Tameka, Denise, and the Transformative Power of Women's Bean Project
The Women’s Bean Project is a social enterprise with a simple but profound mission: to help women facing chronic unemployment regain control of their lives through the dignity of work.
It was born in 1989 out of a simple yet radical idea. Jossy Eyre, a volunteer at a women’s shelter in Denver, noticed that while the shelter provided safety, it did little to foster lasting change. She envisioned a program that would give women not just shelter but the skills and support needed to achieve self-sufficiency. With $500 of her own money, Jossy put two women to work, laying the foundation for what would become a beacon of hope for hundreds of women over the years. Sixty-two women enter the Women's Bean program each year. After six to nine months, they graduate into an entry-level, career-building job. While employed and paid full-time at Women's Bean, the women participate in a robust program of classes and receive wrap-around support from a team of case managers, program volunteers, and community partners. They assess basic needs such as housing, childcare, transportation, and health and can connect women with outside providers if needed.
Tameka’s Story in Her Own Words
“I first started at Women’s Bean Project on March 3, 2022 and what I love about the Bean is all of the support and meeting all these kind women and really being able to work on myself.
It’s been a really, really, really, really long journey.
At the beginning of the program I lost one of my older sisters, and it took a lot for me to keep pushing, to keep coming in, to keep getting up in the morning. It’s been very difficult for me but…I did it. I did it! And to every single woman who works here, the staff included, everybody, for helping me get through my journey and for helping me calm down through all these panic attacks that I was having and everything else, I’m just… the loving environment here is the perfect place to start your new journey.
My goals after I graduate: I really have a passion for helping elderly people and animals, so being a caregiver.”
Pictured above: Denise’s first office at an insurance company after graduating from Women’s Bean
Denise’s Story
[content warning: abuse, addiction, self-harm]
Denise’s journey is one of profound resilience and transformation. She experienced a traumatic childhood marked by abuse at a young age. Despite achieving financial stability and motherhood, Denise’s trauma resurfaced, leading her to alcoholism. Her addiction strained her family relationships and culminated in a series of legal troubles and failed rehabilitation attempts. It wasn't until 2015 that she found sobriety, only to battle meth and fentanyl addictions later. Denise's rock bottom came in 2021 when she found herself homeless and living in a truck, overwhelmed by paranoia and suicidal thoughts.
In January 2023, Denise’s life took a positive turn when she joined the Women’s Bean Project (WBP). Through WBP, she set goals, received trauma therapy, and developed crucial life skills such as budgeting and time management. With their support, she renewed her Property & Casualty License, improving her relationship with her children and regaining her self-esteem. Denise is now employed in insurance and serves as the House Manager at Gail’s Place Sober Living. Reflecting on her journey, Denise said,
“Thank you, WBP for helping me navigate life and helping me realize that I am somebody important and that I can accomplish my goals if I work hard at them.”
Her story is a testament to the life-changing impact of WBP’s support and her unwavering determination to overcome her past.
The Broader Impact
Each purchase of a Women’s Bean product provides job training and opportunities for women like Tameka and Denise. It’s a model of social enterprise that benefits everyone involved: the women who gain employment and skills, the companies that offer quality products, and the consumers who enjoy goods with a powerful story behind them.
Joining the Mission
At Procure Impact, we believe in the power of conscious choices. Together, we can make a difference, one purchase at a time. Tameka’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we invest in each other. Let’s continue to inspire change and support the incredible women at the Women’s Bean Project.
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