extend into other areas of life, such as building and improving personal relationships and self-care. Many participants have successfully applied what they have learned to secure and maintain employment. I’m proud of the progress each of the ladies has made to-date through this program," said Seteria Hollinshed, LCSW, Program Coordinator for House of Ruth and an internal champion for the program.
Since the very first session, the program has continued to grow. Women from D.C. United’s front office volunteer their time to co-facilitate sessions and build connections every single month. In fact, many of the staff maintain communication with the ladies at House of Ruth to provide them with support outside of the sessions. The goal is simple: to make sure each woman feels supported, no matter what stage of life she’s in.
While the partnership with House of Ruth continues to deepen, and with every session, new conversations and connections are made, one thing remains the same: we are all Women United.
