Grooming, Love, and Hope Winter 2022

Pet-Ag

The Grooming Project!

In addition to our financial sponsorship, we are eager to bring grooming product education to students through classroom learning, hands-on lab work, and open dialogue with pet industry experts.

Giving these deserving students a “Fresh ‘n Clean” boost to their grooming career will be tons of fun.

Helping dogs like Frankie show off their handsome fluff is another BIG bonus!

is proud to support the mission and students of

Puppa Francisco aka “Frankie”

A fresh start begins

Proud partner of: The Grooming Project

Natasha Kirsch

EDITOR Abby Jaskolski

BOARD MEMBERS

Tom McDonnell, President

Sarah Baum, Vice President

Jarrod Sanderson, Treasurer

Terry Garberg, Secretary

Emma Brooke John Cavalcanti

Rebecca LaNasa Susan McGee

Elizabeth Pishney Meghan Tallman Andy Wiltz

WRITERS

Sarah Baum April Brown Andrea Byrne Emily Harris Leilani Haywood

Abby Jaskolski

Amber Mori

Linda O’Dell Barb Pruitt Rebecca Smith Emma Trout Meg Townsend

ADVERTISING

Annette Teson

ART DIRECTOR

Kim Tappan

PAWSPERITY

5805 Troost Avenue Kansas City, MO 64110 816.214.5376 www.pawsperity.org

The Grooming Project is Now Pawsperity Pet care that unleashes human potential

BY NATASHA KIRSCH, FOUNDING CEO

When I started The Grooming Project in 2016 to help struggling parents find higher paying jobs, I thought the trade of pet grooming would be only one of the many “projects” we would eventually offer. I envisioned an organization with multiple career paths for its students—maybe a program for aspiring mechanics or one for chefs. I knew pet grooming could work, given my own mother’s success as a dog groomer, but I never, ever intended to begin and end with it. The Grooming Project’s name was meant to differentiate, not stand alone.

Today, having recently celebrated our 100th graduate, I continue to be amazed by the hidden gems that this profession has to offer our students and their families. Not only is the demand and income potential for trained groomers growing at a pace far beyond what I could have dreamed of even eight years ago, but also our graduates are sticking with this career path long-term. The flexibility, artistry, and respect this profession garners are benefits that our students are not used to having at their disposal. Most importantly, though, is the power of the human-animal bond—many of our graduates report wanting to go to work for this benefit alone. During our regular check-ins with alumni, more than 80% are still grooming at any given time. Sometimes that number is closer to 95%. For the few who venture into other jobs, they often come back. The dogs, it appears, make all the difference for adults with a history of trauma.

The dozens and dozens of success stories that have emerged from our program—from parents leaving generational poverty to moms rediscovering their power after an abusive relationship—have convinced me not to stray from a good thing. We plan to grow deeper right where we are—the pet care industry.

Natasha Kirsch, Founder of The Grooming Project, which is now Pawsperity.

Help fund our future!

As Pawsperity continues to grow, our donors will play a more vital role than ever in helping Kansas City families leave a history of struggle and enter a new phase of life filled with choice.

Choosing where to work or where to send their children to school—things once determined for them by their circumstances—become a new reality after graduating our program. Your donation not only provides our parents with finite skills, but also gives them the intangible gift of empowerment.

Together we can double the number of struggling families we serve in 2023. Give today to help expand our mission capacity

As we prepare to Expand Prosperity in 2023 to more Kansas City families in our new home only two doors down from our current school, we’re committing to go “all in” with dogs and the magic they bring. We’re giving our organization its own fresh start, one that embodies the fullness of what we offer and the heart of what we hope for each of our families—prosperity through working with animals.

At our annual gala in October, we retired The Grooming Project name and became Pawsperity: Pet care that unleashes human potential

In the years ahead, Pawsperity will help thousands of parents find meaningful work in pet-related trades. From

grooming to doggie daycare and dog training, we’re exploring it all. We can’t wait for you to see all that we have in store.

I would like to invite you to join us as we continue to Expand Prosperity. Would you consider a financial gift or the opportunity to help us throughout the year with a monthly gift?

You can also support our mission by bringing your pet in for grooming or doggie daycare at our new location opening in early 2023. Be sure to check out the Expand Prosperity story on page 32.

You can also support our mission by spreading the word about our organization to your friends and family—the more dogs we see, the more families we can serve.

April, a graduate, bonds with a dog.

Not only is the demand and income potential for trained groomers growing at a pace far beyond what I could have dreamed of even eight years ago, but also our graduates are sticking with this career path long-term.

We are proud to support The Grooming Project and their holistic approach to helping families survive and thrive.

BY APRIL BROWN

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF SHAME

On a late Sunday evening, MaryAnne Doty, a recent graduate of Pawsperity, sits on her couch in front of a beautiful portrait of her kids, with a lap full of her dog, and a smile on her face. The small things in life have become the most valuable to her. Simply being able to help her kids get ready for bed, play fetch with her dog, or spoil herself with the newest and fanciest of grooming tools has become the greatest achievements in her life, right alongside learning to value herself no matter what.

“It was totally worth it,” she says about the sacrifices she’s made to get here.

After the devastating loss of her unborn son a few years prior, MaryAnne found herself turning to old drug abuse habits to cope with the pain. As her grief and addiction spiraled out of her control, all of the things she valued most in her life began to slip away: her marriage, her home, her cars, and even her next pregnancy took a back seat to the call of her drug of choice, meth.

“When you get to that point, where you feel that low, you just keep using because you don’t feel like you’re worth not using,” she says about abusing drugs even when she was carrying her fourth son. “I felt like a loser because I couldn’t do what a mother was supposed to do and put my kids first.” But her struggle with recovery wasn’t a reflection on her ability to love her children, or her quality as a parent, it was actually a reflection of her inability to truly value herself.

While in treatment for the third time, MaryAnne learned a lesson which ultimately picked her up out of a rut and

MaryAnne Doty, a graduate of The Grooming Project, loves her job as a dog groomer.

propelled her towards Pawsperity. The lesson was that there is a difference between guilt and shame.

“Guilt is ‘I feel bad or I did something bad’, and shame is ‘I am bad or I am the bad thing that I did’,” MaryAnne explains. She realized then that she no longer wanted to be trapped by the shame she felt, and with the information for Pawsperity in hand, she vowed to herself that she would be more than the things she’d done.

Despite almost an hour drive to and from the program every day, MaryAnne threw herself into the program. Something, she says, she never regretted.

“From the very first day it was amazing,” she says about Pawsperity. “They don’t just teach you how to groom dogs, they teach you how to do life.”

And for someone with MaryAnne’s background, the life skills were as necessary and as important as the grooming skills. Her family, even before the stress of grief and drug addiction, never had much.

“We didn’t have anything, we were dead poor,” she confesses. She didn’t have any prior experience with certain invaluable skills that aid one in living a balanced life, such as navigating a stressful work environment, or budgeting. “They taught us a variety of life skills in our Monday classes, and it was really awesome,” MaryAnne remembers.

For MaryAnne, the program was about so much more than an occupation, and because of that focused duality, she’s used it to her advantage. MaryAnne graduated from the program in January 2022, and in those eight months, she says, her life has changed quickly and dramatically.

“I graduated on a Friday and I started my new job on a Tuesday,” she says, and despite the change happening so fast, MaryAnne hasn’t stopped looking forward since. She’s not only scored a great job that she loves, but she’s also begun to

put the pieces of her life back together. “Thanks to Pawsperity, and my own good doing, I have regained 50/50 custody of my kids” she exclaims.

There have, of course, been some things she’s had to get used to, such as being in a stable enough place to be financially comfortable.

“I feel like I have financial freedom,” she says with a laugh. She recounts taking her kids school shopping this past August, and the way it felt to be able to spend $700 on them without worrying about also covering her bills. She credits that ability to the Monday soft skills classes that provided her “with the steps and tools I needed to provide for myself and my kids—without that I’d probably just be blowing all of my money.”

She’s also had to get used to the feeling of being able to spoil herself a bit, something she’d not only been financially unable to do before, but also had not bothered to do because she’d thought so little of herself.

“I get coffee on my way to work now,” she gushes. “And I can buy new equipment

for work…I got a new pair of cordless clippers recently, which has been life changing, I’ll admit.”

The smile on her face as she talks about her life changing clippers reveals just how far she’s come from that feeling of shame that had her trapped just eighteen months ago.

