Essential Skills Program: Providing Space to Flourish Through Community Collaboration

The Essential Skills program is a six-week series that continues to significantly impact the lives of unemployed and underemployed women in Northeast Spokane. As a collaborative effort between Gonzaga University, The ZONE housed at the Northeast Community Center, and Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington (CCEW) this program has provided participants with the tools and confidence to pursue new career and educational opportunities since 2021.

This year, the program engaged a cohort of 11 women. Hosted at the Gonzaga Family Haven, the program offers comprehensive training in financial literacy, office skills, women’s leadership, and career resources. Additionally, participants are invited to Gonzaga’s campus to participate in mock interviews.

Vicki Hucke, Associate Director of Employer Engagement at Gonzaga University, has been a key player in the Essential Skills program since its implementation.

"I love the growth we've seen in the program," said Hucke. "Educating women, empowering them, and the work that’s done on the self-growth side as well, with careers and financial literacy – hopefully we’re giving them, as much as we can, this holistic experience that will help them move forward in all phases of their life."

Her sessions cover everything from self-reflection and values alignment, to resume building, LinkedIn profile creation, and interview preparation. "One of my favorite activities is the value card sort," she explained. "People, especially women, don't always think about how their values should count in their job search, but it's crucial that we align our work with what we truly value."

At the program’s foundation is a strong network of community partners coming together to provide resources to help participants flourish. These include multiple Gonzaga University departments such as Career and Professional Development, the Center for Lifelong Learning, Information Technology, and the Center for Community Engagement, as well as partners like The ZONE, Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, Providence, YWCA’s Our Sister’s Closet, and many more.

“It’s truly a community effort,” noted Hucke. “Everyone involved is committed to supporting these women as they build their careers. And these are all volunteers doing this, which is so cool.”

Women from previous cohorts have found success through their Work Source internships, job placements and pursuing educational opportunities.

At its core, the Essential Skills program is more than just career development – it helps empower women to realize their potential, gain confidence, and access resources they might not have been able to otherwise. Through the Essential Skills program, Gonzaga University and its partners not only help women foster their professional skills, but also provide them with a community of support.