Women Employment Network - The Ultimate Makeover

In the past few year makeovers are dominating television, making over everything you can think of houses, cars, kids' spouses, and themselves. Here in Kansas City, we have an organization that offers the ultimate makeover the Women's Employment Network (WEN). WEN is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing women the skills and confidence to help them achieve economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. They provide comprehensive employment preparation and career transition programs, workshops and services to women throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. These programs realize success by targeting the whole women with a focus on self-esteem, personal responsibility and skill development.

WEN provides job search training and resources, individualized coaching, career clothing, and professional case management to help women address personal barriers to employment success. Since its inception, WEN has graduated more than 4,800 women from its programs while assisting thousands more through support services and referrals.
Success Stories

Wanda "Refuse the lure of self pity"

Wanda also graduated from WEN a decade ago and has remained empowered throughout this time. Wand felt her life was shipwrecked when, shortly after relocating to her husband's home turf of Kansas City; he deserted her leaving her the sole support for three little boys. Lacking skills to write a resume, unsure how to find a job, with no one to turn to she decided that welfare and food stamps were her only options. She recounts, "I felt like a failure." Members of the welfare board who told her about WEN and encouraged her to attend.

Since graduating, Wanda has progressed steadily in her career. She has worked at DST since 2000 and was recently promoted to become a client service rep. She was not content to stop when she was gainfully employed. As a single parent working full time, she earned her Associates Degree. When she tells her story, her co workers usually express disbelief that this successful person had such a rocky and painful past.

Shawna " There are no lost causes"

Shawna was raised b her grandparents who both passed away when she was 16. Feeling alone and disoriented, she turned to drugs to attempt to ease the pain. Predictably, this did not work but rather compounded the problem as she added abusive relationships and an eating disorder to the mix. In the midst of her drinking and drugging, a friend told her about WEN. She had given birth to a son in 1998 and wanted to do right by him. Feeling that there was no where else to turn, she took the steps to sign up for WEN. She had no idea what she was in for when she walked in the door.

Shawna told me that initially she was only interested in the WEN job group support. When she heard about the personal empowerment group she balked. "I signed up for the job readiness group and no the empowerment group. They go together but I thought,'empowerment, blah, blah." Much to her surprise the empowerment group helped Shawna get her life back:" My light was so dim and the empowerment group fanned it into this big flame by kindling my desire to live again. It was the encouragement and support that really turned the tide. When I joined I was so down on myself and I felt so hopeless that I thought I was lost cause. They showed me I was wrong. They saved my life - to put it any other way would be a lie."
Taken from the Flourish Magazine written by Barbara C Johnson Barbara@christinajohnson.org or 913-645-3380

Wen formed in 1986 by community leader Beth Smith and the late Marjorie Powell Allen has continually redesigned its program based on input from our valued constituencies-the women served, community partners, employers and funders.
The WEN Core Training Career Path Program consists of three training modules that provide women with a foundation for employment success.
Career Exploration - Through various self-discovery tools, women will identify their skills, interests, and values to guide them in determining employment options, training needs and career goals.
Essential Job Tools - Women will learn how to package their unique skills, abilities and experience into concise resumes and effective cover letters that open doors to interviews and quality job opportunities.
Interview Strategies - Women have the unique opportunity to practice their interviewing skills through a series of mock interviews conducted by professional volunteers representing various area businesses.

Participation Requirements:
Women must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED to participate in WEN training programs.

Registration Hours

Registration takes approximately 1 hour. Please bring a picture ID and your Social Security card.

Mondays - 1pm-3pm
Tuesdays - 8:30am-11am
Thursdays - 8:30am-11am

Get involved visit www.kcwen.org