Now, she says, she wants to give back and spread the word about Pawsperity in any way she can. She talks about the program at her NA meetings, and has toyed around with the possibility of being able to become an instructor at Pawsperity once the program has completed its expansion.

“I’m just so passionate about the program,” she says. “I feel successful and I didn’t know I could do that again.” MaryAnne wants the world to know what the program has done for her, and share what it could do for so many others. “It’s not easy, you have to do the work,” she cautions, but she does it with a triumphant smile on her face, the payoff evident, even without words. “I have value,” she proclaims proudly. That’s the lesson Pawsperity taught MaryAnne that she says she’ll keep with her forever.

MaryAnne Doty graduated in January 2022. Her life changed quickly and dramatically for the better.

Building a Life After Loss

Going from profound grief to a grooming career helped one graduate-turned-instructor believe in herself again

BY BARB PRUITT

Despair is a thief that robs you of all hope. Christina Johnson’s hope was stolen in 2017 with the loss of her young son and then her marriage, the latter of which had devolved into violence in the fog of unthinkable grief.

As painful as it is, grief is a normal human response to loss. But when the agony of losing a child is mixed with the trauma of domestic abuse, you have a recipe for overwhelming despair. That was the state Christina was in when she came to Pawsperity as a student in 2018. It was, in her words, “the darkest time of my life.”

For nine years before that, Christina had been a stay-at-home mom living what seemed like a charmed white-picketfenced life, even in the midst of raising three special-needs children and adopting a nephew in need. The death of her youngest child changed things.

“We were doing okay until Logan died at the age of 6,” Christina said. “My husband lost his faith, and we separated.”

Logan was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital birth defect that affects the normal blood flow through the heart. His short life consisted of a slew of doctor visits. He had 15 surgeries, including three open-heart procedures –the first one when he was just 9 days old.

Caring for Logan called for Christina to take on the work of a nurse “without the training,” she would say. She learned to manage his extensive medical care very well and worked hard to give him the best life possible. But to hear Christina tell it, Logan was the one enriching her life.

“He was the happiest guy I ever met,” Christina said. “He taught me a lot about life. I would think, what do I have to complain about?”

Eventually, a massive seizure, common for people with heart defects, ended Logan’s life. Losing Logan was too much for Christina’s husband to bear. He became violent and stopped providing financial support.

“I was alone the first year Logan was gone,” Christina said. “I lost a family unit that I had counted on – his parents. I lost my marriage and hope for the future. I had to figure it out on my own.”

Finding Purpose

Christina started her training at Pawsperity in mid-2018. Grieving her catastrophic losses and learning a professional skill at the same time might seem like too much, but for Christina, her training was a welcome diversion and led her to a surprising path of healing.

“I learned how to grieve for two things at once and regulate my emotions,” she said. “Pawsperity gave me a purpose and steered me in a direction I never thought I would go. It reminded me of the confidence I used to have.”

Christina learned that when you go through trauma you lose yourself. Even

though she had provided life-saving medical care to Logan for years, she now lacked the confidence to take care of anyone. She needed that confidence back. She still had three children at home to care for, and each one had challenges.

And then Pawsperity staff showed they believed in her.

“They trusted me to care for someone’s dog,” Christina said. “That’s a big deal. They taught me to play to my strengths. They taught me how to take constructive criticism.”

The trust paid off. Today, Christina is an experienced groomer and teaches Pawsperity students the art of customer service.

More importantly, Christina’s children are thriving. Her 13-year-old daughter Savannah was diagnosed with precocious puberty at the age of two. Savannah is now healthy, even though she still has a little catching up to do socially after a setback following the death of her little brother. Tommy, Christina’s oldest, is autistic and was nonverbal until he was 6. Now at 14, Christina says you can hardly detect his autism. And the 9-year-old nephew she adopted the year Logan died now lives with his mother, Christina’s sister. Although Christina maintains legal responsibility for him, her sister is in the process of adopting him back. Christina and her sister spent the past 2 ½ years navigating their way through their respective painful circumstances to now share in Conner’s upbringing.

“I can relate to the students and give them a window into their future of the hope that can come into their lives,” Christina said. “I get to see them transform. I love getting to pour into the students, and of course, getting to be around dogs is a bonus.”

Christina Johnson, a grooming instructor, poses with a regular client, Gus, a Briard.

Christina teaches a student how to check-in a client during her customer service training session.

Teaching Service

It’s well-documented that dogs are proven stress relievers but working with people isn’t always as pleasant. Learning good customer service skills is a business necessity for any groomer, and Christina’s grooming experience, plus her own training at Pawsperity, has made her a skilled instructor since 2020.

Customer service training is especially challenging for Pawsperity students who are juggling court and childcare issues, among other stressors. “Many of them start out guarded and don’t trust anyone. That’s the opposite of how to be with customers,” said Christina. “It’s not easy to gracefully deal with emotions, such as an upset customer. We want to set up the students for success and expose them to all parts of the work.”

Christina reminds her students of their mindfulness training to help them stay in the moment, and she teaches them a

range of techniques that can raise the quality of service, such as how answering the phone with a smile can make a big difference.

“I hired Christina because she’s been there; I trust her and depend on her,” said Lacey Adair, Director of Grooming at Pawsperity. “Working with clientele is important. She’s patient, kind, and loving.”

Spreading Hope

Hope is the opposite of despair; so is joy. Two qualities Christina now has an abundance of.

“Being an instructor feels amazing,” Christina said. “I feel blessed and honored to be part of something bigger than myself. It gives me a rare opportunity to help.”

The woman who came to Pawsperity devoid of any hope is now being restored daily by giving hope back.

“I can relate to the students and give them a window into their future of the hope that can come into their lives,” Christina said. “I get to see them transform. I love getting to pour into the students, and of course, getting to be around dogs is a bonus.”

Christina credits Pawsperity and her faith for where she is today. In addition to being a grooming instructor and mom, she’s a worship leader in her church and sings in a Christian rock band.

Hope gives rise to dreams, and Christina has many. They all involve giving back.

“I’m excited to do more individual training with the students and share the knowledge I have with them,” she said. “I’m most excited to make this my career and hopefully make a difference.”

We are proud to support The Grooming Project and help build a more equitable Kansas City. centric.build

Dedicated to advancing the health of all dogs by funding scientific research to prevent, treat and cure canine disease. Learn more at akcchf.org.

Pawsperity Grooming Salon Thrives in Lee’s Summit

Graduates bring their talents and the organization’s mission out of the urban core

BY MEG TOWNSEND

At the most basic level, Pawsperity Grooming Salon in Lee’s Summit, MO is a place where dogs and cats get groomed. But a deeper look reveals much more.

Joy is an elderly hound dog who is placed on a comforter when groomed because she can no longer stand. River is 60-pound Husky whose talkative howls seem like a language all her own. Oakley is a 9-month-old Goldendoodle who is hyper and wiggly. Rocky is a three-legged Pitbull who doesn’t like to have his one front leg touched.

Just like people, pets have a variety of personalities, quirks, and special needs –and the groomers at Pawsperity Grooming Salon understand this completely.

“Most of us who work here have been through a lot,” said Christine Banks, who graduated from The Grooming Project in 2016 and now manages the salon. “The dogs we groom all have differences, but they are all beautiful. And they’re doing the best they can -- no matter what life has thrown at them.”

Caring Expertise

Each of the six groomers at the salon are Pawsperity graduates and several of them went on to work at other places before coming to The Salon. The groomers’ varied experiences bring a rich bank of knowledge to the work environment.

“Even though I came here feeling confident about my grooming skills, I love the fact that other groomers are an arm’s length away,” said Christina Lough. “We can ask each other’s opinions and benefit from one another’s advice. That’s not something that’s available at other places. And it always results in a better service for the client.”

And the clients are taking notice.

Pawsperity Grooming Salon opened in Spring 2019 and is experiencing

phenomenal growth – especially in 2022 as revenues have more than doubled since the previous year. Similarly, the number of clients has also grown greatly with nearly 1,000 new clients walking through the door in the last year.

A model that works

And that’s great news since the revenues from the salon, a 501(c)3, are funneled back to Pawsperity Grooming School on Troost, enhancing programming and services for the students to help lift their families out of poverty.

Grooming cats is a specialized skill. Christine Banks, Lee’s Summit salon manager, grooms a cat with Jeannie Dennison’s assistance.

