What it does
Ncjwla ensures economic justice and equity for women in los angeles through direct cash assistance, skill building, and advocating for policies that safeguard women's financial stability and prosperity. We work in community with women to create a los angeles wherein all women succeed financially, physically, socially, and emotionally. We believe when women achieve financial independence and stability, we will disrupt systems that perpetuate poverty and build a los angeles where everyone thrives.when women thrive, we all benefit.
Council thrift shops:ncjwla has operated thrift stores and a donation center ("the council shop") for over 100 years in order to process and distribute donated goods at markedly discounted prices to communities in need, operate a career program that provides a pathway for women to return to work through skill and network building and job placement, implement community service engagements, and fund ncjwla's programs that alleviate poverty and provide economic stability and mobility. Additionally, ncjwla provides vouchers to its stores for individuals and families for needed clothing and household goods. Since 2010, ncjwla has provided over $3.9m through clothing vouchers and free clothing distribution events. During the los angeles fires in january 2025, ncjwla issued over $239,000 in vouchers and opened a pop-up center, distributing over $595,000 worth of clothing and household goods to impacted families.
Stability programs (formerly critical response services):ncjwla operates stability programs with the fundamental philosophical commitment that cash, rental and emergency assistance are the most essential building blocks to achieving financial stability. These programs are available to female heads of household, their families, and their communities in time of financial crisis to ensure transition to stable conditions. Housing stability and the rental assistance program (rap) provides ongoing cash payments for community members in the city of west hollywood, and those in la county that are referred through community partnerships. Ncjwla is proud to be one of the first nonprofits in la to develop, launch, and administer multiple guaranteed income (gi) pilot projects, including the pregnancy assistance and income for diabetics (paid) program that distributes $1,000/month over 18 months to 150 pregnant females with diabetes. In 2025, the clothing and household goods assistance program (chap), provided retail gift cards to referrals through community partners, focused on providing clothing assistance to women and families impacted by the la fires. In early 2025, $239,500 in retail vouchers and over $596,000 in clothing and household goods were distributed, supporting more than 4,000 fire-impacted residents.
Prosperity and community outreach (formerly advocacy and community engagement):prosperity programs encompass advocacy efforts to build a policy framework that expands and protects the rights of women, and leverages storytelling and narrative work in partnership with program participants. Activities include the advocacy training project (atp) that is a hands-on, multi-level, course-based program, designed to change public perceptions about "deservedness" in conversations about investments in communities and individuals. These programs aim to build a society of prosperity and connectivity through the policies that ncjwla identifies as supportive to our key constituents.
Leadership
Sofiya DubinskyChief Financial Officer
Marjorie GilbergChief Executive Officer
Rachel ResnickChief Program Officer
Elisa MorimotaChief Operating Officer
Carrie JacovesDirector of Advancement