“Give someone a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach them to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.” – Maimonides
Empowerment Works is volunteer run 501(c)(3) not for profit charitable organization formed in 2012 whose mission is to empower the lives of residents of the Fort Myers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Corridor through economic change. We believe economic empowerment is best achieved through the creation of careers. We believe that those in need can be most effectively helped by assisting them to become self sufficient. Achieving a career is an individual’s best path toward self sufficiency.
Empowerment Works, Inc’s offices are located at the Southwest Florida Enterprise Center in Fort Myers. The Southwest Florida Enterprise Center was formed by the City of Fort Myers as a business incubator dedicated to assisting start up or early stage businesses succeed. The Enterprise Center offers classes and programs teaching entrepreneurship and small business ownership skills. Empowerment Works’ has partnered with the Enterprise Center to be a resource for small businesses and individual clients of the Enterprise Center.
Our executive officer
John Reed, an organizer of Empowerment Works, Inc., is a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Florida. John retired as a Principal and partner in one of the 10 largest professional service firms in the United States. Since his retirement John volunteers as a Director and executive officer for Empowerment Works. John uses his experience to consult with entrepreneurs on financial and operating issues and to mentor individuals on their career path.