As we reflect on Black History Month, I am honored and humbled by the legacy of the Black community; it deeply inspires me with an unwavering determination as it shapes the fabric of our society and paves the way for progress.
In addition to all the social activists who fought tirelessly for human rights, I think also of the innovators and their contributions to our great nation. Charles Drew is best known for his pioneering work in the field of blood transfusion and blood banking. Drew developed a method for the long-term preservation of blood plasma, which became crucial during World War II. George Washington Carver developed over 300 products from peanuts, sweet potatoes, and other crops, including the invention of the potato chip. Garrett Morgan invented the traffic light. Madam C.J. Walker created a line of beauty and hair care products, and became the first Black female millionaire in the U.S. Alice H. Parker invented a gas-powered heating furnace, which helped make heating more efficient, and became the basis for modern central heating systems. Benjamin Banneker designed our nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Lewis Latimer worked with Thomas Edison and developed an improved filament, making electric light more practical and widely available. Otis Boykin invented resistors for electrical circuits used in radios, televisions, and computers. Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson made several contributions to telecommunications, including the development of technologies used in touch-tone telephones, caller ID, and fax machines.
If I shared all of our incredible contributions, it would take tens of thousands of pages.
This legacy also reminds me of the pivotal role mentors play in our lives, and I am profoundly grateful for the guidance, support and love that I received from my mentor, Harvard Law School professor Charles J. Ogletree, whose belief in me ignited the spark of my first nonprofit endeavor after law school. His mentorship not only shaped my path but instilled in me the conviction to uplift and empower others, regardless of the obstacles and resistance.
I am immensely proud of the dedication, passion, and resilience our team brings to our mission. Together, we are not only rewriting the narrative of economic opportunity but also shaping a future where every individual has the chance to thrive.
If you have been a part of our legacy previously, we thank you and ask that you join us as we recommit ourselves to the values of inclusion, diversity, and equity that define our organization – and the best parts of this great nation. If you have been getting to know our impact, we encourage you to join us as we strive for excellence, inspire one another, and embody the spirit of unity that makes our community and nation stronger. There are many ways to support what we do; you can donate to help us continue to fund college and job training scholarships; you can lend the support of your own organization to our scholars through internships and full-time opportunities; you can volunteer to be a community reviewer for student applications; or you can simply share our message with your community to help us broaden our reach and engagement.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in advancing our mission – Scholars First. Together, we are truly making a difference, one life, one job, and one story at a time.
Earl
Ryleigh Buxton’s Path to Firefighting Success
Ryleigh Buxton is two months into her Fire Science training at Cass Career Center. She is pictured here with her instructor for the course. She plans to complete the EMT course at Excelsior Springs Area Career Center in the fall. These two trainings will make Ryleigh eligible for any firefighting positions in the city. Ryleigh could expect a 45% increase in her wages by beginning her journey in firefighting. We are so proud to support Ryleigh and other Scholars just like her on their path to a great future.
Our Healthcare Scholar Advocates, along with our Community Engagement, Employment, and Career Resources teams had the opportunity to make a site visit to one of our amazing partners, MEDS KC! MEDS KC trains our Scholars for CNA and Med Tech careers.
Our Scholar Advocates
set us apart.
What does having a Scholar Advocate mean to you?
“Someone to rely on, especially when I have questions, I am able to email him and he responds quickly every time. Having someone to lean on when I need help. They are there to help and to lift me up when I need it.” – Chinecherem Ihenacho, Junior UMKC
Adult Learners Connect
at UMKC.
Our team held an Adult Learner February Social at UMKC. We brought donuts and the Scholars made Valentine’s cards. The adult learners really love connecting with other adults and having that peer support!
Thank You,
Teachers and Counselors!
A huge THANK YOU goes out to all of the teachers and counselors across the metro who stepped up to help their students finalize their KC Scholars Scholarship applications. We couldn’t support your students without your commitment. Together, we work to bring opportunities to hundreds of deserving students.
Celebrating Success at
MSU Access Reception
Lizzet Ibarra and Katlynn Templeton both attended the Access Programs Appreciation Reception at Missouri State University. It was a time for staff and Scholars to catch up, relax, and celebrate the successes students have had this year. Everyone enjoyed a hot cocoa bar and cookies. Lizzet and Katlynn were able to meet with other Scholars, as well as network with other college access professionals from different organizations.
