Success Stories

“My position was eliminated at the end of May 2019. I was offered a decent, three-month severance package, which included three months with a career consultant. After the initial contact, my resume and LinkedIn profile were reviewed. I made the suggested edits and resubmitted, but never got any more feedback.  Their website, webinars, and their virtual assistant were great, but there was not a lot of interaction with people or support. I felt like a cog in their machine.

After three months I was frustrated, lost, depressed. As I watched both my husband and roommate (both of whom had more recently left the same company I had been with) find new multiple job opportunities I was beginning to wonder what was wrong with me. 

It was in this frame of mind that scrolling through Facebook one afternoon, just after my three months with the career consultant expired, I saw the advertisement for WEN. I clicked on the ‘Learn More’ link.  I read through that information and decided that it couldn’t hurt to come to find out what WEN was all about. I got to WEN to found that it wasn’t ‘more of the same’, but rather actual support with real people and hope. After feeling adrift and alone for months, WEN was a beacon shining an understanding light on the way back to solid ground and others who were in similar situations to mine.

I had been focused on finding a job that would use the skills I had developed in my previous position (skills with a larger market) rather than finding something that would be satisfying using the talents and skills I naturally gravitate toward. Through WEN, I found that those innate abilities could be combined with the more marketable skills to find positions that would be both available and satisfying.  I became more comfortable in my own skin and parts of me that had been long-dormant awakened. Those muscles had not worked in long time, but as I started to stretch them, possibilities I had never thought my resume would support started to seem attainable as I reevaluated the skills I had been using. 

WEN's workshops provided insight and guidance, allowing me to make my resume stronger. ‘The Four Temperaments’ and ‘Personality Mosaic’ workshops helped me find direction to apply my acquired skills in more creative directions. This gave me the confidence to go after those positions that I had previously thought my resume would not support.  

‘The Myth of the Super Woman’, ‘Facing Your Fears’, and ‘Winning Your Inner Game’, reinforced the power of positive thinking and gave some scientific backing that stripped the power from the negative realism I would typically get when I had applied those ideas in the past.  It is a concept that had been around since Descartes first said " I think, therefore I am," but has gained a New Age, hippy-dippy reputation that modern cynicism makes hard to put into practice. These workshops made it clear how important it is to keep your mind focused positively on your goals.

I'm leaving WEN in a much more positive place, with not only a sense of direction but also the realization that my dreams are attainable. The work to make those happen are just steps in the process, not hurdles to block my path.  My long-term goal is to write and publish the novels that have been gestating in my head for years. In the meantime, as I work toward that, I want to find a full or part-time technical writing, grant writing, or editorial position as my proverbial day job. I'm looking for freelance copywriting so I can earn some income of my own rather than relying on my husband's income.”

 

"As an adult, this has been my first time being unemployed. Before discovering WEN I didn't know how to begin my search. I hadn't interviewed in multiple years and I didn't have a workable resume. Now that I am nearing graduation, I have several resumes to choose from and I also have been given an opportunity to refresh my interviewing skills. Before starting at WEN I would see job requirements on a job posting and become discouraged about applying due to not possessing one or two of the requirements that were requested.

Now I recognize that if I possess the majority of the requirements that there is a good chance that the company may give me a chance to show that I am a great candidate for the position. The “Facing your Fears” and “Winning Your Inner Game” workshops helped me figure out what is truly important as it relates to choosing my next position. 

WEN has allowed me to narrow down what type of positions I am interested in applying for.  While researching these positions I have identified some gaps that I would like to work on before I start actively applying. I will be acquiring a Professional in Human Resources certification. I plan to have the certification by February of 2020.  This will be beneficial knowledge for my career change as well as standing out on my resume.  

The team here has been imperative in my growth in areas that I may not have recognized needed to be developed. This journey has given me direction while I'm transitioning from the only career that I've known, in retail management.  Now I'm preparing to take on a new career in Human Resources that I feel will be more fulfilling. I'm excited for what the future holds and all the opportunities that WEN has provided me. I’m also excited about becoming a mentor for ladies that will be going through the program in the future."

 

Tiffany arrived at Women's Employment Network not really knowing what to expect. She showed up because her friend said this would be a good experience for her. When Tiffany expressed hesitancy, her friend said, "do it anyway-do it scared. Tiffany was glad she showed up to WEN because she's been tremendously helped by this program. She made an intentional decision to trust the process. She decided she would keep showing up and doing the work as assigned, then let the dots connect themselves. She decided not to try to control or rush this experience. Tiffany had trust in the success WEN must deliver to its clients for its program to last for over thirty years. 

Tiffany has come a long way from where she started. On her first day, she, like many WEN clients, diminished her experiences and downplayed her work history. She told program staff that she had "just" been a stay-at-home mom for the past thirteen years. One of her children had a chronic illness, now cured, but caretaking took up most of her time. Then, almost as an afterthought, she talked briefly about holding Executive Board positions in the local chapter of a national organization. Tiffany also mentioned that she performed some Human Resources work for a small dental practice. She just didn't recognize her own valuable skills and contributions. 

