Lanham resident changing women’s lives

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006

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by Brooke N. Garner

Staff Writer

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Christopher Anderson⁄The Gazette-Star

Carolyn Washington runs Sisters 4 Sisters, a nonprofit organization, out of her home in Lanham.

Carolyn Washington said she believes her God-given purpose is to help women, regardless of race, class, or religion. To realize this goal, Washington founded Sisters 4 Sisters, Inc., seven years ago.

In 2006 alone, she held many programs to improve the lives of women.

‘‘We have been able to really make a long-lasting difference with women and various organizations in our community,” said Washington, 43, who lives in Lanham. ‘‘We have come a long way and still have a long way to go.”

This year, Sisters 4 Sisters donated more than 800 pairs of new undergarments to a women’s shelter, more than 500 back-to-school items to families in need, passed out Thanksgiving baskets to single mothers and other women in need, and donated business attire to aspiring businesswomen.

In October, Sisters 4 Sisters held a ‘‘PossibiliTEAS” motivational program for women at the Camelot of Upper Marlboro. That month also, Washington brought more than 300 people together at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt for a ‘‘No More Silent Tears Prayer Breakfast.” The program shared domestic violence information with women. Since the prayer breakfast, Washington’s organization began holding domestic violence workshops every Tuesday.

‘‘There are four-week segments where victims or anyone who has been touched by domestic violence can get mentoring and encouragement,” Washington said. ‘‘It’s a private group forum for people to share stories and information to help free themselves and allow the healing process to begin.”

Washington shares her resources and donates to organizations similar to her own. She said the success of the programs would not be possible without the dedication of the more than 200 volunteers that assist in her mission. Sisters 4 Sisters, Inc., has more than 200 members in 30 states across the country.

‘‘We give [the out-of-town members] the tools to take our concept and bring it to their own town,” she said. ‘‘We can all make a difference right where we are.”

Washington is working to start a Spanish chapter to help Hispanic women.