Presenter: Phoebe Chan, Nursing, Global Public Health Scholars
During the summer of 2021, I volunteered at Success in Style located in Savage, MD. Success in Style is a non-profit organization that helps individuals in crisis find employment through one-on-one consultations where they are provided with interview skills, business attire, and professional clothing. The organization also has three resale boutiques, Charity’s Closet, Charity’s First Picks, and Cherie’s Sustainable Bridal, which support the mission and promotes sustainability. As a volunteer, I helped process and tag the clothing donations from the community. In the retail boutiques, I restocked clothing, assisted customers, and styled outfits for the display mannequins. Success in Style promotes socioeconomic status and occupation to the clients and sustainability through the community clothing donations and the resale of secondhand clothes. Through this experience, I have learned the importance of high self-esteem and a good first impression in an interview setting. I have also become more aware of the waste from the fast fashion industry and the need for sustainable and cost-effective clothing options within a community.