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The Hidden Barriers: Why Kansas City Career Success Requires More Than Just a Classroom

Great Jobs KC

Illustration of Kansas City skyline emerging from an open book with text: "Hidden Barriers—Why Kansas City Career Success Requires More Than Just a Classroom" on a purple background.

The Hidden Barriers: Why Kansas City Career Success Requires More Than Just a Classroom

 

People often assume the road to a living-wage career is straightforward: get an education, build some skills, and land a great job. But the reality is that economic mobility in Kansas City rarely plays out that easily, especially for Scholars juggling work, family responsibilities, or financial instability. 

The truth is, some of the toughest challenges to closing the skills gap aren’t in textbooks. They are systemic hurdles that stop even the most determined Scholars in their tracks. 

 

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in KC

 

Missed buses mean missed classes or interviews. No reliable laptop means assignments don’t get done. A sudden bill can make you choose between groceries and your dream. These barriers to employment are everywhere, and one big hurdle can make everything feel impossible.

That’s where Great Jobs KC comes in. We get that education alone doesn’t open every door. Sometimes, you need a hand just getting through the hallway. Our Scholar Support Services Team steps in and acts as a bridge when life throws a curveball. 

 

How Donations Create Community Impact

 

Scholars and their Advocates don’t have to figure it out alone. Whether it’s providing transportation assistance, technology access or emergency financial aid, we’re here to help pick up the slack. This kind of holistic support means Scholars can actually focus on finishing their programs and then joining the Kansas City workforce ready to succeed, not dragging the weight of survival with them. 

This is what makes giving back to Kansas City through Great Jobs KC so transformative:

  • It goes beyond tuition: Your gift can bridge the gap between getting in and graduating.
  • It fuels persistence: You can provide the foundation for potential to become a real career. 
  • It strengthens our city: By investing in the person as a whole, together we set the stage for lasting economic success and generational impact.

 

Support Our Mission

 

Success isn’t just starting the journey; it’s having the resources to reach the finish line and go even further. If you are looking for impactful ways to donate in KC, join us. You can help make an impact and build a stronger KC, one life at a time. Choose the opportunity that matches your resources.

Support Workforce Development in Kansas City Today!



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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