It’s a model that’s funding Pawsperity’s overall mission, while also benefiting pet owners in the community and, as an added benefit, giving groomers a taste of what it takes to manage their own salon –a desire for many of them.

The groomers are kept informed about goals for the number of grooms per day and sales per month. They are asked for their suggestions on ways to improve service and attract and retain clients. They are learning business principles that can one day help them succeed on their own.

It’s a win-win business model that is hoped to be duplicated as part of the new, expanded grooming school scheduled to open next year on Troost in Kansas City.

Keys to success

While The Salon is running on all cylinders today, like all new businesses, it was not without a learning curve.

A year ago, Theresa Hauck, Pawsperity’s former operations manager, consulted with The Salon to find ways to heighten customer service, particularly when it came to communication between groomers and their clients.

“Our groomers at Pawsperity Grooming Salon are taught to ask pet owners about their desires and concerns for their pet and to listen – really listen – to what the client has to say. And on the rare occasion when a client is unhappy with some aspect of the grooming, that input is important, too. Good customer service is dependent on two-way communication.”

Each of the six groomers at the salon are Pawsperity graduates and several of them went on to work at other places before coming to The Salon. The groomers’ varied experiences bring a rich bank of knowledge to the work environment.

Ronnie Davis has built trust with this client who lets him clip him. Cassie Bratton cuddles her client during a groom.

Jodie Houston carefully shaves off excess hair to prevent matting.

“We all know each other’s stories and we understand what it’s like to have past traumas,” says Jodie Houston. “While we try never to bring our troubles to work, it’s nice to know my co-workers are here if I need to talk. They understand. They’ve been through similar things.”

Patsy Groom, who has been a client since 2019, agrees.

“Pawsperity Grooming Salon was great with my elderly dog Elmo who had been injured by a groomer at a different establishment,” Patsy said. “He was incredibly nervous and irritated at first, but Christine was so patient with him. Each time he got groomed, we’d talk about how the grooming went. Elmo grew to love and trust Christine, and so did I!” *

Positive energy

“Pets are considered members of one’s family,” Christine says, “and when they come to The Salon, they should be talked to in a soothing voice, cuddled and called by their name. Animals are smart; they pick up on positive energy.”

There are days, of course, when the groomers’ stresses outside the job – due to finances, child issues or past traumas –can make staying positive difficult.

Recently, one of the groomers had to take time off to handle a family emergency, and a co-worker willingly stepped in so clients wouldn’t have to be rescheduled.

“We are a team, and we really consider ourselves to be like family,” Christine said. “And, I think the pets and their owners feel that, too.”

* Sadly, Elmo passed away earlier this year; happily, Christine now grooms Patsy’s new puppy Mushu.

The groomers are kept informed about goals for the number of grooms per day and sales per month. They are asked for their suggestions on ways to improve service and attract and retain clients. They are learning business principles that can one day help them succeed on their own.

Sarah and Jon Baum and Juneau and Etty Betty PROUD TO SUPPORT

A SEASON OF GROWTH

Pawsperity graduate creates a brighter path for her daughter

BY REBECCA SMITH

April Utter is handing down her passion for animals to her daughter.

A“pril” signifies the end of winter, the promise of flowers and anticipated outdoor pleasures, the beginning of bright skies and warm breezes.

For most of her life, April Utter must have thought she was misnamed. Her life was anything but spring-like.

Her father, who died when she was a baby, was practically unknown to her. Her mother, an abusive, alcoholic addict, was all too known. April, her older sister and younger brother were shuttled between an aunt and among various family groups for years.

The one element she remembers bringing her happiness was her pets, which included dogs, turtles, a rabbit, two parrots, a guinea pig and many fish. She loved taking care of animals and fantasized about growing up and becoming a veterinarian.

That plan seemed to be a dead end as she found herself, as a young woman, reliving the bad parts of her earlier life. Her partner was, like her mother, abusive and addicted to drugs and alcohol.

When her daughter was three weeks old, April first heard about Pawsperity from a representative of Headstart, who knew of April’s love of dogs. April was handed a brochure and the possibility of dog grooming (an entirely new idea to her) immediately grabbed her interest. April pursued the opportunity and was interviewed.

Waiting anxiously for acceptance, she worked at Save a Lot for four months, her mind always turned toward the arrival of that magic confirmation letter. She met with “two lovely ladies” at the center and soon was scheduled to shadow a fellow student. Not even the grooming instructor’s description of expressing

anal glands as part of the groomer’s task list that first week could dampen April’s burgeoning spirits. Completing the course was, she knew from the start, her best bet at being “the best mother to my daughter.”

Besides offering professional training to improve her career life, Pawsperity was instrumental in removing her abusive partner from her apartment by building her self-esteem. The whole experience was transformational for her and her family of two and more than she could have expected.

April’s future finally matches the rejuvenation and growth associated with her name. Her daughter has what she needs and wants; she’s enjoyed pre-school and will soon start kindergarten. She’s had “the best holidays, birthdays” and she delights in watching “Baby Shark and Peppa Pig.”

What April is handing down to her daughter is not the instability and uncertainty of her own childhood but rather the happiest part – a passion for animals. Unlike for April, this exists as just one part of a life filled with love, comfort, support and real hope for the future.

April Utter is giving her daughter the childhood she always wanted—one with stability and happiness.

Besides offering professional training to improve her career life, Pawsperity was instrumental in removing her abusive partner from her apartment by building her self-esteem.

Perserverance and Laughter Help Pawsperity Graduate Overcome Obstacles

BY MEG TOWNSEND

There are some people in life who just seem naturally upbeat. They smile and laugh easily – sometimes even when their circumstances are difficult. Danielle Mattox is one of those people.

Danielle was raised in Independence, Mo., with her mother and stepfather. Money was tight, and life was hard. Her older brother committed suicide when she was 9 years old. Danielle started taking drugs in her teens and eventually became addicted to crystal meth. In 2009, she was diagnosed with cancer and lost her left eye as a result. Her drug use continued, and four years ago, she gave birth to her son Benjamin. When he was just two months old, the court took him away from her.

“That woke me up,” said Danielle. “The court ordered recovery treatment, and I was ready. I wanted my son back.”

A determined spirit

While recovery is never easy, Danielle speaks of it as if it was just something that had to be done and so she did it. And that “can do” attitude and determination (mixed with an ever-present sense of humor) has served her well.

In a little over a year, Danielle completed the drug recovery program, moved into transitional living at Amethyst Place, participated in therapy to stay on track and was again given custody of her son. Now, she realized, the next step was landing a good job.

Having only one good eye didn’t stop Danielle Mattox from participating in the program.

“I had heard about Pawsperity, but I didn’t know how they’d feel about a student with only one good eye,” Danielle said with a laugh. “But I was willing, if they were!”

Overcoming challenges

According to Amy Hall, one of Danielle’s grooming instructors, that kind of openness to learning has enabled Danielle to overcome many of her challenges.

“It wasn’t easy for Danielle,” Amy said. “Her vision issues caused her depth perception to be off, but she was very flexible and open to our suggestions. She just never gave up, and her smile and laughter were always there.”

Even though Danielle is a positive person, she admits to struggling when she first arrived at Pawsperity. “I came here fairly broken,” she said. “I had no confidence, no faith, and I wasn’t sure I’d fit in. But my teachers just kept encouraging me. They believed in me, so I began believing in myself, too.”

A calming presence

Like many students, Danielle not only credits her success to the counselors and instructors at Pawsperity, but also to the customers – those with four legs and a tail.

“Animals are so calming and accepting,” she said. “When your hands are gently giving them a bath, trimming their ears or clipping their nails, they will occasionally look right at you or give you an unexpected lick as if to say, ‘thank you.’ There’s just something very special in that silent communication.”

Danielle graduated from Pawsperity in April 2021. She’s doing well, and a few months ago, she did something she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to do: She bought a car. “It’s used, but I paid cash and I own it outright. No debt and no car payments!”

Danielle’s dream is to continue to excel at her grooming work so that she can eventually purchase her own home for herself and her son.

She smiles and says confidently, “That’s what I’m working toward.”

And if recent history is any indication, Danielle Mattox will make it happen.

Danielle went the extra mile to volunteer at Troostapalooza to gain customer service skills.

From left to right: Sharon Redinger, Volunteer Coordinator; Danielle, and two graduates.

Supportive instructors Christina Johnson and Amy Hall helped Danielle finish the rigorous training program.

