Work Options for Women (WOW)

Innovation, Economic Opportunity
Work Options for Women (WOW)

Geography: Colorado

Founded: 1996

Address:

1200 Federal Boulevard
Denver, Colorado 80204

About Work Options for Women

Founded in 1996, Work Options for Women (WOW) is a unique nonprofit social enterprise that uses food to change lives.

Their mission is to combat homelessness and poverty by helping unemployed, impoverished women gain the skills and confidence they need to work their way out of poverty and become gainfully and permanently employed in the food service industry. WOW has trained and placed over 300 women in cooking and food service positions since its inception.

The Program

WOW students engage in 16 weeks of "hand-on" food service training alongside professional chef instructors. Training takes place at the WOW Café in the Richard T. Castro Denver Human Services Building as well as WOW's restaurant, Café Options, in downtown Denver.

WOW's chef instructors provide food service skills training and employment preparation. The WOW case management team assists students by helping them overcome barriers to employment such as homelessness, learn life skills, and secure job placements and offers post-placement follow up services for 1-3 years.