MANKATO — As the first and longest continuously running program of its kind in Minnesota, Life-Work Planning Center starts up its latest run of self-sufficiency workshops for women in transition Monday.
The nonprofit is now in its 45th year in Mankato, with Executive Director Jean Keenan serving in the role for about half of them.
Throughout its history, Keenan said Life-Work has been a place where women find new beginnings.
“Our mission as an agency is to increase self-sufficiency for women and their families,” she said. “Really what we’re doing is providing family stabilization services through trauma-informed care so people can enter or reenter the workforce.”
A wide range of circumstances lead women to Life-Work. Domestic violence, loss of a spouse through death or divorce, and drug court are among many examples within its various programs covering Region Nine counties.
“It’s sort of like who’s the average woman; that’s who we work with,” Keenan said.
The one commonality between them, she said, is they’re at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
Life-Work’s initial offering 45 years ago was known as the displaced homemaker program. It later became the Minnesota Family Resiliency Program, funded through the state Department of Employment and Economic Development, available mainly to people who lost a primary wage earner through death, disability or divorce.
Recognition of how many people don’t fall within that criteria led to the formation of a women in transition program, Keenan said. Someone whose partner’s job was outsourced or downsized, for instance, might not qualify.
Life-Work also provides SNAP Employment and Training through DEED. Donations supplement programming not covered by state funds.
Its in-house fundraising efforts mainly look like board members calling up longtime supporters to renew their support. Keenan said the five-staff organization gives it nimbleness in responding to needs but not as much ability to get word out about what it does.
She thinks of Life-Work as the “best kept secret” in Mankato.
Board chair Darla Makela, a life coach, first learned about Life-Work after meeting Keenan at a conference. Their conversation resulted in Makela joining the board.
“I’ve always been really passionate about providing opportunities for women to become self-sufficient and become empowered and thrive,” she said. “For me that was really the draw. When I met Jean, she shared the vision and mission of the program and it made sense to get involved.”
So many people aren’t aware of the programs, or other great ones in the Mankato area, she added, although the fact people keep signing up for workshops means the Life-Work team is getting word out to the right people.
“When I see women or meet women in that position, it’s an easy recommend,” she said.
The quarterly workshop series, the next of which starts Monday in Mankato, cover essential skills ranging from self-esteem to goal-setting to stress management. Life-Work’s self-sufficiency counselors are available to work one-on-one with participants beyond the mostly six-week workshops.
Skill building like this can be crucial for women coming out of unsafe situations, Keenan said. If you’ve been made to feel worthless, it’s hard to go into a job interview believing in yourself.
In addition to the first workshop Monday in Mankato, more will begin Tuesday in Mankato, Wednesday in Le Center, Thursday in Fairmont and a virtual option on Thursday.
More details on the sessions, times and locations are available at www.lwpc.org/workshops.