Illustration of seven diverse people jumping in the air with their arms raised, surrounded by clouds, celebrating the Great Jobs KC anniversary against a white background.

9 years of impacting Kansas City!

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

A man with a shaved head and beard, wearing a black shirt and vest, smiles confidently with arms crossed against a blurred indoor background.

As we mark our ninth anniversary, I’m filled with immense pride and gratitude. This milestone is not just a celebration of time; it’s a celebration of the impact made, dreams realized, and a community strengthened.

Nine years ago, we launched Great Jobs KC with a powerful mission – to create real pathways to economic independence through education and career advancement. Today, we proudly reflect on the journey that has helped over 2,300 individuals secure thriving careers, with an average salary increase of 178%. These aren’t just numbers; they represent hope, dignity, and the promise of a better future.

Together, we’ve built an ecosystem of support that proves when we unlock potential, not just individuals transform their own lives, but our entire community is impacted. The success of our program would not be possible without the incredible generosity of our donors, the unwavering dedication of our board and staff, the strong partnerships we’ve built with more than 125 social service and community partners.

Our anniversary is more than a look back; it’s a call to action. We remain deeply committed to expanding access, creating opportunities, and ensuring every Kansas Citian can pursue their dreams with dignity and purpose.

To our supporters, thank you for believing in this mission. To our Scholars, thank you for your courage and determination. And to our partners and team, thank you for being the heartbeat of this work.

Here’s to nine years and the countless possibilities ahead.

With deep gratitude,

Earl

The word "FIRST" in bold blue font, flanked by three vertical blue bars on both the left and right sides, symbolizes access to scholarships and opportunities.

A GREAT New Start

A woman in scrubs stands in front of a "Beacon of Hope Hospice" banner, holding a painted sign that reads "Beacon Of Hope" during the Great Jobs KC anniversary celebration.

Thank you all so much for everything that you have done for me. You all have put me and my four children in a GREAT place for us to start living and enjoying life, unapologetically! I am beyond thrilled to have you in my corner while I study for my RN. This is not the end of my story; this is just the beginning! 🩷

Aaliyah Morrow, CNA

RN, loading…❤️🩺 

To learn more about our Scholars and their success, please visit our Scholar Success page.

Two sets of gray vertical bars with colored arrow-like shapes, symbolizing scholarships and opportunities, are positioned on the left and right sides of a white background, facing inward.

our team

in the community

Calling all fathers, father-figures, and their all-star kids—It’s time to lace up, lock in, and make memories that will last a lifetime!

COLLEGE BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE

Power & Light District
1401 Grand Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64106
August 16th, 12 - 4pm

Logo with "Great Jobs KC" in bold black text and "DEVELOPMENT TEAM" in blue, with "TEAM" highlighted in a blue rectangle, representing scholarships and opportunities for career growth.

Tap into

opportunity

SAVE THE DATE to head to Casual Animal in September and October to enjoy a pint of Local Motive where $2 of each beer sold goes to help fund our Scholars.

Looking for a way to support our mission and Scholars, reach out to Kristin Crites, Director of Corporate & Individual Development at Kristin.crites@greatjobskc.org

Logo with the words "Great Jobs KC" and "Job Training" in bold, black and blue text, highlighting scholarships and opportunities.

NEW EMPLOYER Partners

Our Employer Partner Team has been BUSY! Here are our newest employer partners:

CenterWell Senior Primary Care logo featuring a stylized blue and green leaf design above the company name in blue text, celebrating the Great Jobs KC anniversary.

CenterWell Senior Primary Care provides healthcare services designed especially for seniors. Great Jobs KC is partnering with them to connect our Scholars to their medical assistant, medical front office/receptionist and other allied healthcare jobs.

Logo marking the Great Jobs KC anniversary, featuring "complete technology" in orange and "IT Services Redefined" in white on a dark background.

Complete Technology Services (CTS) is IT service redefined, providing go-to IT support for every tech challenge. Great Jobs KC is a proud CTS customer and is excited to partner with them to connect our Scholars to their paid System Support/ IT Helpdesk 90-day internships with the potential to move into full-time roles.

