January 2019
Client Spotlight
Linda R., Class #299
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.
NEW Annual Report!
2017-18 Annual Report
Check out our 2017-18 Annual Report!
We had a positive and eventful year that saw huge growth in the number of women we were able to serve in the community. We are excited as we look ahead and continue to make a difference in Kansas City - one woman at a time.
Donor Spotlight
WEN wants to give a GIANT shout out to some of our most recent funders. Grants from foundations and trusts make up a large portion of WEN's budget and we are grateful and humbled by the support we receive from them.
- The McGee Foundation
- Oppenstein Brothers Foundation
Upcoming Events
WEN's Signature Employment & Career Transition Program
Monday - Friday | 9:00am-12:00pm
View the full 2019 Schedule
Our next class begins February 19
Last day to pre-register is February 14
WEN’s Signature Programming is uniquely structured to meet the varying needs and skill levels of women in all stages of employment: those who are unemployed, underemployed, laid off, new to the job market or seeking to re-enter the workplace.
WEN Annual Luncheon
Thursday, April 18 | 11:45am-1:00pm
Sheraton Crown Center
Our 2019 co-chairs, Joshua Rowland and Andy Fromm, invite you to join us at our annual luncheon!
Since 1986, WEN has helped women reach and realize the defining moments of their lives. We invite you to join us as a sponsor to honor the legacy of WEN in our community and hear personal stories of triumph and success from our clients and graduates.
Save the Date for More 2019 Events:
- Monday, May 6 - Spring Job Fair
- Thursday, November 14 - KC's Got Talent
Women's Health Spotlight
Provided in partnership with
Start February off with a BIG SPLASH OF RED!
Join Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center as they support National Wear Red Day on February 1, 2019! The national symbol for women and heart disease awareness, the Red Dress®, is designed to warn women of their number one health threat ~ heart disease.
Did you know…
- 1 in 4 women will die from heart disease, more than all cancers combined
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death of women over the age of 35
- 80% of all women have at least one risk factor
- Women are more likely to present with uncharacteristic signs and symptoms of a heart attack, not the classic symptoms
- Experiencing high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy increases a woman’s risk of developing heart disease
- Receiving various forms of treatment for cancer increases risk for heart disease
- Menopause is a common risk factor all women share
- Individuals who live together share the same risk factors
The Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center is celebrating 25 years of advocating for the hearts of women and is a local resource to assist you with outlining your proactive heart care. Call today to learn more at 816-932-5784.
Take a minute and follow the Women's Heart Center on Facebook and Instagram!
Healthy Recipe of the Month: Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Make your own chocolate covered strawberries for a heart-healthy dessert. They are simple to make, you can decorate however you want and are super delicious!