Pawsperity’s 100th Graduate is Set to Fulfill Her Dreams

Pawsperity graduate Natalie Meredith celebrates with her instructors. From left to right: Christina Johnson, Amy Hall, Natalie, and Amber Mori.

Natalie Meredith is the 100th graduate of Pawsperity Grooming School, which opened in 2015. The survivor of domestic violence and mother of a 13-year-old says the program has completely changed the direction of her life in less than a year.

“I’ve always loved animals, but I never considered working in the pet industry,” she said. “I didn’t have the skills to work with them. Now I have learned how to work with dogs, and I want to make them a permanent part of my future.”

Natalie was referred to Pawsperity while living at a shelter for domestic violence victims. In 2020, she worked for a dogrelated business and eventually began a relationship with the owner.

“We moved in together and the relationship started going poorly,” she says. “It became financially, emotionally, and physically abusive.”

She had enough of the abuse and decided to leave.

“He withdrew all the funds for the business and sold the house,” she said. “I had no money

and nowhere to live.” A friend let her and her daughter live with them for just a month.

“I’ve been at the shelter for six months, and that’s where I found out about Pawsperity,” she says.

Besides gaining valuable training in dog grooming, Natalie said she has learned how to be a better parent to her daughter.

“I absolutely had no idea the impact the abusive relationship had on my daughter,” she says. “I didn’t realize I was lacking parenting skills until I went through the soft skills training offered by Pawsperity.”

Natalie said the most valuable soft skills training she has received besides parenting is mindfulness and emotional regulation.

“I’ve been able to teach my daughter mindfulness, resiliency, and emotional regulation,” she said. Pawsperity gave

her the skills to realize her dream. “My dream is to open a dog care business that includes grooming,” she says.

Her advice for anyone considering joining the program is to, “Keep an open mind. Everyone has an opportunity for personal growth.”

All Dogs Go to Pawsperity

Long-time clients tell us why they keep coming back

BY BARB PRUITT

Some are divas. Some are spoiled. Some are high maintenance. They are all loyal. And no matter the dog’s disposition, they are all welcome at Pawsperity Grooming School.

People who take their beloved pets to Pawsperity Grooming School know they are trusting the health and welfare of their dogs to groomers-in-training. They understand their appointment might take a little longer than a typical grooming session. They also know Pawsperity and its student groomers are not typical. They are members of their community.

Pawsperity clientele also are not typical. They are passionate about caring for their pets and supporting the organization’s mission. They, too, are part of the community.

Pawsperity also cares about its community. Residing on the Troost Avenue Corridor, which is in the midst of promising revitalization, makes it the only grooming service in the area, filling a much-needed gap for a neighborhood of pet lovers, many of whom are on fixed incomes. As a grooming school, Pawsperity is able to charge below-market prices.

“Many of our clients wouldn’t even get pets if not for access to affordable grooming,” said Lacey Adair, Director of Grooming at Pawsperity. “Some pets are emotional support for our clients and serve as more than a companion.”

For those clients who are not on a limited income, using Pawsperity’s services is their way of supporting the students – and the community. These clients will tell you

getting outstanding service for their pups is a bonus.

Pawsperity is grateful for all its clients who are serving an integral role in their students’ career training. On average, Pawsperity students groom over 500 dogs per month, and it’s been steadily growing since the school opened in 2016.

We wanted to know what brings so many long-time clients back month after month, year after year. It’s not all about affordability.

Soothing Sage

Ask Cary Swafford about her customer service experience at Pawsperity, and she might cry. Not because she is unhappy with the service her 6-year-old Standard Poodle, Sage, receives at her monthly visits, but because the attention Sage gets is uncommonly kind and considerate. Cary jokes that it borders on favoritism.

“They’ve kept Sage in the kitchen ever since she accidentally cut her foot on a crate a couple of years ago,” Cary explained. The first time Sage returned to the groomer she was a bit skittish so the staff thought keeping her in the kitchen and around people would calm her, and it did.

“They are still putting her in the kitchen, and I cry every time I tell the story because they take such good care of her,” Cary said.

Cary is nearly 80 years old and on a limited income, so the lower cost of services makes a difference, too.

“Seniors like me need dogs, and the lower cost really helps,” she said. “I just hope there will be a place in the kitchen for Sage in the new building,” Cary jokes.

Spoiling Ebony and Spike

Kandy Crawford does not apologize for spoiling her two dogs, Ebony and Spike.

Eleven-year-old Ebony is a Shih Tzu and Spike is a 6-year-old Shih Tzu and Jack Russell mix.

Ebony has been going to Pawsperity since it opened, and Spike soon after. Their monthly grooming is just part of their charmed lives.

“The groomers’ demeanor is very caring,” said Kandy. “Pawsperity just has a friendly atmosphere.”

Kandy knows the services cost less, but money isn’t the issue for her; it’s the service.

“Pawsperity staff know our dogs’ names and ours; a high-end place doesn’t have the same level of service,” she said. “Once I’m happy with a service, I will keep going. I just like the way my dogs look.”

Happy customers translate to word-ofmouth recommendations, the strongest form of marketing a business can have. “I refer a lot of people I know to Pawsperity,” Kandy said.

Moose and Fritz Find Common Ground

Moose and Fritz are vastly different mixed breeds and years apart in age. Moose is a 15-year-old female Point-adore, a mix between a Labrador Retriever and German Shorthair Pointer. Fritz is a male mix of Beagle and Cocker Spaniel and is about 11 years old. The only things the two dogs have in common are that they are both rescues, they both snore, and they both love Pawsperity.

“Many or our clients wouldn’t even get pets if not for access to affordable grooming,” said Lacey Adair, Director of Grooming at Pawsperity. “Some pets are emotional support for our clients and serve as more than a companion.”

Christina Johnson, a grooming instructor and graduate, holds Spike, a regular client.

”My dogs are ‘wash and wear’ – they don’t get cut – but the students learn to do more than ‘love and a bath,’” said Sarah Guthrie. “I’ve seen them do dogs with fancy cuts, too.”

Trimming skills are not what drew Sarah to Pawsperity. She has been an advocate since she first heard about its mission to help bring parents out of poverty by providing them with a means to make a livable income.

“I work with lots of nonprofits and see people get trained for low-paying jobs,” said Sarah. “When you have a job that’s in demand and respected like grooming, this is encouraging.”

Sarah decided the best way to support Pawsperity’s mission was to use their services. She’s been taking Moose and Fritz for their monthly grooming ever since.

Sarah also appreciates Pawsperity’s location. It’s not far from where Sarah and her family live, so it’s convenient. But more than that, its location is an asset to the community.

“Having Pawsperity on Troost adds a dimension of hope to someone on a low income to have the enriching experience of having a dog,” Sarah said. “They do more than groom dogs. They make the community better.”

Worth the Wait for KC

A poor haircut and terrible service at another salon first sent Stephanie Henson and her dog, KC, to Pawsperity six years ago. Unfortunately, there was a waiting list for new clients at the time, so KC had to go to other groomers until a spot finally opened last year.

KC is a 6-year-old female chocolate Labradoodle who weighs in at 49 lbs. Her monthly wash and cut are an important part of her regimen, but the real draw for Stephanie was Pawsperity’s mission.

“I’m thrilled that we can support Pawsperity,” said Stephanie. “It’s growing and successful. I just hope we can continue to help them.”

In recent months, Stephanie has been taking Ariel, her visiting mother-in-law’s 8-year-old Airdale Terrier, for her monthly bath.

“Ariel loves going there, and both dogs are happy,” said Stephanie. “Grooming can be stressful for dogs, but ours love it. We’ve never had a bad experience at Pawsperity.”

As a teaching facility, Stephanie knows mistakes might happen at times, but she takes it in stride. “I’m okay with grooming mistakes from students,” she said. “I don’t want to pay a professional full price and have mistakes. The students are learning. I know they are in good hands even if a cut is lopsided.”

Molly Goes for the Glam

You might call Molly a diva. She wouldn’t think of missing her monthly bath and brush at Pawsperity, and lately she’s been getting her nails painted.

“We let the groomers decide the colors,” said Sarah Uchytil, who adopted Molly in 2014. “They are very creative and usually tie the colors to current events, such as Pride month, Chiefs red and gold, etc.”

Molly is an 11-year-old Weimaraner who’s been going to Pawsperity since 2015, one year after she was adopted.

“We’ve had outstanding service and support over the years. That’s why we keep going back,” said Sarah.

Sarah never hesitated to take Molly to a grooming school. The lower cost of services is not a major factor in her decision.