KC Scholars Ambassadors
Empower Fellow Students
Last month the KC Scholars Ambassadors at Kansas City Kansas Community College, University of Kansas, and University of Missouri-Kansas City kicked off the semester by hosting Semester Starter Pack Giveaways on their campuses! These packs, filled with snacks, essentials, and KC Scholars branded goodies were a hit. Across all giveaway events, ambassadors connected with nearly 100 Scholars!
It was heartwarming to see them sharing wisdom and encouragement with their peers. Their efforts are building a strong sense of community on campus, and we couldn’t be prouder of the impact they’re making!
Keep an eye on your email for an invitation to an exclusive reception to thank our valuable donors for their generosity and support.
Out in the
Community
Despite the inclement weather days, our Community Engagement team was present across the metro at dozens of schools; here they are at Ruskin and Turner High Schools, assisting area students in submitting their Traditional Scholarship application for the opportunity to be awarded $50,000 to go to college. Students were eager, and the excitement was apparent as our team worked with school staff and students to finalize their applications in time for the February 28th deadline.
Our community collaborations allow us to support our Scholars and help them succeed no matter what obstacles get in their way. We currently collaborate with 112 partners, but we always need more!
To get our Scholars through their programs, we rely on partnerships with our Postsecondary Network, Job Training Partners, and our Community Partners. Then, to find them a great job with benefits, we look to our collaborations with our Employer Partners.
We are always on the lookout for ways to help our Scholars succeed. There are thousands of organizations in Kansas City, and we know that many of these have programs and services that can be useful to college students or adults in training for a new career. If your organization offers services that can benefit our Scholars, or your organization could benefit from hiring our Scholars, please reach out. CLICK HERE for contact information to reach out.
Your success is incredibly important to us, and we are committed to supporting you even beyond the completion of the program.
In order to better understand the impact of our training programs and to continue building a program that better meets the needs of our Scholars, we kindly request your assistance in providing us with some updated information regarding your current employment status.
Could you please take a moment to provide us with the following details:
Where are you currently employed?
What is your current job title?
What is your current salary?
(A range is sufficient if you do not feel comfortable providing the exact salary)
Total Scholars On A Path To Their Future Through Our Great Jobs KC Program
0
Scholars Currently in a Job Training Program or professional skills workshop
0
Scholars Working in a GREAT JOB
WORKFORCE AND EMPLOYER NETWORK
This month we welcomed three more amazing employer partners to our network.
As the Kansas City area’s largest healthcare provider, HCA Midwest Health consists of six hospitals and dozens of outpatient centers, clinics, physician practices, surgery centers, and an array of other facilities and services to meet area residents’ healthcare needs. Local hospitals include Centerpoint, Research, Belton, Lee’s Summit, Overland Park, and Menorah. Their primary recruiting needs include PCT/CNA, nurses, medical assistants, techs, and clinic/office support.
The Rhys·Ivy Company is a general contracting and professional services firm specializing in commercial construction, construction management, and specialty program consulting. Our mission is to build lasting relationships with our external partners, internal teams, and the communities we serve while delivering the highest quality service utilizing the leading industry standards for safety. They will be recruiting for many different positions in the construction field.
Turner is a North American-based, international construction services company and a leading builder in diverse market segments. The company has earned recognition for undertaking large and complex projects, fostering innovation, embracing emerging technologies, and making a difference for its clients, employees, and community. With over 11,000 employees, the company completes $17 billion of construction on 1,500 projects each year. They will primarily be recruiting laborers.
Our scholars are making big waves this summer Great Jobs KC Scholars from our summer tech program, hosted in partnership with the University of Missouri...Read More
Crossing the Line: Solving the Workforce Gap Across Kansas City’s State Line in the Growing Construction, Healthcare, and Manufacturing Industries Great Jobs KC A Growing...Read More
The $1.5 Billion Ripple Effect: Why Workforce Development is KC’s Best Investment Great Jobs KC Imagine the transformation of moving from a cycle of low-wage...Read More
If you’ve received this newsletter as a share and would like to be added to our distribution list, please enter your email address here.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer
Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.
Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.
Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.
As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships.
Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.
Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country. Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.
Ryleigh Buxton is two months into her Fire Science training at Cass Career Center. She is pictured here with her instructor for the course. She plans to complete the EMT course at Excelsior Springs Area Career Center in the fall. These two trainings will make Ryleigh eligible for any firefighting positions in the city. Ryleigh could expect a 45% increase in her wages by beginning her journey in firefighting. We are so proud to support Ryleigh and other Scholars just like her on their path to a great future.
