MiraCosta College Divorce Workshop Approaching 300th Session

MiraCosta College’s successful and groundbreaking Second Saturday workshop, a program serving the needs of women going through divorce, is approaching its 300th session. Second Saturday: What Women Need to Know about Divorce, is one of the longest-running community service programs at MiraCosta College, and over the years has helped thousands of individuals with the legal, psychological and financial issues surrounding divorce. The instructors are all professionals in their fields who volunteer their time, and are chosen based on their experience and ability to communicate.

The program began when local financial experts Ginita Wall and Candace Bahr heard about a San Diego town hall meeting addressing women’s issues, including the trauma they often face when divorcing. Bahr was on the Women’s Advisory Committee at the time, and she and Wall, through their nonprofit Women’s Institute for Financial Education (WIFE.org), approached MiraCosta College about establishing the program, aimed at making a real difference at this critical time in a woman’s life.

“The program is geared toward women but open to men,” says Wall. “MiraCosta College also offers a divorce workshop targeting men specifically, as well as a workshop for helping parents going through divorce learn strategies that will benefit their children.”

On a recent Saturday, there were a record 60 attendees, although typically attendance is 40-45 individuals, a significant increase from the average 30 participants five years ago. The success of the program has encouraged Wall to consider expanding to include workshops focusing on other life issues.

  

“We are exploring creating a similar program on widowhood as well as one on the critical aspects of retirement, both financial and psychological,” says Wall. “We’ve been approached over the years by so many people to do retirement programs similar to the multi-disciplinary approach we use at Second Saturday.”

For more information on the workshops, call (858) 792-0524, (760) 736-1660 or email Wall at GWall@WIFE.org.