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Finding Her Calling: Antoinette's Journey to a Fulfilling Healthcare Career

Great Jobs KC

Antoinette White graduated from the Great Jobs KC Training Program in healthcare. Antoinette’s first connection to Great Jobs KC was entirely by chance when she ran into our Community Engagement Team during her children’s back-to-school night. After learning more about our tuition-free job training for those who qualify, Antoinnette decided to put her career first and determined that this opportunity had more benefits than other related programs.

Antoinette had been working at a warehouse when she first ran into Great Jobs KC, but she had previously earned her degree in medical assisting. While working as a Keying Specialist at her warehouse and dealing with different door hardware tasks, Antoinnette could feel that tug to return to the medical field, especially after she heard just how possible it could be without accumulating debt. After learning about what specific opportunities Great Jobs KC’s Training Program offers, she knew she didn’t want to pass this up and return to the career field she was passionate about.

Antoinette soon completed her Phlebotomy course and attended a Great Jobs KC Career fair for current or graduated Scholars, where she was first introduced to her current employer and our first Employer Partner, Swope Health. All Scholars going through our training program must take skill-building workshops to set them apart from the other candidates applying for jobs. Because of these courses, Antoinette shared how she took some of the soft skills attained from this course to her interview and even applied them to the job she now has as a Medical Assistant at the Swope Health Belton Clinic.

While Antoinette is not currently in a phlebotomy role, she is in the healthcare field and loves her job. She reflects on how rewarding this job was from the first day she set foot in Swope Health. She feels that she is happier where she is now compared to her warehousing job, where she would dread the days to come. Antoinette felt supported throughout her job search and never felt alone thanks to her Scholar Advocate.

When searching for companies to join our Employer Partner Program, we want qualified companies that foster their staff to be skilled, motivated, and knowledgeable so we can build a more diverse and stronger workforce in the Kansas City community. Swope Health has done precisely that for Antoinette, and she reflects on how her current role makes her feel more appreciated and genuinely cared for. Her role has not only allowed her to grow but also given her more flexibility to spend quality time with her kids.

The journey is never easy, but taking it one step at a time will always get you to the finish line. Great Jobs KC was that finish line for me.

Antoinette White

Are you interested in seeing how Great Jobs KC’s Training Program can impact your life like Antoinette’s? Are you an employer ready for your company to join our Employer Partner Program? Visit our website to learn more about our Training and Employer Partner Programs!

About Great Jobs KC

Great Jobs KC is a Kansas City-based nonprofit that provides access to college scholarships and tuition-free job training, along with job placement assistance for young people from low- and modest-income families in the metropolitan area, providing a pipeline of talent for a strong regional workforce. Please join us on our mission for economic independence for all. For more information, visit www.greatjobskc.org.

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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

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle.

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

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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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