“I support the mission and I believe in empowering men and women,” said Sarah. “That’s why we go.”

But it’s not just the mission that keeps Sarah coming back. “The groomers are always friendly and happy to see Molly,” Sarah said. “I feel like a valued customer, and they know what Molly needs every month.”

Sage is happy after being groomed by a student.

Pawsperity, formerly known as The Grooming Project, is moving to a new location only two doors down from our current grooming school. We are expanding our pet care services beyond student grooms to include:

• Pawsperity Grooming Salon , staffed by graduates of the school

• Pawsperity Doggie Daycare, with curbside check-in

Pawsperity, formerly known as The Grooming Project, helps struggling parents break the cycle of generational poverty through training in pet care fields. To date, over 100 local parents have graduated our program and found careers in pet grooming. www.pawsperity.org

THE EXPAND PROSPERITY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Since opening our doors on Troost in 2016, Pawsperity has served over 600 parents and children stuck in the cycle of generational poverty. From women in addiction recovery to men with little to no employment history, we have welcomed, believed in, and supported adults who have nowhere to turn.

By coupling training in the high-pay trade of pet grooming with comprehensive support services, Pawsperity has become an unexpected solution to the problems that plague struggling families.

100% of graduates leave Pawsperity with a job in the grooming field. The average hourly wage of our graduate groomers is $24. Given that our students accomplish this with zero

educational debt and often only a high school diploma or less, these outcomes are noteworthy.

With this success has come a rapidly increasing demand for our services that cannot be accommodated in our current facility. We invite you to learn more about our vision for expansion and join us in meeting the demand for adults eager to find hope and financial stability through pet grooming.

Increasing our impact through improved access to high-paying jobs and affordable pet care services.

THE NEED

An Ever-Growing Demand

Program Popularity

In 2021, Pawsperity received over 300 applications from struggling adults in need of stable, high-pay employment. Due to space limitations, we were only able to serve a fraction of them.

Our grooming school, which is where students spend the majority of their week, lacks adequate space. It currently only allows for ten grooming tables, which caps the number of students we can admit into each cohort.

Additionally, our bathing and drying rooms are very small, making it a challenge for multiple groomers to care for the 30+ dogs groomed every day. These areas are congested and make for uncomfortable working conditions.

Currently, two to three staffers share every office, with some working in closets. This setup is particularly difficult for our social workers, who need privacy to work with students on delicate issues.

Market Growth

In the short period of time since Pawsperity opened in 2016, the pet industry has grown from a $60 billion to a $100 billion industry. A significant portion of this growth is the high demand for grooming services.

We have seen this demand first-hand, as our current grooming school is booked out more than two months for discounted student grooms. Many community members would love to support our mission by bringing their dog in for a groom, but the current wait time prevents them from doing so.

Our list of Kansas City area employment partners has expanded from 84 to over 250 businesses regularly in need of groomers. Our students graduate with multiple offers of employment and start working within days of completing their training.

THE SOLUTION

The Country’s Only Nonprofit Grooming Salon is in the Heart of Kansas City.

And we’re just getting started.

In response to the significant need our target population has for high-pay job training and wrap around services, along with demand from the community for grooming services, we purchased a much larger building 200 yards from our current school on Troost. We are transforming this dilapidated former Advanced Auto Parts store into a state-of-the-art grooming school and salon.

This larger facility gives our staff adequate space and triples the number of students we can serve. With increased space will also come drastically increased service capacity, with the potential to increase our earned revenue more than tenfold.

The Development Site –5805 Troost

The future home of Pawsperity is located approximately 200 yards from our current location. This property allows for an easy continuum of services with our current clients and provides much-needed revitalization of a continuously distressed section of the Troost Corridor.

The new 16,000 square foot building will include two stories. The main level will feature the grooming training school, a new market-rate salon staffed by graduates of our program, an indoor/outdoor doggie daycare, and grooming staff offices.

The second level will house a training center for soft skills classes, staff

offices, a break room, and a food pantry for students. The training center will be spacious enough to accommodate grooming conferences, meetings, and guest speakers. We look forward to providing one-of-akind educational opportunities to our students and graduates in this new space.

GIVE TODAY to help us Expand Prosperity!

Leave a lasting impression at Pawsperity’s new building by purchasing a space on our donor wall today! Honor your family, remember a loved one, or dedicate a space to your pet. Hearts engraved with a name of your choice are available for purchase at the following levels:

Public donor wall levels:

$50,000 to $99,999

$25,000 to $49,999

$10,000 to $24,999 $5,000 to $9,999 $1,000 to $4,999

Lead donor wall

$100,000 and above

Lead Donors

Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Dehaemers Family Foundation

Ann and Gary Dickinson Family Charitable Foundation

Hall Family Foundation

The Hearst Foundation

William T. Kemper Foundation – Commerce Bank, Trustee The McDonnell Foundation

John and Marny Sherman Sunderland Foundation Jack F. and Glenna Y. Wylie Charitable Foundation

A rendering of the donor wall inside the new Pawsperity campus at 5805 Troost Avenue.

Your support will get more local adults into high-paying careers. We are energized by the possibilities this expansion will create for our students, their children, the local community, and the dogs in our care.

With your help, we can improve the environment in which our staff works and our students learn, in addition to more than tripling the number of adults we train and doubling the number of dogs we groom. Your gift will also play a vital role in helping us grow our earned revenue from $150,000 per year to over $1 million.

JOIN US TODAY

By investing in our expansion, you will provide a powerful pathway out of poverty for Kansas City parents and their children.

For more information or to offer support, please contact:

Emma Trout Develpment Associate 816.214.5376 Ext. 123

You can be a part of this unique solution to generational poverty.

The Power of One Pawsperity Donor and Volunteer Supports the Organization in Multiple Ways

BY LINDA O’DELL

For Stephanie Moody, it was love at first listen.

Her neighbor, then Grooming Project Board President Kathy Miller, had approached Stephanie and others in their neighborhood seeking auction item donations for one of the organization’s early fundraising galas. Stephanie knew nothing about The Grooming Project but was intrigued enough from Kathy’s description to attend the event – and by the end of the evening, she was a full-on fan.

“I instantly fell in love with their mission,” Stephanie says. “Interacting with the students who attended the event, hearing their stories and about what this opportunity has done for them – I thought it was incredibly amazing, and I wanted to do more.”

Since then, this busy working mom of two has helped those in her circle fall in love with The Grooming Project, too – proving the power of an individual supporter to make a positive difference by spreading the word and engaging others in its mission.

As an employee of Novo Nordisk, Stephanie had an opportunity in August to introduce

The Grooming Project to her coworkers at a presentation for Novo Nordisk employees interested in social responsibility. Participants watched a video, assembled backpacks for students’ children, and heard from staff members who shared about the life-changing impact of this program.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” Stephanie recalls. Coworkers opened their hearts and checkbooks, their individual donations enhanced by a match from Novo Nordisk as well as an additional corporate contribution.

Along with other Novo Nordisk employees, Stephanie Moody, kneeling in middle, assembled backpacks for the children of Pawsperity students.

“I’m very grateful to work for a company that gives back to the community and supports employees’ passions in community service,” she says.

Stephanie shows up in other ways, too. She still attends the galas, has donated turkeys for students’ Thanksgiving dinners, adopted a family at Christmas, volunteered to help decorate The Grooming Project’s student dormitory for the holidays -- and most importantly, recruits others to join her.

“Any time I run into someone looking for an organization to support, The Grooming Project is the first one I talk about,” she says. There are many ways beyond just financial contributions to be of service, she adds, noting that Volunteer Coordinator Susan Redinger excels at matching the program’s needs with the interests and availability of those who want to help, which makes the effort even more rewarding.

For Stephanie, it’s all about being able to see tangible results that will resonate into the future, as children who live in more stable families today become better equipped to pass that experience on to their own children tomorrow.

“While I have no personal experience of living in poverty, a colleague who spent time in the foster care system has shared information with me about how that cycle just goes on and on, generation to generation. This is a real opportunity to break that cycle,” she says.

“When you see the success of this program, the statistics about graduation and employment rates, and when you talk to these parents and hear how their lives and their children’s lives have turned around, you can see the real results that your support enables.

“As a mom, I feel a personal connection to The Grooming Project. I love what they’re doing. It’s amazing.”

