The Christian Women’s Job Corps of Greater Arlington is launching a Women’s Workforce Advancement Hub thanks to a $65,000 grant from Women Inspiring Philanthropy.
The hub is expected to open in late September at the CWJC Greater Arlington campus, located at 1417 W. Arkansas Ln., Suite 100, in Arlington.
Carrie Wilkerson, CWJC of Greater Arlington executive director, said women seeking stable employment continue to face challenges related to technology, education gaps, and changes in the workforce.
One of the biggest barriers is the rapid pace of technological change, Wilkerson said. Women who have stepped away from the workforce or fallen behind in education often cannot return and resume where they left off.
“Specialized skills are at a premium right now,” Wilkerson said, adding that many women are not sufficiently credentialed or upskilled to compete in today’s job market.
Many entry-level jobs women once relied on have been reduced by automation, a younger workforce, and artificial intelligence, she said.
The grant is one of three awarded by Women Inspiring Philanthropy this year, part of $195,000 in total funding to local nonprofits. Each spring, Women Inspiring Philanthropy awards grants to nonprofits serving the Arlington community.
CWJC provides tuition-free workforce readiness training to women across Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and nearby areas, regardless of income, faith background, or work history.
The organization, founded in 2004, currently serves about 50 new program graduates per year and offers continuing services to over 700 graduates of the program. About 85 percent of the women who start a CWJC program finish it.
Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays
Grant impact on the hub
According to the Texas Women’s Foundation, 15.3 percent of Texas women live in poverty, a figure that climbs to one in four for women ages 18 to 24.
Women without a high school credential or certification face the steepest odds of finding steady work. This includes women of all working ages.
The Women Inspiring Philanthropy grant funds the hub itself: 14 computer workstations, AI-responsive learning software, large-format smartboards, and a content creation studio where women can practice interviews and build the technology skills employers are asking for.
Unlike most workforce programs, the hub runs on a self-paced schedule that includes evenings and Saturdays, built around the actual lives of working women, single mothers, and caregivers.
CWJC has also seen significant educational and technology gaps among applicants.
Wilkerson said 65 percent of applicants do not have a GED, which can prevent them from advancing through online job applications.
She added that limited access to technology and digital literacy skills can leave applicants struggling with what employers consider basic technology requirements.
Life skills and Bible studies
CWJC has also seen a shift in the age of participants.
More older women are entering the workforce after major life changes, including widowhood, divorce, or job loss, Wilkerson said. Many bring valuable experience and wisdom but must relearn foundational skills and navigate an increasingly technology-driven employment process.
Since the pandemic, Wilkerson said workforce training needs have changed as remote work has become more common. However, those opportunities are often out of reach for women who lack access to technology or the skills needed for virtual interviews, video introductions, and other digital requirements, she said.
“Employers are less willing to ‘train up’ employees in these types of skills,” Wilkerson said, explaining many companies expect applicants to already be prepared for the modern hiring process.
Unemployed and underemployed women are often intimidated by the job search process itself, she said.
Wilkerson estimated about 80 percent of CWJC participants are single mothers, caregivers, or women reentering the workforce.
Beyond job training, CWJC provides Bible studies, life skills classes, boundary setting courses, resume preparation, mock interviews, and connections with local employers.
Graduates remain connected through continued Bible studies, community service projects, and a support network described as a unique sisterhood.
The organization is expanding its services with through the CWJC Greater Arlington Hub, which offers certification programs, specialized credentials, English-as-a-Second-Language classes, GED preparation, and additional workforce resources.
CWJC is continuing to build partnerships with local employers and hopes to become the first stop for companies seeking talent, Wilkerson said. Current partnerships and placements have included organizations such as Mouser Electronics, Advocates for Special People, First Baptist Church of Arlington, and staffing agencies.
“We are forming more of these all the time and are currently seeking more alliances,” Wilkerson said.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.