Help 80 Women Find Jobs & Financial Independence

For 31 years WEN's programs and services have met women when and where they need us the most to guide them towards stronger and more prosperous futures. Our dedicated staff works tirelessly to provide women with the support they need to make the choices that will change their lives for the better-- for themselves and their families. With a focus on self-esteem and personal responsibility, WEN serves women from all walks of life and all ages who are unemployed, underemployed, affected by job layoffs and outsourcing, those who are new to or returning to the job market, and those seeking to reenter the workforce.

Just a few weeks ago in early April, over 1,000 people from the Kansas City community came together to honor our work and the thousands of women who have come to WEN with the mission of creating a better life for themselves. Our clients stood up in front of the crowd and shared the challenges they have overcome to become stronger individuals, stronger mothers and stronger employees.  It was a powerful testimony not only to the strength and drive of the women we serve, but the community of supporters and organizations who help WEN persevere through the decades.

WEN benefits from tremendous local support. In the 2015-16 fiscal year volunteers provided 342 hours of service for WEN, helping with mock interviews, resume writing, and even leading workshops. Over 120 individual volunteers donated their time to our program. WEN also fills two part-time internships through Kansas University's School of Social Work. These two positions, our Personal Support Specialists, provide hands-on case management skills for our program staff. Without these relationships, WEN would not be able to provide the breadth and depth of our current services.

A prime example of the enduring support WEN has in our community is State Street Kansas City. State Street is a strong supporter of women in the workplace — focused on removing barriers to women’s advancement and committed to economic self-sufficiency in the communities in which they operate.  At this year's luncheon, we were honored to present them with the 2017 Beth K. Smith award due to their outstanding commitment to WEN’s mission and to recognize their involvement in the community. The Beth K. Smith Award, named after one of WEN's co-founders, was created several years ago to recognize those who put a significant amount of time, talent and treasure into WEN.

State Street Kansas City has invested in WEN in a variety of ways, including hiring WEN graduates, hosting training sessions, offering seminars for clients, holding networking events, and participating in resume review and mock interviewing. State Street Kansas City has also helped WEN develop and launch one of their most successful special event fundraising campaigns, which has raised nearly $105,000 since its inception.

In addition, WEN has received multiple grants through State Street's Strategic Grant making program which focuses on the sustainability of communities where State Street operates, primarily by investing in programs like WEN that promote employability and economic self-sufficiency. State Street is committed to workplace diversity and career advancement and they certainly are committed to supporting the Women's Employment Network.

The continued success of Women's Employment Network would not be possible without  a strong commitment to the mission on behalf of individuals and partner organizations like State Street and countless others,  each of you whom commit time, talent, and funding  to ensure WEN programming continues to change lives of women, their families-and our entire community.

The following is a client story highlighted at the luncheon:

Cindy's Story

I was out of the workforce for over 10 years. I had to find something soon, because my major source of income was ending and I needed to support my daughter. I was sending resume after resume, doing everything I could possibly think of to get a job and a decent source of income.

So one Monday, I decided I was going to find a placement agency. I would ask them for help with my resume and hope that they would be able to get my foot in the door somewhere.  I was on Craigslist, and saw ad for a career fair. I clicked on it and I was going down the list looking for everything that seems like an agency. I would go to their websites to see what kind of positions they had available and my contact was. Then close to the very bottom I saw Women's Employment Network. I had never heard of it before, as I had only been in KC for a year and I wanted to check it out. I went to their website, and immediately I was getting very excited with everything I read! I thought yes, this is the piece! I saw that you could go in on Mondays and Wednesdays to fill out the application., and it was Monday! Then, I saw that a class started that day. And tears welled up in my eyes and I thought shoot, I missed it! But, I decided to go in anyway. The whole time I was driving there, I kept thinking this is goofy. They're going to send me away because I already missed the first class. But they did not do that, they said I could start that week. I teared up again and I thought, this is exactly what I need.

Many of the classes at WEN are required, but a few are not. I signed up for them all! I wanted to learn and to be involved as much as I possibly could! They have really done a fantastic job of filling in all the little blanks to make sure that we had everything that we needed when we left the program. I wanted to get the most out of that experience! Crazy thing was, every day, I could tell that there were changes in me. I've always been confident but this allowed me to be vulnerable and continue to learn more about myself.

During week three, I was driving to WEN and I had an epiphany moment. This wave fell over me that everything was well on its way for me, it rushed over me and I started to tear up again, you can say I am kind of emotional. I had no idea the program would clear up so much for me or have the effect it has had on me. It's hard to put into words, but, I am no longer stuck! There were things I have avoided for a very long time. But now, I've taken the initiative and completed or at least started a process to complete.

I was able to find employment within a couple months. Is it my forever job, no. I would like to own my own business someday. But I am not looking for that yet.

My experience with WEN has made a huge impact in my life. I really don't know where I would be without it. I would probably still be looking for that puzzle piece. But now, I'm so ready to get out into this big world and make an impact all while singing praises for WEN.

Links:

• WEN Website