Project Report
| Oct 31, 2025
WEN Supports Kansas City Women
By Erin Cole | Chief Operating Officer
The job market is changing…but we’re keeping up. This program year (2025-26), WEN is enhancing its programs and services to ensure we can continue to provide meaningful and effective resources for Kansas City women pursuing livable wage jobs.
To help our clients advance their careers in fields that are increasingly reliant on AI, WEN has rolled out the new AI for Beginners certification program. This online course is available on-demand to accommodate busy schedules, and it’s beginner-friendly – no tech background required! Participants learn how to use AI – not fear it – and shows them how to use this powerful tool in their job searches and in the workplace. Read more about this new program on our website.
In our last update in July, we shared that the 2024-25 program year had just ended. The numbers are in, and we are excited to share these outcomes:
- WEN provided free employment preparation, financial coaching, and case management services to 1,695 unduplicated clients, including 1,256 new clients.
- WEN provided financial education for 189 clients and one-on-one financial coaching to 47 clients.
- Personal and professional development workshops reached 2,251 attendees; 56 women completed the Three Pillars to Success hybrid career preparation course; and 20 women completed the new WEN Anytime online career preparation course.
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Jul 10, 2025
Empowered Choices for Kansas City Women
By Erin Cole | Chief Development Officer
According to a 2022 report by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), more women live in poverty than men; women are more likely than men to work in low-paying jobs; and women who are mothers are paid less than men who are fathers even though women are increasingly the primary breadwinners for their families. As the report poignantly states, “Underpaying women and undervaluing their work not only hurts women and their families; it damages the entire U.S. economy.”
When you support Women’s Employment Network (WEN), you’re supporting empowered choices for women in Kansas City. At WEN, women who are unemployed, underemployed, and/or trapped in the cycle of poverty have access to resources designed to help them pursue career advancement, financial security, and personal wellbeing.
WEN’s 2024-25 program year and just ended on June 30, 2025. Below is a summary of program outcomes as of May 31:
- WEN has welcomed 1,168 new clients since the start of the program year, exceeding our goal to welcome 1,000 new clients in 2024-25.
- WEN has served an average of 211 active clients each month during this program year, exceeding our goal to serve at least 125 active clients each month.
- WEN has served 1,538 unduplicated clients, exceeding our goal of 1,400.
- 2,003 clients have attended 161 workshops on a variety of topics including Personal Budgeting Tips, Learn What it Takes to Buy a Home, and Salary Negotiation. We’ve surpassed this year’s goal to welcome 1,500 attendees to 110 workshops.
We can’t wait to share the final outcomes of our 2024-25 program year in the months ahead.
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Mar 18, 2025
Empowered Choices for Kansas City Women
By Erin Cole | Chief Development Officer
When you support Women’s Employment Network (WEN), you’re supporting empowered choices for women in Kansas City. At WEN, women who are unemployed, underemployed, and/or trapped in the cycle of poverty have access to resources designed to help them pursue career advancement, financial security, and personal wellbeing.
WEN’s 2024-25 series of programs and services takes place July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Below are the three goals we’re working toward this year, and our progress on each as of February 28, 2025:
- Demonstrate program relevancy by engaging 1,000 new clients. WEN has served 812 clients so far this year – 81% to goal!
- Improve employment and financial management skills for 1,400 clients through program and service delivery including workshops, customized individual services, and financial coaching. 1,369 women have attended a WEN workshop this year – 91% to goal!
- Improve the financial stability of 200 clients through one-on-one financial coaching and education. WEN staff have provided financial coaching to 45women, to date – 23% to goal!
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