Throughout her classes, Tiffany gave her all to each step of this process; taking notes and listening intently. She shared that she has been in WEN workshops where she barely wanted to get up to go to the bathroom because she didn't want to miss anything. Her conversations with workshop volunteers and classmates were encouraging and pushed her to see her strengths and reframe her personal narrative.

WEN's workshops provided some "aha" moments for Tiffany. It was fortifying for her to understand her workplace temperament and know that she is not a misplaced anomaly: bossy and exacting. Instead, her temperament is choleric: strong-willed, results-oriented and determined.  This reframing of her professional character helped her set aside some of the negative things she had been told about her personality. Instead, Tiffany embraces those qualities to positively highlight them as strengths. 

With the help of WEN, Tiffany no longer diminishes her experience. She now tells potential employers that it has been a blessing to have been able to be at home with her children for an extended period of time, and she has definite transferable skills from that experience. She also has industry-related skills from my work as an HR Consultant and as a Benefits Specialist. Tiffany knows that what she's done has value and the work she's done here at WEN helps me to speak more confidently about it.

Knowing that she is valuable, capable, and has marketable skills has given Tiffany the confidence to showcase her talents and competencies. She says of her WEN experience: "I have faced my fears and I’m winning my inner game. My next job will propel my career in Human Resources. I will influence and help propel the career of others."

 

In my process of looking for employment in Kansas City I came across the Women’s Employment Network online. I really liked the focus on strong women helping women. I remember reading the word empowerment and it made me want to learn more about the organization and what was offered. Initially I just wanted help with my resume and the opportunity for mock interviews, but sessions with Lynnette, Tonia, and Latoya made me realize the course offered more. The encouragement and support has been an important part. Just like it was expressed, it was nice to have a location to go to throughout the week.

It was a place to meet up with other women experiencing similar situations and work towards a common goal. I really appreciated the early time spent on learning about our natural temperaments and exploring personal strengths as well as the transferrable skills worksheet.

All workshops have had some sort of impact on me. One of my favorites was “Facing your fears and winning your inner game”. I felt like it really reviewed and summarized a lot of the topics that had been discussed in earlier weeks. I also enjoyed “The myth of the superwoman” and the focus on ones emotional health, outlook, and drive.

I’ve noticed through my time here at WEN some increased confidence about my current skill sets. I can now better acknowledge hard and soft skills I have. I also felt like there was guidance to help focus on what exactly we need, want, and deserve in a job and then the tools to get there. The financial worksheet helped me sit down and take a look at exactly where I was at and where I need more help. The resume review and mock interview feedback gave me increased confidence in applying for jobs. The job search resources have been very helpful.

What I will take away from this experience is that WEN is an organization that is here for you beyond the 5 week course. It was a time to reflect and realize personal strengths, receive immediate feedback on resume and behavioral interviews, and make connections with other women going through a similar experience. I’m still having some challenges defining exactly what I want from my job search right now but I feel like I have the tools to successfully find a job because of WEN. My current employment goal is to keep an eye out for part-time
employment opportunities or temporary work until I can find a job that aligns with my new career outlook. Possibly transitioning into the world of nursing informatics, working in research, finding a job focused on patient education, or maybe an area I have not discovered yet. I’ve also looked at taking educational courses in data analytics. Right now I have some additional time to explore and keep looking for my next job, but I feel better prepared for when I do find a job I want to pursue. Thanks WEN!

 

294, a number forever engrained in Stephanie’s mind.  A number that inspired personal reevaluation and a professional career transition.  In May 2018, Stephanie began a journey with Class 294 at Women’s Employment Network. She is grateful for an experience that identified personal strengths, opened opportunities beyond what was comfortable, built a network of professional women in the Kansas City area, and forged supportive and empowering friendships.

After ten years away from working in a corporate environment, working with a non-profit organization and raising her children, the tools and resources gained through WEN helped Stephanie secure a position as a Human Resources Data Analyst with Sprint’s Fair Employment Practices team.  Having previously worked at Sprint for eight years, Stephanie was delighted to return to a position that provided a balance of the analytical and people skill attributes WEN’s assessment tools helped determine were her strengths. The work she does contributes to the employment and development of women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and Veterans, and is her way of paying forward all the benefits she gained from WEN.

Now five months into her new position, she was selected as a protégé in Sprint’s Next Leaders Program. The program builds formal and informal leadership skills, helping participants to hone their leadership skills, maximizing immediate contributions to their current teams and equipping them for success as their Sprint career evolves. Participants, termed protégés in the program, will come away with a broader understanding of themselves, others and the company equipping them for increased responsibility and challenges. 

Stephanie’s participation in the Next Leaders Program is an opportunity to further the personal and professional assessment and development she started with Women’s Employment Network, and will hopefully inspire others to dream big as they being their WEN journey.

My job search story began in July after I was downsized from my job after 20 years of service. What am I going to do now and how do I get started? It has been 20 years since I interviewed for a job and so much has changed!

