FEBRUARY 15, 2024
PHOENIX, AZ (February 15, 2025) – Speaking on the economic impact of women in the workforce and the rise of demand in the technology industry, Kim McWaters, President & CEO of Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, and Abdu Dahr, Fresh Start’s Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, were recently featured as guest participants on AZ TechCast, the official podcast of the Arizona Technology Council.
Dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond, AZ TechCast leverages the art of the connected conversation to share success stories, tech news, and analysis about the region’s leading companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling Arizona’s growing technology ecosystem.
For the inspiring and first episode of 2025 entitled “Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women for the Future of Work,” hosts Steve Zylstra and Eric Miller explored Fresh Start’s community impact and approach as the organization advances its mission: empower women to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Human resources executive, Scott Holman of HHR Consulting, also joined the conversation.
Together, the episode provided listeners with opportunity to learn about Fresh Start’s impactful career training programs, strategic partnerships with technology industry leaders like Intel, and the ripple effect supporting women has on families, workplaces, and Arizona’s economy.
Discussing the “win-win-win” for employers, communities, and the broader workforce, the conversation highlighted Fresh Start’s role in preparing women to enter high-demand industries, ensuring a brighter and more secure economic future for Arizona and beyond.
Fresh Start’s mission is to provide access and resources that help women achieve self-sufficiency and use their strength to thrive. Our ultimate vision is to create unlimited opportunities for women. Over three decades, Fresh Start has supported more than 60,000 Arizona women, serving over 5,000 women in fiscal year 2024, who are 18 years and older. 62% are single mothers, 67% make an annual income less than $25k, and 68% are domestic violence survivors. These women face a variety of barriers hindering their ability to be personally or financially self-sufficient, including domestic violence, generational poverty, and unemployment. Through our award-winning Impact Program, Fresh Start offers focused programs, services, access to training and education, as well as employment and career services to help women reach their personal and professional goals. For more information, visit freshstartwomen.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.