Logo for Heartland Sheets featuring a stylized blue "H" with a curved line and the words "Heartland Sheets" below in dark and light blue text, celebrating the Great Jobs KC anniversary.

Heartland Sheets takes pride in producing high-quality corrugated sheets that start the packaging process for everyday packaging, storing, and shipping essentials as the Heartland’s leading supplier. Great Jobs KC is partnering with them to connect our Scholars with their maintenance technician and production worker jobs.

The image shows the word "menlo" in blue lowercase letters, with the "o" stylized as a light bulb emitting rays—highlighting creativity and innovation, perfect for celebrating the Great Jobs KC anniversary.

Menlo provides technology products and solutions to schools and civic organizations nationwide. Menlo has shared great insights into careers in technology with our team, and Great Jobs KC is pleased to deepen our connection and share Menlo’s field technician and systems analyst jobs with our Scholars.

The image shows the Spire logo with the word "spire" in orange lowercase letters beside an abstract orange circular design on a white background, celebrating the Great Jobs KC anniversary.

Spire is committed to serving customers and to safely and reliably provide the essential energy for warm meals and showers – and regional economic development and expansion. Great Jobs KC is partnering with Spire to connect our Scholars to their gas worker position, which is a great opportunity to begin a lasting career.

Union Pacific shield logo with blue top, red and white stripes below, and the words "Building America" in black text underneath, celebrates the Great Jobs KC anniversary.

Union Pacific delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service, and Great Jobs KC is partnering with them to connect our Scholars to their train crew and track labor opportunities.

A group of people seated at tables in a conference room listen to a presenter standing next to a screen displaying an HCA Midwest Health slide during the Great Jobs KC anniversary event.

From Classroom to Career

Great Jobs KC hosted an employment workshop on July 22, 2025, for Scholars who recently graduated from the Certified Nursing Assistant Program. Eighteen Scholars attended the event, where they received valuable employment information from Manny Bowen, a Registered Nurse Recruiter with HCA Midwest. 

Additionally, Career Resources Manager Judith Simmons and Program Operations Manager Lauren Fuchs provided insights on writing a professional resume, networking strategies, mastering the elevator pitch, interview tips, and information about the current job market. 

Preparing Scholars for the job market is crucial for their success in securing employment in hospitals or care/rehabilitation facilities. The healthcare industry in Kansas City is experiencing a high demand for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

Our KC Scholars

Scholarship team

Chris Hullaby, High School Scholar Advocate and Grant Coordinator, led a mental health workshop last month with high school Scholars. They focused on “Setting Yourself Up For Success,” through strategies like stress management, breathing exercises, and mental toughness. This event was made possible by funding from the Children’s Service Fund of Jackson County, from which Great Jobs KC received a mental health grant to serve Scholars further and prepare them for successful futures.

scholar support

services

In need of school supplies? The community is here to help!
A blue shield-shaped logo with the words "Great Jobs KC Scholars" in large white letters, celebrating 2000 Scholars.

Scholars on the path to SUCCESS

0

TOTAL SCHOLARS ON A PATH TO THEIR FUTURE

0

SCHOLARS CURRENTLY IN TRAINING OR COLLEGE PROGRAM

0

SCHOLARS WORKING IN A GREAT JOB

Young person in a hoodie stands beside a blue background with text encouraging survey participation for the 2000 Scholars of Great Jobs KC.

Throughout the Great Jobs KC experience, we will request that you complete a few short surveys to collect data that allows us to:

  • Show our impact to our donors and partners to secure more funds to continue our programs
  • Improve our program process so it works for everyone
  • Tailor our support services to Scholars’ needs
  • Share stories of Scholar success to inspire others to change their lives

We want to build a stronger Kansas City, one life at a time, and we need your help and input to do it.

Select survey participants will be entered into ongoing drawings for high-end tech prizes including laptops, headphones, and tablets.

Keep an eye on your email and texts, take a few moments to PAY IT FORWARD by helping to provide access to opportunities for others.

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

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Check out our BLOG and support our mission

Find out more about our programs and support!

A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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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.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

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.

Great Jobs KC
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