And so, Stephanie, are you

Connect through Volunteering

As Pawsperity grows, so do the volunteer opportunities. Volunteering can be one of the most rewarding ways to connect with us as we work together to break the cycle of poverty. We are always interested in talking with groups or individuals to find meaningful and mutually beneficial experiences.

Contact Sharon Redinger, Volunteer Coordinator, at sredinger@epeckc.org or call 816.214.5376.

Year-round Needs

Cutting dog bandanas

Sewing durable, reusable bags

Food/meals for family residence meetings

Customer service/reception positions

Curbside drop-off attendant

Seasonal needs

Garden at the dorm

Family residence holiday decorations

Back-to-school backpacks Annual gala Thanksgiving meal baskets Adopt-A-Family for the holidays

Novo Nordisk employees donated school supplies and assembled backpacks at a regional staff meeting in Kansas City.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DOG AT PAWSPERITY

BY EMMA TROUT

Violet, a black Doodle, is nervous. She is in a loud and unfamiliar environment, surrounded by strange people and dogs. Nervous dogs are common when brought to groomers. Still, at Pawsperity, students take the initiative to ensure dogs such as Violet are kept as comfortable as possible for the whole process.

To calm Violet, the student puts her in a kennel with her sister, Elle. The familiar face helps to keep Violet comfortable for the day. Dogs are kept in kennels when they are not being bathed or brushed and trimmed. Students and instructors keep a close eye on all dogs to ensure their kennels and blankets are clean, the dogs are still comfortable, and to make sure every dog is taken outside regularly for a potty break and to stretch their legs.

Violet is taken out just before her bath to stretch, sniff, and relax. Back inside, Violet is led up the doggie stairs into the bathtub. The bath starts with an ear cleaning to remove any buildup. Despite her nervousness in this unfamiliar place, Violet enjoys this part – it’s like an ear rub!

Then comes the bath. Violet sniffs each bottle and nozzle before it is used. This takes some of the mystery out of these unfamiliar tools and helps to ease anxiety.

Groomers learn to balance the dog’s anxiety with getting the job done. Some anxiety is normal, but at Pawsperity, students are taught to recognize signs of distress in dogs and when that anxiety is too much. The students and instructors do everything they can to reduce it and make each dog as comfortable as possible.

An example is The Happy Hoodie, a soft hoodie that covers the dog’s ears to protect their sensitive hearing from the blow dryers. It also has the added benefit of reducing anxiety in most dogs- and it’s adorable, to boot. Violet already knows this student is someone she can trust. Before her blow dry,

she snuggles up for a hug and a few comforting words.

That’s not to say it isn’t difficult; students must learn to groom various dog breeds to industry standards, as well as recognize dog body language to keep both themselves and the dogs safe. They spend hundreds of hours at Pawsperity’s grooming school, learning how to become dog groomers through practice under the watchful eye of instructors. Many pet parents go to Pawsperity for their dog’s grooming needs because of the organization’s mission and the attentive care their dog receives.

Each pet parent who brings their dog can leave special grooming instructions with the instructors- do they want their dog’s fur a little longer? Shorter? Does their dog dislike their paws touched?

The instructors check the dog for mats or any areas that may need special attention. Dogs with longer or curly fur are more prone to matting, and the groomers are trained to recognize matting and pick up on it early. If left for too long, mats become itchy, extremely uncomfortable, and even pose a health risk to the dog.

Nail and hair trims are done in the afternoon after the dogs are bathed. Violet gets her nails trimmed first, and the student is careful with each nail, stopping when she can see the quick or sensitive edge of the blood vessels. Trimming too far and cutting into the quick will hurt the dog, but if nails are allowed to grow out too long, they can curl and cause the dog pain to walk, and even result in joint problems.

The hair trim, too, must be done carefully. Each type of coat has different needs -

some are longer and thicker, while others are curlier, and others are much shorter. There are different types of blades and sizes depending on the dog, the breed, and the coat, and the groomer must choose the right one for each trim.

If you think this is a lot of factors the groomer must juggle, you’re right! Each dog and client have their own needs, and part of the job of a pet groomer is responding to those needs and adjusting as they proceed. It’s a profession that requires adaptability and a mind present in the moment. Students learn this alongside the trade to be successful once they graduate from Pawsperity.

When it’s time for Violet’s trim, the student helps her onto the grooming table. Another dog is singing the song of his people, but Violet doesn’t seem to be enjoying the performance. She wants to be pampered in peace! Unfortunately, the other dog doesn’t seem keen on quieting down anytime soon. A few good ear scratches, though, and Violet decides she can put up with the noisy singer.

The student carefully trims the fur around her eyes and sanitary areas with a pair of scissors before brushing her face and ear fur. The student is gentle but firm with each dog when trimming their face to help the dog stay calm. Then, she carefully brushes Violet’s fur and tail. Using a finetoothed comb and scissors, the student trims up her legs and feet.

Violet isn’t a fan of her feet being touched, so she looks away while the student does her trimming. The numerous head scratches Violet gets after each paw trim comforts her. When Violet is done, the instructor comes over to double-check the student’s work and direct them to any areas that need more attention.

A spritz of doggy cologne and a fun new bandana to wear is the finishing touch for Violet. With new bows on her head to complete her fresh new haircut, she’s ready to go home!

The Rise of the Doodle

BY AMBER MORI, LEAD GROOMING INSTRUCTOR AT PAWSPERITY

In the grooming industry, we see a lot of trends when it comes to popular dog breeds. As a groomer for nearly 15 years, I have seen the rising popularity of Corgis, Puggles, Frenchies, and many other breeds. However, none can compare to the ongoing popularity of the Doodle!

In our school, it is not uncommon for us to see up to 10 Doodles a day. These happy fluff balls are certainly taking over! And, while we love our Doodles, it does have a significant impact on the quality of education we can provide for our students in terms of exposing them to different breeds.

For the very few who may not know, Doodles are hybrids of poodles and other popular breeds. They are typically bred for each breed’s desirable traits, with the bonus of being (mostly) hypoallergenic. They include, but are not limited to, Golden Doodles, Labradoodles, Schnoodles, and many, many more new breeds. As previously mentioned, these

pups are fluffy, and that plays a huge role in why they are so popular. Coupled with their energetic, sweet, and often goofy nature, it’s no wonder they have stolen the hearts of the world.

It is important for the prospective Doodle owner to know that a fluffy coat makes them a very high-maintenance dog. Their coat tends to get matted very easily if not brushed and combed daily. Most of the Doodles we see at our school are clipped to keep their hair shorter to prevent this heavy matting. This is great for those dogs and their families! However, our students are often faced with doing the same haircut on the same breed multiple times a day.

We are looking to add more purebred dogs to our list of clients to offer more variation to the practice our students get while in our program. This will better prepare them for the professional pet grooming world. The students enrolled in our program will first learn the basics of grooming. As they advance, they must meet testing requirements to graduate.

Our program requires students to pass seven breed standard practicums, one of which is a Doodle. The other six include a Standard Poodle, a terrier, a double-coated breed, a silk coat breed, and two drop coats. We are looking for more Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels, West Highland Terriers (Westies), and any other less common pure breed you may have. We are also very excited about our new school, as we will have room to accommodate more dogs getting groomed.

Would you do us a favor and tell your friends and family about the Pawsperity Grooming School? We would especially love to service pet parents of Schnauzers, Cocker Spaniels, Westies, and other purebred dogs. Go to Pawsperity.org to book an appointment or call 816.214.5376.

Doodles fill the grooming school one day in October.

Many great changes can happen in a year!

The Power of Soft Skills

Soft skills help graduates build relationships and keep employment

BY EMILY HARRIS

When you think of job readiness, what do you think of? Most people may think about creating a resume, practicing interview questions, or even doing research on a company you’re interested in. While these are all important steps to take to get a job, they don’t help someone maintain a job. Soft skills are the key to unlock success in both your personal and professional life, which is why we focus on building many soft skills throughout our program.

Soft Skills vs Hard Skills

Hard skills refer to the more job-specific abilities or knowledge learned through education, hands-on experience, or training. These are skills that are quantifiable and can be measured, such as machine operation, cutting hair, or anything in which you can receive a degree or certificate. Soft skills refer to the more interpersonal skills that

help build and maintain a person’s relationships with other people. Since soft skills aren’t necessarily quantifiable, they can be hard to measure in job applicants and even harder to take time to teach on the job.

