Positive Paths is dedicated to supporting Arizona's East Valley women through college scholarships and mentoring. Every woman deserves a proper education but many women are at a severe disadvantage due to life circumstances. Educational scholarships are awarded to women to address a variety of barriers that inhibit their success, including poverty, violence and/or trauma, substance abuse, illiteracy, and economic dependency. Education and mentoring for women creates opportunities for entire families to improve their quality of life and ensures economic independence by distributing the resources needed to improve education, skill sets and employment prospects. In addition to scholarship funds, recipients are provided a mentor, developing supportive relationships that promote the scholar's professional development. Mentors assist scholars to overcome their individualized and specific barriers that are inhibiting their success. Furthermore, Positive Paths offers a women's business clothing boutique, providing access to appropriate career attire for the workforce. Additional case management services link scholars and their immediate family members to additional community resources and services that will enhance their over-all well-being and success. From 2015 to the present date, Positive Paths has provided 29 women scholarships and mentors, providing the support and assistance needed to ensure academic success. Every woman served by Positive Paths has experienced significant barriers impeding their financial success such as domestic violence, sexual assault, death of a spouse, addiction, teen pregnancy, poverty, and other trauma. All of the women served have income below the poverty level despite the fact that over 85% of them are employed.
