Our Work
Dress for Success
Together We Rise: How 3 Organizations Came Together to Support Mckaila Wright
IMPACT Community Action’s mission is to reduce poverty by providing hope-inspiring help and real opportunities for self-sufficiency.
The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
UpRys’ employer of record service provides our nonprofit workforce programs and employers with onboarding, offboarding, and employment management in order to minimize risk exposure, provide workforce flexibility, and reduce administrative effort. The UpRys employer of record platform mitigates risks for employers, nonprofits and employees.
Mckaila Wright is a young woman whose early years were filled with challenging circumstances. She left high school to help with family obligations—filling her future with uncertainty and hopelessness.
As part of their youth empowerment services, IMPACT provides paid work experience opportunities to youth in Franklin County. UpRys helps IMPACT achieve their mission by providing critical back-office functions to support their youth program.
In early 2019, Mckaila reached out to IMPACT for help and was selected to be an intern at Dress for Success. UpRys Vice President, Workforce Solutions, Tracy Stearns, also serves as a Dress for Success volunteer.
Tracy and Mckaila met at IMPACT: “I was very impressed with Mckaila’s positive attitude, drive to succeed professionally and desire to enhance her life” said Stearns. “I knew immediately that with the right tools and support she would do great things with her life and I wanted to help.”
As an intern at Dress for Success, Mckaila has learned many key professional skills such as inventory management, project management and technical proficiencies. She credits IMPACT, Dress for Success, and UpRys with helping her gain a set of soft skills that will help her throughout her career and her life including:
- Responsibility
- Self-sufficiency
- Time management
- Budgeting
- Perseverance
- Professionalism
She has also learned the importance of a LinkedIn Profile and is working with her mentors at all three organizations to build one that showcases her new skills and accomplishments.
Before, I could not see a future. I used to live only for today. Now I know there is a tomorrow and I look forward with excitement and hope.
-Mckaila Wright
Mckaila Wright has big dreams and the future looks bright. She is currently attending Focus Learning Academy to complete her high school education and earn her diploma. After that, she plans to attend Columbus State Community College to pursue a career in Human Resources or Nursing. “I really like to help people and find solutions to problems,” said Wright. “I also want to give back by helping young people in my community. I hope that by sharing my story and letting them know help is available they will see a brighter future
is possible.”
When asked about her thoughts on the future, Wright’s answer was quick. “With all of these wonderful people supporting and encouraging me, I know I will succeed.” Stearns agrees “It is truly inspiring to see what can happen when individuals, nonprofit organizations and companies work together to help our community thrive.”
