Throughout the summer, President George W. Bush continued to put America's compassion in action by highlighting what the Administration is doing to make government more relevant and responsive to working women.

On June 1st, President Bush discussed the progress and accomplishments of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative. This initiative benefits working women because it seeks to level the playing field so that all grassroots organizations have equal opportunity to participate in existing federally funded programs as they serve their communities. This helps not only the women who head such organizations, but it also helps those women who seek the services of faith-based and community organizations.

At the Department of Labor, the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiative (CFBCI) has given out over $113 million to 130 faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, states and Workforce Investment Boards. As administrative and regulatory barriers are removed, these organizations can better help their neighbors enter, succeed, and thrive in the workforce.

To cite just a few examples:

• Through CFBCI, the Secretary has announced $425,000 in grants to provide services to African-Americans in Charleston, West Virginia; Anaheim, California; Vernon, Texas; and St. Paul, Minnesota. The faith-based organizations selected were the Hope Community Development Corporation, the East African Community of Orange County, New Visions Economic Development Corporation, and the African and American Friendship Association.
  
  
• On June 18, Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao traveled to Denver, Colorado to announce a $2 million grant to help at-risk Hispanic youth in Colorado, Arizona, Texas and California.
  
  
• On July 22, the Secretary traveled to Orlando, Florida to announce a $2.76 million grant to help at-risk Hispanic youth in Orlando, Miami, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.
  
  
• On July 27, the Secretary announced a $10 million grant to Public/Private Ventures to help ex-offenders age 18 to 34 make a successful transition to community life and long-term employment.

In the Women's Bureau, we continue to work with faith-based and community partners all across the country. Several of them have served as sponsors for our Financial Literacy Conferences. For example:

• Family & Christian Faith Coalition
• National Conference for Community Justice
• Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice
• Catholic Charities
• Saving Grace
• Interfaith Committee of the Human Services Coalition
• Church Women United

The Women's Bureau supports these efforts to enable faith-based and community organizations to better serve the women who need them.

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For More Information About WB, Contact:
U.S. Department of Labor
Women's Bureau
200 Constitution Avenue, NW - Room S-3002
Washington, DC 20210
Telephone 1-800-827-5335 or (202) 693-6710
Fax (202) 693-6725