I was told to sign up for unemployment right away for help and assistance with searching for a job. I was required to make 3 contacts a week and keep a log both electronically and on paper, fill out a form every week or call to report your contacts, attend a 4-hour meeting where a presentation was given about the services available to me at the unemployment office, and handed booklets with some business cards with contacts for the different services. I then started “job search round one” and put a resume together on my own with the Missouri unemployment website. I performed my search until the unemployment ran out. I was not getting any job offers and had just a few on-site interviews.

I found out that I qualified for the Trade Reform Act where I could get paid training in the field I choose. I attended this training after getting approval until I graduated in May 2019. Then “job search round two” started. Again, not much action on the job front was happening. I decided that my resume was not doing a good job representing me, my experience, and skills since I would submit applications but would only hear crickets. I was looking at Facebook and an advertisement came up about a WEN seminar on Monday, June 24 that would help with resumes and applying for jobs so I signed up for a free ticket to reserve my spot.

On Monday, June 24, I drove downtown to WEN from the Northland arriving 10 minutes before the start time and got my parking validated (I so very much appreciated this since money was beginning to be tight by this time) and was ushered into a room with the other attendees. At this point, I found out that WEN was a five-week program that would help you with SO MUCH MORE than just your resume and applying for jobs! Why has this program not been mentioned before by anyone during my initial job search and that it is completely FREE? I could have been so much more focused about my next steps, setting attainable goals, feeling confident and positive about the changes in my life, and had complete strangers’ support, and new friends for the rest of my life!

My experience with WEN has given me a positive perspective on my personal feelings, situation, and future. I found out that I was not alone, my situation was not uncommon, and there was a sisterhood of support coming my way to help rescue me and get me back on solid ground. They helped me to figure out that I needed to set goals and it is okay that they might be small goals to get me back on the road to ultimately getting my “survival job,” next opportunity, or dream job. Wow, I had choices - who knew!

Another mind-bender: there were people you didn’t even know that cared and wanted to help you succeed. I feel I have a sisterhood and network of supporters that will be there forever and whenever, they are just a phone call or email away. Here is another thing I learned at WEN: interviewing is just like dating! In interviews, you need to figure out if you want to work there too. Ask questions to figure out if YOU are going to be happy at the place you will spend at least 8 hours a day until you find something better or retire. Then when you think there can’t be more… BAM! They wrap it up and bring it all together and you realize you have just been given the best tools and skills to face and conquer the world again.  

At WEN, my journey has made me realize I still had feelings pushed down deep inside that I needed to bring to the surface and replace with positivity. I need to replenish my confidence in myself, and I am capable of doing whatever I set my mind to do!

After recently relocating back to Kansas City, Missouri in the spring of 2018, I found that many of my friends and colleagues had moved away. I had been away from Kansas City since 2007 and found that I had limited networking resources. I began searching the internet and discovered the Women’s Employment Network and sent an email asking about the services. 

I was invited to register and participate in a class session with a five-week commitment. This appealed to me because it was a free service, and the organization offered many important job skills that I needed to obtain.

Truly, it has been the most amazing and rewarding journey since I became unemployed. Many of the sessions that I attended will have a lifetime impact upon my career and what my future holds. For instance, I have learned that it is acceptable at my age to target organizations that will provide me the benefit of utilizing my most valued work strengths. The things that I most enjoy in the workplace, such as hiring, mentoring, motivating and supporting team environments can be obtained through focusing on organizations that have the same values and beliefs that I have. No longer is it necessary to simply get a “job” to pay the bills because a “career” is a thing of the past. WEN taught me to first learn to identify what I love and seek those opportunities that are aligned with what is important to me.  Consequently, I will get the right job for me.

Next, the workshops that were most rewarding to me included the LinkedIn session on how to navigate the website and use it for networking purposes. This is a tremendous tool, and I will continue to use this resource long after I am employed. Furthermore, sessions such as “Self-esteem: Myth of the Superwoman” and the “Behavioral Interviewing” sessions were very helpful in building my confidence and pushing myself forward to eliminate my unemployment status. The budget sessions were conducted with the utmost sensitivity and respect for everyone who struggles with unemployment and finances. All of these and other workshops helped me to gain the strength to continue, especially on those days when I felt as if things were hopeless. 

My WEN experience has been the “caffeine” in my morning beverage. The staff has been professional, supportive, encouraging, and uplifting. WEN employees shared their own life experiences to demonstrate that there is hope during and after unemployment, and a light at the end of my "situation" is possible. In addition to this, partnering with my classmates has allowed me to be a significant part of a comradery that was based on unfortunate circumstances that are ultimately destined for positive outcomes.  I now have friends who are empathetic to this struggle. 

I am indeed grateful for the opportunity, and  I fully intend on paying it forward.

Furthermore, many people are reaching out and offering to assist me with my job search by setting up phone or face-to-face discussions, even if they are in an unrelated field.  LinkedIn is an invaluable employment resource that I highly recommend to WEN alumni. Begin building these relationships immediately and be prepared to discuss what your goals are, and simply ask for the job!  WEN gives you the tools to successfully navigate these discussions.

