The SOFEI GroupAbout SOFEI

Column

"For what it's worth: it's never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you find you're not, I hope you have the strength to start over again." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

SOFEI means - Starting Over for Economic Independence and our mission is to empower women of the Washington region to emerge from economic instability through education, training, and development.

Our existence derives from the emergence of situational poverty amongst women throughout the Washington region who have experienced a job loss, divorce, spousal abandonment, unexpected health expenses, domestic violence, or sole parenting. And our work is designed to lead women to their pathway of economic independence and stability for themselves and families.

Our Mission

We help women emerge from economic instability through education, training, and development — creating a pathway to lasting self-sufficiency and success.

Our Philosophy

The SOFEI Group is driven by the belief that every woman deserves the chance to achieve and maintain economic independence. Our training and development services empower women to break free from the cycle of situational poverty, enabling them to secure fulfilling careers, build thriving businesses, and establish enduring financial stability.

Whether you are re-entering the workforce, advancing your career, or starting a business, our programs meet you where you are and equip you with the skills, confidence, and resources to thrive.

Who We Serve

Women experiencing situational poverty

Single mothers re-entering the workforce

Career changers and aspiring entrepreneurs

Women of color navigating barriers to advancement

How We Empower Women to Emerge

Empowering women to emerge from economic instability is the fuel behind the work, mission, and existence of The SOFEI Group. We strive to transform the norms that can impede their pathway to economic independence by providing them with:

Access to professional, workforce, technical, and certification education and skill-building programs that equip women with knowledge and skills to expand their career opportunities and income potential - SOFEIOnline.

Financial literacy training modules that enable women to pursue economic ventures and make informed financial decisions via our Money Smart Alliance with the FDIC.

Facilitate women's access to community-based grants and lending initiatives to allow women to invest in their ideas, ventures, and income-generating activities through our Ambassadors for Economic Independence giving circle.

Provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and career, professional, and workforce development services to help women build skills and confidence to build, transition, or advance in their careers with our InfuseHer Online Mentoring platform.

Foster networks and community support systems that connect women with mentors, peers, and resources for guidance, encouragement, and access to new opportunities through our community events.

Encourage companies to promote and create supportive working environments that value and prioritize gender and wage equality, flexible work arrangements, family-friendly policies, and opportunities for career progression with our partnership with EY Talent Outreach Services.

Empowering women to create pathways to economic stability for themselves and their families requires systemic changes and collaboration across diverse sectors, addressing barriers, creating supportive environments, and providing women with the tools and resources they need to thrive economically.

SOFEI360 Empowerment Model

Our holistic SOFEI360 Model guides each participant through a journey of self-discovery, skill-building, and transformation. This framework includes:

Introspection – Defining your vision and identifying the life events that shaped your path.

Needs Assessment – Matching your goals with SOFEI programs or trusted community resources.

Design – Co-creating a personal development or career plan tailored to your needs.

Education – Providing industry-recognized training and certifications.

Personal & Professional Growth – Building leadership, confidence, and resilience.

Equip – Supplying the tools and resources you need to compete and succeed.

Navigate – Guiding you through career, business, and life transitions.

Dedicate – Strengthening your commitment to achieving your goals.

Earn – Securing employment or generating sustainable income.

Network – Connecting you with mentors, employers, and business opportunities.

Transform – Achieving lasting economic independence and stability.

History

Deborah M. Avens founded The SOFEI Group in 1996. Avens' passion to launch The SOFEI Group grew out of her experience growing up in a low-income home headed by her widowed, disabled mother in Prince George's County, Maryland. At age five, Avens' mother was diagnosed with renal kidney failure and her father died of cancer when she was seven. The disability income Avens' mother received didn't meet basic living and medical expenses. And, Avens recalls spending many heatless winters; bathing with heated water from a hotplate, and going to bed with lettuce and mayonnaise sandwiches.

Avens' mother applied for public assistance to supplement the household income, and this is when Avens discovered the biased attitudes towards women on public assistance; sex discrimination against her mother in a male-dominated career; and sadly, domestic violence from her mother's boyfriend who occasionally helped pay the mortgage.

This life experience is the underlying fuel which gave Avens the notion that women-headed families needed resources and services to create economic stability and independence to avoid reliance of public assistance and abusive partners.

Talking about domestic violence or the inability to pay bills was taboo in Avens' community, so The SOFEI Group was launched to get women and girls to talk about their experiences through Biblical characters during home-based fellowships and newsletters. The fellowships were therapeutic because attendees were taught how to look within themselves to find answers to heal their wounded souls and spirits, and strength to conquer their external challenges. When the home-based fellowships outgrew the capacity of Avens' home, she realized women and girls needed access to spiritual, personal, and career enrichment services to achieve balanced and fulfilled lives and The SOFEI Group evolved from a support group to a nonprofit organization in 1999.

Our Leaders

Tina Flowers - Chair

Ms. Flowers is responsible for guiding and mediating the Board's actions to ensure that the organization's mission, goals, and objectives are being met. Ms. Flowers leads the Board in its efforts in strategic planning, fundraising activities, and program development and evaluation.

Ms. Flowers works for Alston and Bird, LLP of Washington, DC and has over thirty years executive-level administrative support to legal partners and attorneys with major law firms throughout the Washington region.

In addition, Ms. Flowers has extensive experience with nonprofit and community service for nonprofit organizations and church ministries.

Ms. Flowers holds a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from Southeastern University of Washington, DC and a M.Div. Degree from Faith Bible College and Seminary of Washington, DC.

Deborah M. Avens - Chief Empowerment Officer

Deborah M. Avens founded The SOFEI Group in 1996, inspired by her own journey growing up in a low-income household in Prince George's County, Maryland. Raised by a widowed, disabled mother who faced the daunting challenges of renal kidney failure, economic hardship, and loss, Avens saw firsthand the limitations of disability income in meeting basic living and medical needs. Reflecting on winters without heat, meals of lettuce and mayonnaise sandwiches, and the struggle to simply make ends meet, Avens was driven by a deep commitment to support women facing similar circumstances.

Through her mother’s experience, Avens witnessed societal biases toward women on public assistance, gender discrimination in male-dominated workplaces, and even the painful realities of domestic violence. These early challenges shaped her belief that women-headed households needed practical resources and empowerment to achieve economic independence, free from reliance on public aid or abusive relationships.

Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, a minor in Business Management, and a Master’s in Education with a concentration in Corporate Training, Avens built The SOFEI Group to provide the skills, support, and encouragement women need to succeed. The organization began as a small support group, meeting in Avens' home, where women and girls could share their experiences and heal through Biblical storytelling and reflection. These gatherings proved to be transformative, as participants learned to find strength within themselves to overcome both internal and external obstacles.

By 1999, the home-based fellowships had outgrown Avens’ living room, prompting her to expand The SOFEI Group into a full-fledged nonprofit organization. Today, The SOFEI Group offers a range of programs focused on spiritual, personal, and career enrichment, helping women and girls achieve balanced, fulfilling lives. Avens’ vision, deeply rooted in compassion and resilience, continues to empower women to break cycles of dependency and create stable, independent futures.

Tax Advisor - Titus Simmons

Mr. Simmons is responsible for providing non-profit tax advice, completing federal and state taxes, and conducting and completing financial audits.

Mr. Simmons has extensive experience in banking and financial statement auditing and has provided consultant services to individuals, non-profit, and corporations for over 9 years.

He has over 20 years auditing and banking experience in the public and private sectors. Mr. Simmons is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration (Accounting) from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.