Empowering Single Moms, Inc.

Empowering Single Moms, Inc. (ESM, Inc.) is a United States-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting single mothers who receive federal assistance. The organization focuses on providing programs designed to promote self-sufficiency, education, housing, and personal empowerment for single mothers and their families. It primarily serves communities in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, Newark, New Jersey, and Wilmington, Delaware.

Mission and Vision

The mission of Empowering Single Moms, Inc. is to educate, house, and restore single mothers receiving federal aid through self-sufficiency training, conflict resolution, and educational programs. The organization seeks to elevate the social and economic status of single mothers, recognizing the significant challenges they face in maintaining financial independence and fostering stable, healthy family environments.

Background and Leadership

Empowering Single Moms was founded and is led by Dr. Crystal M. Edwards, an educator and advocate for single mothers. Drawing on her own experience as a single mother, Dr. Edwards combines personal testimony with professional expertise—holding a doctorate in educational leadership and possessing 18 years of experience impacting youth and families. As a researcher, author, and public speaker, she drives the organization’s innovative approach toward sustainable solutions for single mothers, helping them transform their lives and those of their children.

Programs and Services

The organization offers a variety of programs tailored to single mothers who are widowed, divorced, or unmarried, and who have dependent children. Key offerings include:

• Self-sufficiency training: Classes and workshops focused on financial literacy, employment skills, and personal development.
• Educational programs: Support for continuing education and training opportunities.
• Housing assistance: Resources aimed at securing stable and affordable housing.
• Conflict resolution: Guidance and training to improve family dynamics and personal relationships.

Impact and Demographics

Single mothers represent a large and vulnerable demographic in the United States. According to U.S. Census data cited by the organization, in 2023 there were approximately 10.3 million single-parent families with children under 18, with 80% headed by single mothers. Among these families, 25.8% live below the poverty level, a disproportionate burden compared to single-father households. The marital status breakdown of single mothers served includes 51% never married, 29% divorced, 16% separated, and 4% widowed.

Geographic Reach

While Empowering Single Moms, Inc. principally serves the Philadelphia Metro area, its outreach extends to Newark, New Jersey, and Wilmington, Delaware. The organization aims to build lasting partnerships and create a supportive community for single mothers within these regions.

Empowering Single Moms, Inc. continues to be a vital resource for single mothers striving toward independence and stability, providing comprehensive assistance shaped by lived experience and professional expertise.