UPDATE: Since I’ve received my certificate of completion from WEN, I have increased my job search network opportunities by more than 50%.  I’ve yielded five employment discussions from these LinkedIn connections in less than two weeks and I’ve gained insight into potential employment opportunities from seasoned professionals who are currently working in these areas.

I had been speaking with a Job Coach who works with another program in Kansas City. She had encouraged me to work on my resume and suggested that I attend an upcoming Job Fair that she had heard about. I had never been to a Job Fair before, so was unsure what to expect.  She gave me a little bit of information, telling me that I would not be interested in all the employers that would be there.

She knew that I had already applied for jobs at KU Medical Center and St. Luke's Health System and she suggested that I take along copies of my resume and hand them to the persons at those stations, being ready to take a few minutes to "sell myself" to them. Not my forte, but I would comply to get a job.

Being a curious person, I was intrigued with the idea of a job fair, so along with KU Med & St. Luke's, I was checking out all the other employer's tables, just to see what types of positions were available. Because I knew that I was wanting to return to the healthcare field and hopefully work in a teaching institution again, but had not yet reinstated my Missouri RN license, I was scoping out all my options.

Lo and behold, at the end of the first line of tables was Ms. Lynnette. Standing there, straight and tall, with that warm smile and matter of fact style. I don't remember who spoke first, but I think I asked what Women's Employment Network did and she gave me a very brief explanation, then said (with her definitive and then sort of questioning manner): "You know we have an orientation starting next Monday and if you give me your email address and your information, I will email you a reminder and you can come check it out for yourself."

So, what I expected and what we received were two completely different things. What WEN does, cannot in simplicity be explained. I believe that instead of Women's Employment Network, this program should be called "Women's EMPOWERMENT Network." The changes I have seen in myself and my #303 Classmates is so powerful. I have grown in courage, confidence, self-awareness, and ability to recognize and articulate my own needs and passion. I think I better understand what is driving me and why.

It would be difficult to narrow down which particular workshop was most helpful. Each presenter and their presentation had at least some piece of very helpful information from learning about my temperament to structuring my resume. But, possibly the most important piece for me will be how to answer Behavioral Interview questions. I have always been able to weave a story. Answering behavioral questions in an interview is like telling your story, however, we, as women, don't like to "toot our own horns". I have learned that taking ownership of my story and telling it with conviction will "seal the deal" on my interview.

The skills I have learned in 'Conflict Management in the Workplace' and 'Problem Solving and Decision Making' will greatly impact the job that I do acquire. My employment goal has solidified into knowing that I want to work, not only as an RN, but have now attained my Basic Cardiac Life Support certification and know that I want to work in an Adult or Family Ambulatory Clinic where I will have the exposure to multiple types of diagnoses. I have researched and found that there is a 9 week RN refresher course through Johnson County Community College, my Alma Mater, which is highly respected in the healthcare arena. The next class starts this fall and the last day to register is July 1, 2019, so I am now examining the value and possibility of taking this course to ensure my long term career goal.

Short term, after learning how to set up myself on LinkedIn, I have several recruiters that have now seen my Profile on LinkedIn and have sent me invitations to have a "conversation". I can see this transforming at least into a temporary position where I can also have a chance to brush up on my skills in an appropriate environment.

I will be forever grateful for the empowerment I have acquired from WEN.

“Empowered Women Empower Women” - I have a t-shirt with this saying on it made from one of my mentees in my former community of Wausau, Wisconsin. For many years, I served as a mentor and role model, whether directly or indirectly to many women in the Wausau community. For the sake of my family, I made the choice to move to Kansas City where my husband’s extended family resides.

I knew I was sacrificing a lot in my personal and professional life but with the combination of changes in both my life and that of my husband,  we decided 2018 was the right time to move to Kansas City. After all, I always imagined myself living in a bigger city and Kansas City was a place my husband and I often talked about ultimately settling in with our family. So, here we are!

It has now been a little over a year since moving to KC and since that time, I have found myself isolating from the people back in Wisconsin. I lived a very busy but fulfilling life in Wisconsin, but I had made up my mind that my life in KC would be much more balanced;   family time, making time to raise my son at his young, critical age was and is at the top of my priority list, while gradually transitioning back into the workforce.

I also decided that moving to KC provided an opportunity for me to explore other career goals outside of academia. I loved connecting with my Wisconsin folks but as someone who was perceived as a strong pillar in   my former community, I didn’t want them to know I was struggling with my own sense of self- worth and capabilities now in Kansas City - I’ve tried to keep my sense of self in check (and I thought I was doing a good job) but between trying to be the best wife and mother to my family as well as great daughter-in-law to my still grieving mother-in-law (my father-in-law passed  away two years ago), I have been drained with little time to give to myself, to job  searching.

