Biolans Help Women in Need 'Dress for Success'

Biola students and staff delivered more than 2,000 pieces of business clothing, shoes and accessories to the women of the Los Angeles Dream Center — a residential rehabilitation and relief organization — in March as part of Biola’s second annual clothes drive in honor of National Women’s History Month.

During the event, fashion blogger Beth Jones (’06) and plus-size style expert Marcy Guevara (’06) led “Dress for Success,” a seminar focused on self-confidence and dressing for one’s body type. Afterward, women in attendance were able to pick out clothing items while Jones and Guevara assisted with sizing and finding comfortable, confidence-inspiring items.

“It’s very important for these women to learn a healthy self-esteem,” said Monica Quezada, the center’s assistant director of ministry. “It means a lot to these women to see someone promoting that and encouraging that.”

Biola alumna and KKLA midday radio host Erica Roth (’09) hosted the event and moderated a Q-and-A with Jones and Guevara after their presentations.

“This is what it all comes down to,” said Roth. “Helping women and coming alongside them to aid them in seeing what God may have in store for them.”

The women in attendance had completed their second year of rehabilitation and are preparing to reenter the workforce. The Dream Center is a volunteer-driven organization that finds and fills the needs of more than 50,000 individuals and families each month through mobile hunger relief and medical programs, residential rehabilitation programs for teens and adults, a shelter for victims of human trafficking, transitional housing for homeless families, foster care intervention programs, job skills training, life skills counseling, basic education, Bible studies and more.