[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2150-E2151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN RECOGNITION OF THE 16TH ANNIVERSARY OF WE CAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 10th anniversary 
of WE CAN, Women's empowerment through Cape Area Networking in Harwich 
Port, Massachusetts.
  Recognizing that every community member's well-being contributes to 
that of the whole community, WE CAN's mission has been to empower Cape 
Cod women of all ages undergoing challenging life transitions. It 
includes services that bring increased opportunity, self-sufficiency, 
stability, and lasting positive change for themselves, their families 
and, ultimately, the entire community. After ten years, WE CAN remains 
committed to that mission.
  WE CAN had its beginnings at Cape Cod Community College in a program 
called Women in Transition, WIT, which was designed to help women of 
all ages and demographics improve their lives through education. A year 
later, WIT became WE CAN. In its first year, they helped 15 women. 
Early services included emergency financial aid; programs that provided 
guidance on reenrolling in school and mentorship; help filling out 
forms for emergency fuel assistance, financial aid for education, job 
applications; and information and referrals to other organizations on 
the Cape. Now, ten years later, at the half mark of this year, WE CAN, 
had already handled more than 2100 contacts and served close to 1000 
women.
  WE CAN has a true tradition of excellence thanks to its outstanding 
leadership, superior volunteers, board, staff, generous community 
partners and motivated program participants. Based on evolving needs of 
the Cape population, they continued to grow in terms of the number of 
women and their families served;

[[Page E2151]]

the development of their programs and services; and in terms of their 
ability to attract volunteers, secure grants and donations from area 
businesses and individuals.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating WE 
CAN, its staff, board, volunteers, community partners, and program 
participants on the celebration of 10 years of service to the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

                          ____________________