Before moving to Kansas City, I knew my biggest challenge would be not having a network. Now, I’m living that challenge. The only network I have in KC is my husband’s family but none of them have been able to assist my job search in the ways necessary. I started seeing WEN ads pop up on my Facebook page about a month prior to the first day of WEN class #302. In my growing desperation, I briefly researched WEN when it popped up on the Facebook page but just as quickly decided they probably couldn’t help someone like me who had a working spouse and who may be perceived as already educated and accomplished and therefore capable of helping herself. It wasn’t until about the third time I saw WEN pop up on Facebook that I decided to take the risk of contacting WEN and seeing if anyone at WEN could help me reach my goal of developing a network and ultimately obtaining a job. I definitely feel I’ve made the right choice in contacting WEN.

My time at WEN has been just what I needed. I keep saying this but it’s true: WEN has been the extra set of arms and legs that I needed. WEN has helped to invest the extra hours in my life that I just didn’t have the energy to invest nor did I know how to invest. WEN has allowed me to sleep better, knowing that I could afford to sleep now. WEN has provided me the structure in my days that I desperately needed in order to be productive and to feel a sense of purpose again. I have begun to feel rejuvenated again, feeling a sense of hope and worthiness. As silly as it may sound, I had begun to lose faith in Kansas City people, wondering if there was anyone here who cared enough to help me in my path to finding employment but WEN has helped to restore that faith I’ve always had in humankind up until recently.

There are many things I’ll take away from my time with WEN. Most of all, I’ll remember the staff, especially Lynnette, Tonia, and Latoya. Their willingness to share their personal stories and their genuine desire to help us ladies succeed in employment and in life, in general, are most notable. One should be so lucky to experience having people in their lives who care enough to give above and beyond just a paycheck to see others succeed. The guest speakers have been wonderful as well. I enjoyed our time with Sarah who helped facilitate our putting together the vision boards and to see that we all were worthy and capable of achieving our life goals. Mark’s presentation was very insightful. He helped me to see that job searching had to be approached like a relationship, a two way street; I had every right to interview the employer just as they interviewed me. Latoya’s financial information and the visuals she provided, in particular, are ones I’ll use moving forward. The other workshops were helpful as well, but these three I mentioned were most significant to me.

My goal is to land employment (hopefully long-term) within the next couple of weeks after WEN graduation. I know I can’t achieve this goal without WEN though. I plan to attend WEN job clubs, workshops, and job fairs, in order to help me achieve my goals. I will also need the support of WEN staff and my fellow classmates to keep me optimistic about what’s in store for me as far as a career. Throughout my time at WEN, I’ve come to realize that I could do so much more than what I did in the past as far as a career. I also know what I need in a job now and what I’m willing to sacrifice or not budge on. For example, I need job flexibility to go to my son’s school and events every so often. I now have faith that I can do the work of a corporate trainer full time. This is my new career goal. I know that the stars are aligning and it won’t be long before these concerns I’ve had are worries of the past. One thing is for sure though - I could not have done all of this and what my future holds without the guidance and encouragement of WEN. I’m eternally grateful and honored to have been a part of WEN.

I chose WEN primarily because it was affordable (free) and I needed help finding employment. A Facebook post for WEN appeared in my thread briefly describing the Signature Program and what this program could do for women. The post also mentioned there would be no cost. I thought, “what’s the catch” and went to the WEN website to investigate the “catch”. The first thing that caught my attention was “Changing the Lives of Women” in bright blue lettering.

At this point in my life, I needed a change as I felt deflated and my self-esteem was at an all-time low after continually getting passed over for jobs only to find out an employee was hired from within (understandable) or someone was hired because they had great connections. My final breaking point was when I was chosen to temporarily fill a position, being told I was doing a great job and then being passed over for someone who had a lengthy relationship with the hiring manager, but no experience using their software and very basic computer skills. What was worse was I was still filling the temporary position when she started, and I helped train her.

After reading about the Signature Program, I thought, “this is what I need”. However, after reading that WEN creates positive change in the lives of women who struggle with social, economic and educational barriers to employment, I felt sad thinking this program was meant for a different demographic. I closed the website, but WEN kept popping up on my Facebook thread and since I believe in signs, I made a call. The person on the other end had a kind and soothing voice. She let me know the program was for everyone, so I signed up. This has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time.

The program has helped me gain self-confidence and I started believing in myself again. I am cognizant to be “nice” to myself and reign in self-doubt. I felt an almost instant connection to all the women in the class despite our varied backgrounds. This connection really allowed me to be myself and open up. I am usually the person in the back of the room that you may never know existed, but in this program, I am present and wanting to do whatever is needed to heal and find my self-worth. I feel like I hold my head up high as opposed to my head hanging low when I’m walking.

My take-away is that healing takes time and something that has been drilled into our heads from Day 1 is that WEN never closes a file. It has been great seeing people from the most recent class to classes from years ago because truly we will be welcomed back should the need arise. The help I have received with resumes, interviews, self-help, self-care, the information from workshops and financial coaching have had a significant impact in my life. As the program ends and I go back to review what I have learned, it will continue to impact my life.

