Since 1986, Women’s Employment Network (WEN) has lived out its vision of advancing positive change in the lives of women, their families, and the community, one woman at a time. Founded by Beth K. Smith and Marjorie Powell Allen, the organization is a proud partner of the OneKC for Women alliance and serves as a […]

The words on the wall (and on Instagram, over and over again) say it all: “Strong Women Lift Each Other Up.” The mural appears on the exterior of the building that houses Women Leaders in College Sports. As Patti Phillips, the chief executive officer of Women Leaders in College Sports, stated, “Since 1979, our organization […]

United WE, formerly the Women’s Foundation, was founded in 1991. Karen Herman served as its original chairman. In addition to Karen, the founders included Marjorie Powell Allen, Janice Benjamin, Bunni Copaken, Joan Dillon, Janette Draper, Crystal Hart-Whitmore, Karen Haren, Dorothy Johnson, Janet Brown Moss, Marjorie Sirridge, Beth Smith, and Linda Hood Talbott. The organization’s mission […]

St. Teresa’s Academy was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1866. Recently, the Academy became the second all-girl school in the nation to receive AdvancED STEM certification.  Dr. Siabhan May-Washington, president, said, “My goal is to provide the best high-quality education possible to the young women who grace our halls. Every […]

Homeless mothers and their children have received assistance from Sheffield Place since the organization opened its doors in 1989. Founded by Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries and the YMCA, Sheffield Place seeks to empower homeless mothers and their children to heal from their trauma and become self-sufficient. Some of the barriers to wellness the mothers face include […]

The Sewing Labs is an inclusive and welcoming community teaching the legacy of sewing for employment, entrepreneurship, and enrichment. The organization supports women and girls by serving as a resource that builds community connections. It teaches the legacy of sewing, a life skill that provides benefits from self-enrichment to self-confidence and can lead to gainful […]

Caroline Markel Hammond formed Safe In Harm’s Way in 2016 because, “All people deserve to have a big, bold, unapologetic life!” Caroline continued, “Women and girls deserve to walk away from sadness, worry, lies, fear, and pain so that they can find honest love, great people, positive experiences, food which fuels their souls, travel, and […]

Imagine the phone ringing 21,000 times when the voice on the other end of the line is begging for help in a domestic abuse situation. During the last 50 years in the existence of Newhouse, that is the approximate number of calls they have taken for requested assistance from, primarily, women. While victims of domestic […]

Madam President Camp was founded by Pam Kelley and Lee Smithson Burd in 2013. Its mission is “To inspire girls to use their voice to become leaders in their communities now and in the future.” During the summer, the organization provides virtual and in-person opportunities for middle-school girls to use their abilities. Interactive learning experiences […]

The harmony isn’t just in the voices. As the organization’s mission statement states, “The Kansas City Women’s Chorus is a catalyst for change, pushing ourselves and our audiences beyond what is thought possible. Simply singing is not enough.”  KCWC was founded in 1999 by Stephanie Henry. Today, the Chorus includes more than 100 members. Emily […]

Christine Kemper founded the Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy in 2017. The school’s mission “is to develop young women to use their voices, to succeed in college, and to lead impactful, meaningful lives,” in addition to becoming leaders for real change. KC Girls Prep is an affiliate of  The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TYWLN). Begun […]

Founded in 1934 as The Service League of Kansas City, Kansas, the organization later became the Junior League of Kansas City, Kansas, and now is finally known as the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties. It is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through […]

The Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri was established more than a century ago. Since then, the organization has raised more than $18.5 million and provided in excess of 2.5 million volunteer hours to 350 community partners. The current focus is on women’s and children’s issues, centering on self-sustainability, abuse and neglect, and childhood development. […]

InnovateHER KC’s mission is to serve women and individuals from marginalized gender communities in the verticals of entrepreneurship, community advocacy, civic leadership, education, and the arts. The organization offers support through its five pillars: social connection, professional development, championship, mentorship, and resource sharing. The leadership community, which was founded in 2018, currently has more than […]

Iesha Tyler founded I AM 4: Thirteens in 2016 to provide empowerment and enrichment programs to young women in the eighth through 12th grades through a variety of workshops. The purpose is to equip the participants with the tools and resources needed to prepare for college and build career readiness skills. The organization accomplishes this […]

Jessica McClellan founded Giving Hope & Help in 2013. It is “a non-profit organization that supports domestic violence survivors, provides essential resources to end period poverty, empowers college bound and non-traditional students, and inspires cancer patients.” Jessica notes that she is following a tradition of service. Her great-grandfather, R.L. McCallop, was the founder of the […]

For some girls, this is where it all starts. Girl Scouts is where they learn leadership skills, confidence, problem solving skills, innovative thinking, and the cultivation of a passion. For some girls, this is an addendum to what they receive at home, but to others, this is the only opportunity they will have to interact […]

Amethyst Place opened its doors in 2000 and has been bringing families home to heal for more than 21 years. Founded by Sister Berta Sailer, Penny Clodfelter, Oneta Templeton, Alice Kitchen, Kimberley Davis, Pat Brown, and Molly O’Neill, the organization has been a leader in assisting families with overcoming the interconnected cycles of poverty, substance […]

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”  Dolly Parton When I first started as publisher of The Independent, I knew that I had just stepped on to a new path. A mainstay of the Kansas City community, I remember reading The Independent as I was growing up and searching for […]

Social life isn’t a series of linear progressions. It’s often impossible for even close friends to recall exactly when they met. Maybe they both attended the same cocktail parties dozens of times, but never had a conversation until they were on the train at Jazzoo. The year 2022 marks 100 years of women owning The […]

When the National Women’s Soccer League announced in December of 2020 that a new franchise of women’s soccer was being awarded to Kansas City, it meant an enormous influx of volunteers and civic-minded players would be getting acquainted with Kansas City area non profits. Owners Angie and Chris Long and Brittany Matthews were clear in […]