Mile High Magazine 1/25/2026 Women’s Bean Project

Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 17:00

Guest: Shelby Mattingly CEO The Women’s Bean Project was founded by Jossie Ayer after recognizing a need for long‑term solutions to help women break the cycle of poverty. Starting with $500 and two women from a local shelter, the organization has grown into a nonprofit social enterprise that employs women facing significant barriers to employment. While producing and packaging more than 50 products, participants also receive comprehensive wraparound services, case management, and education to support their transition into stable jobs. Many women find the program through word of mouth, the justice system, or sober‑living environments.  There can be a real sense of shame and isolation in having come out of the variety of circumstances or still dealing with the circumstances women in their program are dealing with, a core component of what they do is treating people with deep respect and belief in their worth and their value as a person and all of the things that they're capable of.  womensbeanproject.com