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Helping Others Helps Englewood Agency, Director Grow

ENGLEWOOD, N.J.– Lillian “Lil” Corcoran doesn’t see a big difference between the clients and the staff at the Women’s Rights Information Center in Englewood.

Lillian Corcoran is the new director for the Women's Rights Information Center in Englewood

Lillian Corcoran is the new director for the Women's Rights Information Center in Englewood

Photo Credit: COURTESY: Lillian Corcoran
Corcoran joined the staff on June 20

Corcoran joined the staff on June 20

Photo Credit: COURTESY: Lillian Corcoran

“By helping other people we help ourselves,” said Corcoran, WRIC’s new director. “It’s a mutually beneficial relationship between the community and the agency.”

The center’s mission is to help empower women to be self-sufficient, said Corcoran, a Ridgewood native.

“Self-sufficiency isn’t just about finding a good job,” she added. “It’s about finding self esteem, people feeling that they can succeed.

"We empower a few good men while we’re at it." 

The Center offers Microsoft Office training; citizenship classes; and ESL and negotiation workshops. There’s a shared housing program and legal consultation, where for $10, clients receive a half-hour session with a lawyer.

Recently, WRIC helped someone complete a job interview through Skype.

“There’s a lot of potential for more programs and to help more people,” Corcoran said. “It’s like an untapped reservoir of help. We have a really strong core of volunteers.

“We can’t provide every service but we can certainly point everyone in the right direction.”

Corcoran of Fair Lawn previously served as associate executive director for the Center For Hope and Safety (formerly Shelter Our Sisters), the county’s co-lead domestic violence agency along with Alternatives to Domestic Violence.

She led the children's program for two years before being promoted. 

When the director position at WIRC opened, Corcoran, a licensed professional counselor, jumped at the chance – and she hasn’t looked back since starting June 20.

“I love it here,” the Ridgewood native said. “I want to lead an agency where people care about what they're doing and want to make a difference in the world. It’s a small staff and a small program but we have men and women who work here that are awesome.”

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