By Jacqueline Gilvard Landry
Voice correspondent

There was no red carpet at the graduation ceremony for Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Alameda County’s Sewing Program, but a poised Vilma Benitez, dressed in a hot pink, full-length gown with matching shawl, was wearing her favorite designer.

The 6-year-old was modeling one of the projects her mother Aida Benitez had created in a six-week course that teaches basic sewing skills to clients of SVdP’s Visitation Center for Women and Children in Oakland.

Nancy Fernandez arranges some of the pillows she made during sewing classes at the Visitation Center in Oakland. JOSé LUIS AGUIRRE PHOTO

Benitez was one of eight women who received certificates of completion last month from the free sewing program, which was launched in October. The idea came from clients, mostly housewives, who wanted to learn skills to sew their own clothing and household items, and to potentially earn extra money doing hemming and alterations, said Visitation Center manager Carmen Reyes-Edstrom.

Benitez and her fellow graduates succeeded with those skills, and had plenty of proof on display at the Visitation Center. Aside from Vilma Benitez’s dress, there was a pink skirt sewn by Teresa Osejo and decorative pillows sewn by Nancy Fernandez.

But the students are taking home more than their projects. “We learned something . . . for ourselves,” said Osejo, adding that she hopes to “keep learning new things.”

Fernandez said she learned how to communicate “with people that weren’t like me.”
The students also learned job skills, though all three women said that for now they plan to sew primarily for their families.

These are the experiences Reyes-Edstrom had hoped for. “Besides the obvious skills of sewing and pattern construction, we are also offering self empowerment,” she said.

The woman behind the new seamstresses is instructor Grace Mayorga, who has been sewing for 30 years.

Mayorga said she was “totally blown away” by the sewing students, who were part of a class that was open to all clients of the center at any skill level. “They’ve only been in this course for six weeks and it’s just amazing what they’ve done,” she said.

Mayorga also expressed amazement at the students’ determination in completing the six classes required to graduate, given obstacles like homelessness, childcare, healthcare and poverty. She said some brought their children with them to class, which was held at the Visitation Center, and others double-tasked while working on their sewing projects. “They might do laundry at the same time,” Mayorga said.

“My students have really inspired me. They have really shown me so much,” she added.

Mayorga said she taught basics — terminology, machines and patterns — and chose projects that beginners could complete in one session, like children’s pajamas, tote bags, simple skirts and tablecloths, so the women would not get discouraged.

“I wanted them to feel a sense of satisfaction in getting things done,” she said.

That was challenging with only three working sewing machines for the 10-15 people who attended the weekly three-hour class, Mayorga said. They had to learn to share, cooperate and be patient with the equipment, she said.

But finding notions and fabrics in the sewing room was hardly a challenge. Mayorga said a steady stream of sewing materials flows into the center, lining shelves and covering tables.

All materials are supplied by SVdP from its donors, Reyes-Edstrom said. “I love how we always get what we need and the clients don’t worry (about) buying material or notions.”

SVdP will continue to fund the sewing program, said Philip Arca, executive director. “SVdP of Alameda County believes in the individual, their power to contribute, to create . . . We offer emergency assistance, but we also hope to offer connectedness and to honor the ability to create,” he said.

Mayorga, who started teaching a new class April 3, shares that philosophy. “I am so inspired by their creativity. I really think this is something that they can carry out through their whole lives.”

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