My goal is to eventually find full-time employment with a company that “fits” and doing a job I love. This may mean taking many temporary positions. I am okay with this because it will get me closer to figuring out exactly what I’m looking for. Thank you for crafting this program to help women like me heal from the inside out and determine our self-worth.

In early January, I walked very slowly down the hall hesitating before I crossed the threshold of the WEN offices. I felt beaten, broken and lost after stepping away from a job where I spent almost half of my life. The position had become my identity, but I no longer could play the role.  Then my father passed away and grief broke my heart, and I spiraled inward even further.

But I recalled the lady on the phone who said WEN could help people like me; I knew I needed help. Desperation forced me to enter.

As I joined the #300 Class, I wondered “who are these women and what are their stories?” Most were stoic and equally guarded, all of us unsure of each other. But as the weeks passed, I saw a shift as we discovered more about ourselves and each other. Through tears and laughter, we realized that we had more similarities than differences. I was relieved to be around others who understood and accepted me without judgment. My affirmation became “Embrace yourself; believe in yourself.” I began to look forward to the trek across town and spending time productively with this unique group of women.

The group’s confidence increased as we were provided tools and coping strategies to help with job searches, as well as the other life challenges that we each battled. My fellow job-seekers’ resilience and goals inspired me. And I realized that I am also resilient; my skills and abilities are also valuable. I am now excited to create goals – personally, professionally and financially.

Our friendships grew as we encouraged and supported each other. We are comfortable holding each other accountable. I have learned to acknowledge my fears, and with practice, they can be helped by a deep breath, a mindset reset, and even a sassy walk. Actually, I tried the sassy walk and was surprised that I was having fun instead of worrying about being afraid.

As the first part of the program concludes, I feel stronger, capable and more focused. I am still healing and need to find employment, but I am hopeful and ready. I am immensely grateful for the support and assistance from Lynnette, Tonia, LaToya, Audrey and Maddie, the volunteers, and the sisterhood of the #300 Class. WEN has given me lifelong friendships and the best five weeks of my life.

Five weeks ago, I thought I was *just* a stay-at-home mom. My life revolved around my kids, my husband and my home. I love being a mom and I embraced that role with everything I had in me. My kids, my husband, and my home were the most important - and really, the only - elements of my life.

But something was missing. And that something was me. Funny thing is, I didn’t even realize it.

There was a time when I was young, cute, and full of energy. The world was in the palm of my hand and I was the queen of that world. I was working for eye doctors, and I was awesome at it. I was a single mom to a 9-year old daughter, and I was awesome at that too. I was a very active volunteer member of my community, running a Girl Scout troop, being the cookie mom of the entire district (that was 30-something Girl Scout troops, thankyouverymuch), and I rocked that. I was a room mother, sucking up vacation days by chaperoning field trips and throwing class parties, and guess what? I was excellent at it. I was in charge of every aspect of my life and I was happy being who I was.

Then I got married.

You would think that would enhance my life, right? Well, it did. And it didn’t. I had my second daughter seven months after I got married. Seven months after that, I was pregnant with my first son. Unfortunately, I lost him shortly before birth. And three months after that, I found myself pregnant with my second son. As all my children grew up, I totally immersed myself in PTA meetings, class parties, field trips, book fairs, holiday workshops, and later on in JROTC chaperoning. I did the drill meets (still do) and I chaperoned Marine Corps balls and ten-day leadership camps. Man, was it exciting and so rewarding to be such a huge part of my kids’ lives! I was, and still am, the proudest momma anyone will ever meet! My kids are better than anyone else’s — sorry, but it’s just the facts. Or my opinion. Whatever.

I could go on and on about my kids, and I usually do. But something’s missing from this picture. And that something is me. ME! I don’t know exactly when I lost the ability to be Linda and turned into Jamie’s mom, Alli’s mother, and Drake’s momma, but somewhere along the way, Linda left. No one EVER calls me Linda anymore. I’m Momma Rainey. Which I love and I’m extremely proud to be her, but… Linda needs to come back.

The kids are growing up, against my wishes. Jamie’s busy with adulting, married and out on her own — and would it kill her to make me a grandma?? — Alli’s 20 and looking to move out and Drake is a senior in high school with a full ride to Mizzou for the next five years. (YAY!!) Momma Rainey’s work is about to get cut drastically.

Things are changing in the marriage as well. I’ll be relocating to Colorado soon… without my husband. Clearly, that situation has been stressful. I asked our family’s therapist if she knew where I could get some legal advice. She told me that she didn’t know, but she referred me to WEN to get a referral for legal aid.

I got on the WEN website to see if there was anything on there that could direct me to a free legal service. Of course, nothing was listed on the website. Because WEN isn’t a legal service. But the more I looked at WEN, the more I thought, “Ya know, maybe I could use this program. I haven’t worked in a while and clearly I’ll need a job soon.

So I did what any mother with social anxiety would do. I turned to my unemployed daughter and said, “Hey Al. We should do this.” Because there was no way I could go alone.

I, of course, stalled for a while, but eventually took Alli downtown and into WEN. I was hoping it would be a good program for me. For us. But my hopes weren’t very high.