Employers are now more focused on finding employees who have strong soft skills, such as effective communication

and good time-management, rather than only looking for job-specific qualifications that can be taught after being hired. In LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends report, they found that 92% of professionals reported that soft skills are equally or more important to hire for than hard skills, and 89% said that lacking critical soft skills was the reason that a new hire doesn’t work out (McLaren, 2019.)

Employers are willing to take more time to teach on-the-job tasks when they can trust that their employees will not only thrive within the company, but also keep a good reputation for the company with their customer base. Because soft skills surround very personal attributes in each person, it is not likely any employer will have the time or ability to work one-onone with each employer on these things.

Emily Harris is a Soft Skills Training Specialist and Case Manager. Students take classes every Monday.

Michael Swett with Ariel Swett 2008 – 2022

“It’s a better world I see, when it’s just my dog and me.”

— JOHN HIATT

It is important to create a culture where we actively practice these soft skills throughout each stage of our lives, especially if we ever want to see a world where things like mental health planning is a preventative action instead of something that is started only after the need for it becomes evident. Discussing and practicing these skills through the duration of our program also gives our students an opportunity to really create a community to grow within.

Soft Skills and Trauma

Many of the students we work with here at Pawsperity have an extensive background in trauma. Creating a space where they can revisit some of these soft skills allows them to think about what they may want or need to work on within their personal lives moving forward. After experiencing trauma, some may find that they go into survival mode to make it through whatever they are facing. Soft skills are the key to moving us from our “survival brain” to the front part of our brain, or our “present brain,” which handles planning, critical thinking, and processing. The mastery of soft skills leads to things such as improved decision making, utilizing coping skills regularly, and understanding one’s emotions. Breaking down some of these skills to talk about what they look like within the workplace and how they function in the current state of their personal life and relationships, can help to bring each individual well rounded success in all areas.

Some people never had the opportunity to learn some of these important soft skills growing up, such as emotion regulation, time-management, creating boundaries, effective communication, and critical thinking. A graduate of our program, Kelly Stark, shared that communicating with peers, co-workers, and customers has always been tough for her to do.

“The soft skill classes are still helping me grow little by little with understanding my peers, where they are coming from, or

understanding them better…when I better communicate to them and talk with them with more mutual respect instead of me coming off verbally gruff,” Kelly explains when asked how the soft skills have helped her grow. She disclosed that things like picking the correct words, using verbal manners, and explaining difficult or personal things has historically been very difficult for her. After graduating from the program and starting her career, she says that utilizing soft skills “...helps take some stress off conversations” which in turn “always makes a workday flow much smoother with understanding behind it.” Kelly takes pride in her work and being able to better communicate with those around her more effectively.

Ending the Cycle

The focus of our mission here at Pawsperity is to end the generational poverty cycle, which goes hand in hand with teaching an array of soft skills and fighting to end mental health stigmas. Because soft skills aren’t something that everyone is guaranteed to learn within our education system, it is important to encourage others to share or teach those around them about these skills as they work to implement them into their own life. Within many of the soft skills classes taught in our program there are sections dedicated to walk through how each skill can be taught to children, since most of our students are parents, plan to be parents, or have children integrated in their lives in some way.

Another one of our graduates, who wishes to be kept anonymous, spoke about the importance of making the soft skill classes family friendly learning opportunities. The graduate brought up utilizing our mental health safety planning sheets and how they helped her understand what her own child needed.

“Teaching my child how to be in charge of their own mind and body was the most powerful and important thing I could have done for her, and I learned a lot about how to do this through our soft skills classes,” she explained.

Learning how to understand your own body and mind as an adult can be difficult enough, let alone bringing yourself back to the mindset of a child who has gone through different experiences than you did. Learning together as a family unit can make so much more progress than learning independently at different times. Soft skills give you all of the tools necessary to move forward with creating strong social support systems, which helps individuals become more successful overall.

It is important to create a culture where we actively practice these soft skills throughout each stage of our lives, especially if we ever want to see a world where things like mental health planning is a preventative action instead of something that is started only after the need for it becomes evident. Discussing and practicing these skills through the duration of our program also gives our students an opportunity to really create a community to grow within. Some of these skills, such as boundary setting or conflict resolution, can be very hard to actively practice with people. Creating a safe space where everyone is asked to do this work can make it easier to do and receive helpful feedback while learning with one another. The goal of teaching these soft skills is not only to make sure the students succeed in the workplace, but also so they can thrive in their personal life.

Bridge to a Brighter Future

Nonprofit agencies connect potential students to Pawsperity

Safehome is a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence in our community. It’s the only domestic violence agency in Johnson and Miami counties and serves more than 300 survivors and their children every year. Safehome provides shelter, individual and group counseling, court and legal support, and other community programs to empower survivors to live independent and violence-free lives. All services are free and available to any individual who is experiencing domestic violence.

According to Residential Case Manager Geneva McDonnell, it takes the average survivor of domestic violence nine times before they stop returning to their abuser. “Many go back, but often the parents we serve in our shelter have reached a point where they are very motivated and ready to move forward. Their children are a big motivator.”

Since fall of 2021, Safehome has referred a half-dozen clients to Pawsperity to learn about the six-month grooming training and certification program. Barriers, like transportation or childcare, keep some

from entering the program. Pawsperity’s family residence is very helpful, with private space for six families to live next to the pet grooming school while the parents complete their training.

Oftentimes, Safehome clients have pets of their own that may keep them from leaving the violence. Geneva shares, “When a person contacts us for help, part of our lethality assessment is to ask questions about the abusive partner harming or threatening to harm the family pet, just as they might harm a child. They threaten harm if the victim tells anyone about the abuse.”

That human-animal connection is huge, and the Safehome clients who apply to the grooming school are drawn to the emotional connection they’ve experienced with their own pets. “They may have experienced trauma, loss, poverty, homelessness, incarceration, or any combination of these selfdefeating situations. But when they get to Pawsperity, they see people like them.”

That can be just what they need to believe they’re headed toward a brighter future.

A fresh start free of domestic violence

Finding a new path through recovery

Heartland Center for Behavioral Change (HCBC) provides behavioral healthcare and substance use disorder services to help individuals lead healthier, happier, more productive lives. Heartland Center offers services throughout the Greater Kansas City area and across Southwest Missouri.

The connection with Pawsperity began in 2019. Annthia Thompson, LMSW, CRADC, Program Manager at the Independence facility, conducts patient intake and counseling. She shared how clients in outpatient treatment receive individual professional counseling and peer support services as they work to rebuild their lives.

“Part of our support service is helping them identify job opportunities. Clients that we refer to Pawsperity are those with an interest in more of a career, not just a job in fast food,” shares Annthia. “The counselors work closely with clients to identify those who would be good candidates. They work on self-esteem. They evaluate how fully individuals participate in their outpatient treatment. Do they have housing and a doctor? We make sure they are stable and stable in their sobriety.”

Peer supports are a guide to share their lived experiences from a real-world peer perspective rather than from a professional. Peer supports help potential students with the application process, how to get bus passes and get familiar with the bus schedule to set them up for job success.

Many of HCBC’s referrals to Pawsperity training are trying to get custody of their children. They have to show the courts that they are on the path to doing what it takes to care for their children and themselves.

Annthia talks about the changes they’ve seen in clients who are currently training or have completed their grooming education. “We have a longtime client who’s currently training with Pawsperity. It’s like they become more independent. You see a change of ‘I can do this on my own.’ We’ve had a few graduates and one who has a goal to start her own grooming business.”

Pawsperity is grateful to all of our nonprofit partners who introduce their clients to our program and the opportunity to build a career and better life for their families.

Restoring Childhood

Pawsperity Partners with The Children’s Place to help students and their children heal from trauma

BY SARAH BAUM

Pawsperity collaborates with many community agencies to address the problems and barriers that prevent students from being successful as professional dog groomers. These partnerships are integral to delivering the wrap around, case management services that students need to stabilize themselves and their children.

The partnership with The Children’s Place, Kansas City’s specialized trauma treatment agency, is a wonderful example of staff from both organizations working together to heal family trauma.

The mission of The Children’s Place is “to help children and families heal from life’s deepest hurts.” Their therapists offer families an evidence based, multidisciplinary approach to mental health healing, seeking the appropriate program best suited for traumatized children and their parents or care givers.

Pawsperity reached out to The Children’s Place in the summer of 2020 for assistance in meeting the needs of stressed parents and children as the pandemic continued to upend lives and their in-person resources. The Children’s Place was already adapting, offering virtual parent groups to serve their clients, and agreed to extend their expertise to students in the grooming school.

