Dress for Success Lackawanna to Reorganize Under Outreach; New Network Member to Launch April 2026

Dress for Success® Lackawanna and Outreach – Center for Community Resources jointly announce that effective March 31, 2026, Dress for Success® Lackawanna will formally close its existing program, making way for a newly approved Dress for Success® Greater Lackawanna network member to open in April 2026 as a program of Outreach – Center for Community Resources. This strategic transition is designed to optimize operations, strengthen service capacity, and expand workforce development opportunities across the region.

As a long-standing presence in Lackawanna and surrounding counties, the new Dress for Success® Greater Lackawanna program will operate with the same mission, visibility, and accessibility for women seeking career advancement. The two organizations have been working through the transition to ensure continuity of services, including professional styling, career coaching, digital readiness support, and employment preparation, while aligning these offerings with Outreach’s robust portfolio of workforce development and self‑sufficiency programs.

“This new structure allows two organizations that have long shared a commitment to empowering individuals on their journey to economic mobility and independence to find a sustainable pathway to meet the needs of women in the workforce,” said Melissa Garcia-Chilet, Dress for Success® Lackawanna Board Treasurer. “The synergies between missions made Outreach an excellent choice for becoming a new network member that will strengthen program delivery, expand access to critical career services, and increase the ability to support clients in meaningful, lasting ways.”

Outreach, known for its comprehensive support services, including job-readiness training, education, and individualized workforce pathways, will serve as the parent organization for the new Dress for Success® program. This alignment ensures a more integrated system of support for participants and reinforces long-term sustainability of the much-needed Dress for Success® Greater Lackawanna program.

“Becoming a Dress for Success® network member creates powerful opportunities for the people Outreach serves and for the region as a whole,” said Lori Chaffers, President and CEO of Outreach. “Our clients will benefit from an expanded network of employment resources, and our commitment to workforce development will allow us to offer a more seamless, strengthened continuum of services.”

Both organizations emphasize that while Dress for Success® Lackawanna will officially close, it is an intentional step toward enhancing lasting stability, expanding partnerships, and improving service delivery by allowing Outreach to become a Dress for Succes®s network member with greater infrastructure and support. Clients, community partners, and volunteers will continue to experience the same supportive environment, now reinforced by increased operational capacity and organizational alignment.

The newly established Dress for Success® Greater Lackawanna program will continue all core services and retain a strong community presence as it begins operations at Outreach in April.

Referrals can be made by calling 570-941-0339.