Part of what draws Tenesha Grant to the human-services field is her experience as a teenage mother of two by the time she graduated high school.
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Part of what draws Tenesha Grant to the human-services field is her experience as a teenage mother of two by the time she graduated high school.
“My senior year in high school, I had someone that believed in me and always said that I could do better,” Grant said. “I probably wouldn't be where I am today without that support and hope that was given to me.”
Grant was recently named director of women's services at Community Renewal Team (CRT), a Hartford-based nonprofit that helps people in central Connecticut with a range of issues like child care, housing and substance-abuse treatment. Grant, who previously worked at Community Solutions and Mercy Housing and Shelter Corp., is also slated to receive a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Hartford later this year.
In her new position at CRT, Grant will oversee the operations of CRT's new Women's Empowerment Center, a supportive environment for women and girls to receive gender-specific support. Her goal is to implement programming that will empower, elevate and enrich the lives of women and girls throughout Greater Hartford.
What's your primary focus as CRT's director of women's services?
My primary focus will be to develop and implement gender-specific services using evidence-based practices. We will advocate on behalf of the members of the Women's Empowerment Center for gender equality, emotional management, health and wellness. We expect to offer financial literacy training, and support for women to finish their educations and seek growth opportunities in their own careers with a peer-based mentor program.
How is CRT's relationship with the business community?
CRT has a solid relationship with the business community. We receive operational support from several local banks in our region, including TD Bank, Liberty Bank, United Bank, People's United Bank, Wells Fargo and American Eagle Financial Credit Union.
We also receive support from local businesses, including: OneDigital, CENCAP Federal Credit Union and Reid and Riege, P.C. just to name a few. Support of CRT's Women's Empowerment Center comes from these businesses and women-owned businesses including InfoShred and New England Energy Group.
How does CRT's mission overlap with the interests of Connecticut's business community?
Our mission is “preparing our community to meet life's challenges,” and we think it overlaps perfectly with the interests of the business community because we all want to succeed.
As more businesses do well in our region that adds jobs and security and opportunities for everyone. As local businesses thrive, so do the people that they employ.