Fast-forward a couple of weeks and it was the night before our first day. I was thinking that I really didn’t want to do this after all. Well, the alarm went off in the morning. I was really, really thinking that I did NOT want to do this. I had no idea what type of women would be there. Would it be 3 other women? Or will it be 300 other women? What kinds of backgrounds are they coming from? Why don’t they have jobs? But the main thought on my mind was, will they accept me? Or will they judge me? Would they hate me? I rolled over and hit the Snooze button. But I couldn’t go back to sleep - not even for those 9 minutes.

I walked into WEN and there was Ms. Audrey with her signature warm, caring smile. If I could get Ms. Audrey to move in with me, I would in a heartbeat. I need her unique ability to put me at ease every day. I will really, really miss seeing her smile first thing in the morning.

Then we went back to our classroom. And I was terrified when I saw something like 10 other women in there. We sat through the first day and took extensive notes, and I was listening carefully. The program sounded good, but there had to be a catch, right? They couldn’t give all that Ms. Lynnette was talking about for free, could they? Well here I am the day before graduation, and I can say honestly, WEN delivered way more than they said they would.

They promised they would help me build a perfect resume — check. They promised they’d teach me how to budget — check. They promised they’d teach me how to dress appropriately — check. And they promised they’d teach me how to interview well — check. They didn’t promise me that they’d teach me to love myself and return to Linda. But guess what? Big. Fat. Check.

And it wasn’t just the women who work there. There’s something so wonderful about Class 299. Our class is the most diverse bunch of women I’ve ever seen, but at the end of the day, we’re all women, and we’re all strong and powerful and loving and caring. Wonderful. Fabulous. Amazing. Put us all together, and we’re definitely a force to be reckoned with. Through all the tears and the laughter we’ve shared, we’ve developed into a nice, tight network of the most encouraging group of women on the planet. Each and every one of my WENmates has taught me something along the way and I am so grateful to have met every one of them.

I have gained so much information, my head might explode before Friday’s graduation. But somewhere in the process, somehow in the last five weeks, I met Linda again. And ya know what? She’s pretty cool! She may not be young and cute anymore, and the energy is a little bit zapped, but Linda is — no, *I* am — FIERCE! I’m wiser than the younger version of me, and I have a lot more life experience, but I’m working to find a good balance between Linda and Momma Rainey. And I’m working to love myself again. WEN has given me my confidence back, and I’ve come to realize that that’s more important than any employment tips I’ve learned along the way.

I’m gonna be okay. No... I’m gonna be awesome. Thank you, WEN.

To this day when Kathy puts in her earrings, she fondly remembers her time in the Women’s Employment Network Program and that Lynnette Williams, Vice President of Program and Services, taught her that earrings are a nice finishing touch to a professional outfit.

When her co-worker at the U.S. Department of Labor, Vincent "Tony" O'Brien, retired and her employer needed someone to take over the workshops he's presented at WEN since 2014, Kathy jumped at the chance to contribute to the program that had helped her years ago.

When Kathy enrolled in WEN's program in 1995 she was an ambitious, hard worker with a Juris Doctorate degree but felt that the cultural aspects of her socioeconomic status were holding her back and was the key impediment to her being able to obtain a professional level job. Since graduating with Class #103, Kathy has often said that what she gained from having been at WEN best addressed some of the struggles she experienced in obtaining a professional-level career. She would joke that sometimes it felt like there was a “class ceiling” in the world of professional-level work. WEN helped her learn to navigate business culture and the professional world. She was pleased to discover that the WEN program delved into topics like business etiquette. The WEN Program and related experiences underscored the importance of building a strong network, developing relationships and the value of always putting your best foot forward because you never know when it might lead you somewhere better than you might otherwise have been. One thing Kathy has realized over the years is the importance of a network. She understands there is an art to it and she used her networking skills to break into the business world.

Kathy has had a vibrant albeit a self-described somewhat rocky career path until fairly recently. Though she has undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Sociology, a Master of Arts degree in Conflict Resolution and her JD she did not have a job with a 401 (k) or health insurance until she was thirty-eight years old, in part due to her three disabilities serving as pre-existing conditions, and in part simply struggling to obtain a full-time job with benefits that paid well or at least decently. In addition to maintaining a private legal/mediation practice, at various times she held part-time positions as the Director of Mediation Services at UMKC, the Executive Director of a local non-profit, and was an adjunct professor at three local colleges.  At thirty-eight, Kathy finally felt like she “made it” when she obtained her first “real” full-time job with benefits as a Senior Mediator with the City of Kansas City, MO in their Human Relations Department. Many years previously, she had her first professional level job as a full-time AmeriCorps attorney/mediator/trainer in a domestic violence program at Legal Aid which paid $16,000 a year plus a $4000 a year stipend for student loan payments. Her professional lot in life has improved drastically since then. Currently, Kathy works with the U.S. Department of Labor as a Benefits Advisor and has done so for eleven years while simultaneously maintaining a small private legal practice in which she conducts mediations and handles traffic tickets. In her position at the DOL she is passionate about helping people understand law and how they can make it work for their situation and tries to do so with kindness, compassion, and gentleness.

