New Opportunity School for Women Inc

The mission of the NOSW is to improve the educational, financial, and personal circumstances of low-income, middle-aged women in the Appalachian region. The program grew out of an urgent need for women in Appalachia to become better educated and employed.  The NOSW has provided tools, resources and ongoing support to more than 700 graduates of the residential programs with the end result being women who have transformed not only their own lives but those of their families.

“The NOSW gave me a “voice” and they believed in me until I could believe in myself. They cared about me and my success; no one had ever believed in me before.” (G.L. `92)

 

Who We Are

For three decades, New Opportunity School for Women, Inc. (NOSW) has been equipping economically disadvantaged Appalachian women with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to build a fulfilling life for themselves, their families, and their communities. Born out of an urgent need for women in Appalachia to become better educated and employed, NOSW has served more than 800 graduates since its founding in 1987 by Jane B. Stephenson. The core of NOSW’s programming now has two components: two 2-week residential programs in Berea and multiple 3-day non-residential programs hosted at partner sites throughout Appalachian Kentucky. During the pandemic, we added online programs, enabling us to reach even more women and provide ongoing enrichment for our graduates. We know that women sustain the social fabric of a community and that when women grow into their full selves, they extend the benefits out into their communities. This reverberation and intergenerational impact are cornerstones of our mission.