Krista Kastler, Senior Therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker at

The partnership with The Children’s Place, Kansas City’s specialized trauma treatment agency, is a wonderful example of staff from both organizations working together to heal family trauma.

The Children’s Place, is a specialist in providing trauma responsive care for children and was a natural fit for the partnership. The living situations for many Pawsperity students and their families were familiar to her from her years of professional work. She knew that parents are not always able to create healthy, safe, and secure spaces for their children. Chaotic, overwhelming living situations may lead to multiple traumatic events, not unusual for some families, and the cumulative effect can impact and often delay a child’s development and ability to regulate their emotions.

Kastler believes in parents, stating, “They love their children, and they want to be good parents.”

She brings compassion to her work, knowing resilience and parenting skills can be learned and that physical, emotional, or relational hurts can be healed.

She explains, “scared children don’t have to be scary children.”

She suspected that virtual programs might be more challenging than in person programs, but she also knew it was important to adapt and continue trying to offer parents a safe space for sharing and strategies for addressing their struggles.

The Integrated Parenting Curriculum, a six-session program, was modified for a virtual format, and Kastler began working with several cohorts of parents. Her hope was to create trust through shared experiences where students could be vulnerable and learn not only from her, but also from each other.

She told her students, “I will learn something from each of you in this group, we will teach and help each other.”

The first session included introductions and a discussion of the program objective, helping parents stabilize themselves so they can stabilize their children. This

goal easily complements the Pawsperity mission to address multi-generational poverty by creating economic stability for families. Subsequent parenting sessions included a discussion of the connection between a parent’s behavior and that of their children—the concept that emotional self-regulation is the first step towards helping a child regulate their own behaviors. A discussion of solutions and strategies for dealing with challenging behaviors was important, bringing focus to preparing in advance for the day-to-day tasks and routines that help children thrive. “Boundaries with love” was introduced, a framework for revisiting the past to better anticipate stressful moments that will arise again, encouraging parents to face their own vulnerabilities with compassion and hope. Self-care was discussed, such as

ways for parents to take care of their own emotional and physical needs so they could offer the same to their children. Stories of success shared by students each week were celebrated.

The partnership between Pawsperity and The Children’s Place continues today. Classes are now offered in person and occasionally virtually. Outcomes from the coursework are positive and upward trends are being established as students report feeling more capable as parents and more resilient as individuals. They are learning a framework that offers them options, as well as strategies for parenting with compassion for themselves and their children.

Kastler’s words linger, “we’re working together to restore childhood.”

We are grateful for the incredible support received from all of our donors. This is a comprehensive list of gifts received from 8/31/2021 to 10/10/2022. It is our goal for this to be an inclusive list. We apologize for any omissions or errors.

$100,000 & Above

Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundaion

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Dehaemers Family Foundation

Ann and Gary Dickinson Family Charitable Foundation Hall Family Foundation

William T. Kemper Foundation - Commerce Bank, Trustee The McDonnell Foundation

Doctors Morrill Foundation - Great Plains Trust Company, Trustee John and Marny Sherman Sunderland Foundation

Jack F. and Glenna Y. Wylie Charitable Foundation

$50,000 to $99,999

The Hearst Foundations

Leslie Pfriem

Regnier Family Foundation Sherman Family Foundation

$20,000 to $49,999

Bank of America

Stuart and Terry Bauman Rachel Brown

Curry Family Foundation Health Forward Foundation Launch KC Virginia Merrill SkillBuilders Fund

State Street Foundation, Inc.

Edward F. Swinney Trust, Bank of America Trustee, N.A., Trustee Willie’s/Fieldhouse

$10,000 to $19,999

Arvest Foundation

Geraldine and RA Barrows Foundation, UMB Bank, N.A., Trustee Ann Baum

Jon and Sarah Baum

Abe and Anna Bograd Memorial Trust

Ina Calkins Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee

Core First Bank

Dunn Family Foundation

First Federal Bank of Kansas City Sherry and Gary Forsee

David and Janis Francis

Francis Family Foundation

Terry Garberg

Gattermeir Family Foundation Hallmark Cards, Inc.

KC Animal Health Corridor

Donald and Linda Keith Tom and Jan Kreamer Rebecca and Steve LaNasa Mark One Electric Co., Inc. Menorah Heritage Foundation

Midmark | Shor-Line

Oppenstein Brothers Foundation - Commerce Bank, Trustee

The Pendleton Family Foundation

Pet-Ag, Inc.

Fred and Jami Pryor Kearney Wornall Foundation, UMB Bank

$5,000 to $9,999

Andis Foundation

Brookside Waldo Rotary Centric

Cerner Charitable Foundation

Country Club Christian Church Evergy

Dan and Kristin Fromm Global Prairie

Arvin Gottlieb Charitable Foundation

Shirley & Barnett Helzberg, Jr. Donor Advisory Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City Hockaday Family Fund

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Keen Wealth Advisors Kirk Foundation

Susan McGee

The McGee Foundation

Midwest Veterinary Partners - Stanley Veterinary Clinic

Jon and Kathy Miller

Novo Nordisk

Martha Gayle Packer

Elizabeth Pishny

Lynn Poskin

Bob and Sheri Reymond

Tim and Melissa Schaffer

Victor E. and Caroline E. Schutte Foundation Trust

Vivian & Hymie J. Sosland Charitable Trust

Sunderland Family Fund

Truman Heartland Community Foundation

Tom and Jill Turner

Emily and Todd Voth

John and Debby Walker

Terry and Deborah Westlund Woof’s Play & Stay

THANK YOU, DONORS!

$1,000 to $4,999

100 Voices Who Care

Gene Abramov

Ash Grove Cement Company Bill and Julie Bahr

Brenna Barash Bruce and Gerry Barker

Eugene Bertram Berkley

Robert Best

Becky Blades and Cary Phillips BOK Financial Peggy & Michael Borkon Helen S. Boylan Foundation

Kathy Calumpong

Richard Carey

John and Glaukia Cavalcanti Brian and Katey Chamblin Pati Chasnoff

Ayca and Akin Cil

Jennifer Clark Commerce Bank

COR United Women in Faith Thomas Coulter Country Club Bank

Creative Planning Foundation

Thomas and Karren Crouch

Patrick Cunningham

Betty Jean Curran

Jason Dalen and Kathleen Boyle Dalen Katheen and Michael Dodd Neil and Frances Douthat Meagan Dowell

William Dunn, Sr. Carolyn Curry Elbel Memorial Foundation Erik and Beverly Elving Gail Fein

Dave and Candi Fogleman Forest Foundation

FreightQuote by CH Robinson

Sandi and Ed Fried Family Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Global Prairie Foundation

Sharon Goldstein

Google

Chris and Dara Giuliani

Barbara and Jonathan Haden

Jennifer Haile

Pamela Hancock

The Flo Harris Foundation

Brian and Kristie-Lyn Hensley Tim and Chelsea Hodges

Jeff and Laurie Horn Michelle Horst

John and Mary Hunkeler

Tom and Ann Isenberg Donor Advised Fund Charles and Lynette Koester Brenda and Jerry Kolb Kathee and Ted Kramm Rachel Krantz and Edward Goldstein

Scott and Susan Krigel Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City Emily and Chris Lang

Coyla Lockhart

Mike Lundgren and Laura Welch David and Marcia Machens

Maguire Family Foundation

Linda Marcusen

Blake and Katelin May Thomas and Sharon McCullough McLeod-Davis Giving Fund

Mike McQuaid Melea McRae

Sam Meers and Julie Nelson-Meers Matthew Mellor

Brandon Meyers and Meggin Nilssen Mindful Momentum

MMC Contractors National, Inc. Mark and Stephanie Moody

The Mos Family Foundation

Judge Cleveland F. Moulton Christmas Poor Fund Trust Barbara Newbold

Wendy Noll

Petland Lee’s Summit

Jane Rubenstein

Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church Jennifer and Michael Sample Phil and Rebecca Smith Ralph L. Smith Foundation

Susan Spencer

Susan Stanton

Jeannine Strandjord

Steve Swanson

John and Tara Swartz Tantillo Family Foundation

Madelyn Tenenbaum

George Terbovich, Inc Joe and Kelly Timson

George Venegas

Cynthia Wheeler

Ethan and Heidi Whitehill

Marissa Wickham

Andy Wiltz

Nicole Wosje David and Karen Wratchford

Under $1000

And many, many friends