FROM THE CEO
Happy New Year!
I am happy to report we successfully completed another holiday season at Women’s Bean Project. Per usual, it was bustling! Even though it was our busiest holiday yet, the new building made a tremendous difference in our ability to handle what came our way. There were days when I found myself standing at the Overlook area for the production floor in awe of what we were able to accomplish. And I’m not alone. Miranda, our Production Manager, reflected numerous times on much we were able to produce.
However, it was not all rosy. The women we hired continued to struggle with life essentials such as housing and addressing their mental and physical health needs. These areas in particular became more challenging during the pandemic and have continued to be tremendous barriers to success.
We are not ones to give up! As we start 2023, I am optimistic about the plans we are making. As we begin the year, we are working to implement the adjustments we have made to our recruitment and services to better meet the needs of the women we serve today. We are also dreaming of what we will accomplish over the next several years in our new building. Soon we will share our new strategic plan which will outline our intentions for the upcoming 3-5 years. We look forward to it!
Until then, if you have not visited 1300 W. Alameda Avenue, we invite you to do so.
Warmly,
HOLIDAY MIRACLES
This year, Women’s Bean Project was graced with five new babies from our staff, interns, and participants. We are pleased to report that all moms and babies are happy and healthy! Three of them were born within the holiday season, bringing joyful visits to the bustling workdays.
- Lyam, Spring 2022
- Orlando, Summer 2022
- Anna, Fall 2022
- Milani, Winter 2022
- Joy, Winter 2022
OUR WINTER COATS (OF PAINT)
In December, we partnered with fellow Denver nonprofit Athena Project to source three artists for donor-sponsored murals on our Alameda-facing outer walls.
From Sammiotizi Hutch-Ouranos: My mural is about the power of love, the power of nurturing, and the power of community. It’s about how Women’s Bean Project has empowered and transformed the lives of many women by giving them hope and helping them find a new sunrise.
From Sandra Fettingis: “Here for Each Other”, is a mural that reflects community love & support, empowerment and transformation to align with Women’s Bean Project's mission through a grounding, centering abstraction nodding to nature and plant life.
From Haley Knowles: Women’s Bean Project sows seeds in the lives of everyone in their program. They’ve cultivated a support system that elevates each woman’s independence - nourishing them as they grow to new heights.
Please visit AthenaProjectArts.org to learn about the program, and keep an eye on our social media for photo reveals!
BEAN TEAM PROFILES: JEN, THE UBER VOLUNTEER
Jennifer Spahr has been engaged with Women’s Bean Project since 2010. Over the years, Jen has supported WBP in a variety of capacities including fund raising, special events, and working in our Program department supporting workforce development activities like mock interviewing. Jen’s primary role during her time here has been in support of our operations team working the production floor and shipping area. She volunteers on a weekly basis and multiple days during the holiday season from set up, food safety checks, packaging assembly, machinery operation,to clean up. Due to her consistency in volunteering, Jen has built up an excellent rapport with our team. For our team to trust her with so many responsibilities, is a true testament to how amazing she is.
Jen is kind, engaging, thoughtful and reliable. The professionalism she displays through her consistent attendance, communication, and dependability makes her a great role model for the women we serve. You ROCK, Jen!
Written by Luanne Hill, Development Director
BEAN TEAM PROFILES: NICHOLE, THE SUPER LEAD
Nichole joined the WBP program in spring of 2022. Through a laborious company move and holiday season, Nichole has demonstrated unwavering nerve and work ethic. Her leadership skills quickly earned her a promotion to Production Lead, which she executes with patience and an infectious smile. While Nichole was in recovery, she discovered a new calling in life:
Nichole: “I’ve been cooking in kitchens since I was sixteen, so I really got burnt out on all that. And with my newfound sobriety (I’ve been sober about eighteen months now) I was able to get established with peer support. So I kind of, I really fell in love with it, with every aspect of it and basically just the idea of giving someone hope to get better, make their lives better, and be better. So that’s where I’m heading, I just finished my peer support training so that’s where I’m going after this.
Kedri Ladewig, Program Director: “And as part of our ongoing relationship, Nichole’s going to be able to provide some peer support one-on-one here as well as a place that she’s connected with.”
Transcribed from a conversation with Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera, during her visit to WBP in December.
The Peer Support track is a new option for program participants in Phase II of the program. It is done in conjunction with our partner Colorado Mental Health Network, and provides a unique opportunity for women to uplift others in their own community.
DOING BETTER TOGETHER: COLORADO GIVES DAY 2022
The 22nd annual Colorado Gives Day on December 6th, 2022 brought with it record donations, with a 30% increase over last year. We raised over $150,000, with a generous match incentive gift from Kimbal and Christiana Musk. These donations will provide over 7,900 of classes, trauma skills training, and wrap-around support for our participants.
Your support offers women the chance to discover their strengths, develop work and life skills, and build a better future for themselves and their families.
To support our program, visit our website at womensbeanproject.com/donate or contact luanne.hill@womensbeanproject.com.
PIONEERING THE CHANGE: CATALYST GRANT WINNERS
We are proud to announce that Women’s Bean Project has been selected to participate in Stand Together Foundation’s new Catalyst Impact Grant Program, an initiative cultivating a group of the country’s most transformative nonprofits that demonstrate a better way to transform individual lives and create lasting change. Nonprofits selected have the key ingredients to break the cycle of poverty. They put people at the forefront, see the unique potential in every individual, and are changing the way the country thinks about, talks about, and tackles poverty.
By 2025, Stand Together Foundation’s goal is to invest in up to 100 Catalyst partners who have successfully completed the Catalyst Program, committing up to $30 million to accelerate nonprofit impact and transform how society thinks about addressing poverty and social barriers.
SPROUTING TOGETHER
We are especially grateful this winter season for our community partners for helping us adapt to the changing needs of our participants.
WeeCycle is a fellow nonprofit whose mission is to recycle essential baby gear and match it to Colorado families in need. In 2022, Women’s Bean Project placed 17 gear orders. WeeCycle provided Women’s Bean Project with 400 items of essential baby gear with an estimated value of $2,609.67 to support our growing demographic of new and expecting moms.
Colorado Mental Wellness Network is a state-wide grassroots organization that provides whole-person wellness education to those who are building a lifestyle of recovery. Through their program, we were able to provide over 30 hours of peer-support counseling to each participant.
SAVE THE DATE: READY, SET, GROW
Ready, Set, Grow (RSG) is our annual fundraiser to support the program activities while women work at the Bean Project. The funding provides crucial job-readiness and life skills training that is necessary to gain long-term employment.
It costs $32,000 per woman to complete the program, most of which covers her wages. By attending RSG and contributing financially, you are making a direct impact on a woman’s life and her entire family’s future. If you have not attended RSG before, we invite you to take a tour of the Bean Project and experience the transformative power your financial support has on our community.
To schedule a tour, volunteer as a table captain, and for more information on how to be involved, please contact Luanne Hill at luanne.hill@womensbeanproject.com.
Thanks for reading!
Credits:
Scott Dressel-Martin