Kathy is most proud of the fact that she has moved from poverty to being a member of the middle class and has raised her daughter to forego poverty and start out adulthood after college as a member of the middle class. She is passing her life lessons down to her daughter, now 27, and helping set her up in ways she never had. Valuing education and fervently believing that it is a key component of avoiding or rising above poverty, she helped her daughter navigate graduating from Colby College, an elite private college in Maine, without any student debt.    

At WEN, Kathy will now teach "Saving Fitness" or "Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement" to each WEN class. She is excited to give back and share her expertise and WEN is grateful to have her!

I don't think I chose WEN, I think WEN chose me. I was not looking for any type of employment services. I was referred to WEN by a friend who thought that it would be a good journey to find out who I am and what to do with my life. She thought that the process would give me some direction since I was feeling lost. I have noticed a lot of changes in myself that I didn't even know was possible.

I always felt that I was a confident person until I lost my job. My job was everything to me and when that was no longer the case I just felt lost, unworthy, and deflated. All of the people who support me were saying "this is not who you are and that your worth is not determined by what job you had".

I have learned at WEN that my job never determined my worth or my value, but that my character is worth its weight in gold. I have learned to dream again and possibly pursue a future in entrepreneurship. I have learned about who I am and who I have yet to become. I didn't lose my job my job lost ME. I have met new friends from all walks of life and they have forever changed me. Sharing my story has allowed them to feel comfortable to share theirs. This sharing gives us a new perspective in life, letting others know you are not alone in this life is so powerful. We all believe our life is so bad until you hear about someone going through so much worse. Coming together is such a healing process, being able to help someone in their struggle is so uplifting in itself that it gives us a new appreciation for life.

I think that the workshops and speakers we had were all placed to come in our lives at the right time. They were all relevant to what I was needing at that time in the program. After completing the program here at WEN has offered me a view at a life I had forgotten and clarity in what I need to focus on to pursue that life. I may have to build up to having my own business, but now I know that is a possibility.

I will take away new bonds that I have formed with the staff and program participants. I want to come back in the future to help other students in the process of becoming a better person for oneself and not for others. I never knew what WEN provided, I had heard it mentioned but never understood what the program was until I joined. I have honed in on what I want and need to do to attain those things. I want to have a job as a pharmacist again and look into what it would take to have my own food truck business and umbrella company GracEd Unlimited, LLC.  I want to connect with the people and help them in any way I can, it's who I am and what I do. 

I have to start by saying that I never thought I would actually feel the changes I have experienced so tangibly. I do feel like I have grown mentally on this past 5 weeks. I have always thought of myself as someone weak, without a real trait or personality. I have gotten used to being the “Eeyore” I learned to love, but during this past five weeks, I have learned that I have what it takes to succeed, that I am stronger than I thought and that when I really want to, and that I can do anything if set my mind into it.

And after what it feels a lifetime, I can say, (and actually believe it when I hear myself saying it), that I am proud of myself. I don’t ever remember feeling that way ever. And I don’t know how it happened, but now I don’t feel so embarrassed of the job I had for so long because that job didn’t define me. If anything, It helped me build the person I am now.

I chose WEN a long time ago when I was trying to get help to find myself while I was living in Florida. Back in 2016, I read about WEN online and I knew that was the place I had to be in but I just had to be patient. The resume reviews and mock interviews are what primarily caught my attention, but the name: “Women Employment Network” somehow told me that I was going to be able to find what I was seeking and I didn’t even know I needed at that point. I was blessed to end up in the place where I wanted to be – in Kansas City with my family. After I moved to Kansas City, I was able to begin the WEN program. I do believe in destiny.

Since we started the program, I feel stronger, more confident and even happier.

Sadly, I wasn’t able to attend all the workshops I wanted, but I do appreciate greatly the ones I did.  What I am most grateful for and I pray I can take from here has to be my new friends and all the people I can count on. Also, thanks to the mock interviews, I can now sit down face to face with someone that I thought would intimidate me. I can feel more secure of myself and the volunteers who did my mock interviews said I portrayed myself as being confident! I have never been called that in my life and that meant a lot to me. I think I can safely say, WEN did change my life because now I know, I have it in me. I just have to let it out and smile. There is nothing a smile can’t fix. And I love that.

I am going to work very hard to achieve all my goals and dreams. One of them is to find a job where I will be able to grow, advance, and stay for a long time; one where I’ll be able to help other people that, like at one point myself, felt lost. Also, with luck, I will find a job that will allow me to have nights off, so I can spend it with my kids.

I know I will be able to get into any training, school and/or program that I have to in order to achieve my goals because now I know only I can stop myself – and I am not planning to. No more sabotaging myself. The sky is the limit and I have so much to look forward to.

Thank you, WEN – from the bottom of my heart. The time you have invested in me is not wasted and I will make you ladies proud. Pinky Promise.