WellSky^® Foundation Opens SkyBridge Technology Centers to Expand Digital Access and Job Opportunities in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — April 29, 2026 — The WellSky Foundation, in partnership with reStart, Sheffield Place, and Great Jobs KC, celebrated the grand opening of the SkyBridge Technology Center on April 29—marking a significant step forward in expanding access to digital skills and employment opportunities for individuals experiencing housing instability.

Located within reStart, with a second center opening simultaneously at Sheffield Place in Kansas City, Missouri, the SkyBridge Technology Centers are designed to meet residents where they are—removing barriers and creating pathways to long-term stability.

“This moment has been a long time coming,” said Brett Fuller, executive director of the WellSky Foundation. “It represents what’s possible when organizations come together around a shared belief—that access to opportunity should never depend on circumstance.”

Each center provides access to computers, internet, and hands-on instruction through the SkyBridge Digital Literacy Program. Participants can also earn industry-recognized certifications and connect to employment opportunities through Great Jobs KC.

“Today, so many of life’s essentials—healthcare, employment, education—start online,” Fuller said. “But for many of the individuals we serve, that digital doorway has been closed. SkyBridge is about opening that door.”

For reStart, the impact of that access is immediate. “Our residents are already doing the hard work of rebuilding their lives,” said Stephanie Boyer, CEO of reStart. “This center removes one more barrier and gives them the tools to take that next step forward.”

At Sheffield Place, leaders say the gap in digital access has long limited what’s possible for the families they serve. “We’ve seen firsthand how lack of digital skills can hold someone back,” said Kelly Welch, CEO and president of Sheffield Place. “This changes that. It gives our moms the ability to not just find a job, but to build a future.”

By embedding technology and training within trusted community spaces, the program eliminates common obstacles such as transportation, cost, and unfamiliarity with digital tools.

“We asked ourselves a simple question,” Fuller said. “What does it really take to move forward today? And the answer kept coming back to access—to tools, to skills, and to support in the moments that matter most.”

For participants, that access can be transformative in deeply personal ways. “Everything is digital now, and that can feel overwhelming if you’ve never had the chance to learn,” Welch said. “But when that barrier is removed, you start to see something shift.”

That shift is already visible. “When our moms come back from an interview or their first day of work, there’s confidence you can’t miss,” Welch said. “It’s not just about employment—it’s about how they begin to see themselves and what they believe is possible.”

The SkyBridge Technology Centers are built on the belief that meaningful change begins with access and opportunity—and that the right support at the right time can alter the course of a life.

“This is just the beginning,” Fuller said. “We’re not only opening centers—we’re opening doors to new paths, new possibilities, and stronger futures for individuals and families across our community.”

 

 

Media Contact
Amanda Critelli
Phone: 845.867.6470
Email: amanda.critelli@allisonworldwide.com

About WellSky^® Foundation

The WellSky Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for vulnerable populations by removing social barriers to health, recovery, and lasting wellness. The WellSky Foundation is an engine for change, financially supporting organizations that enable care and healing for people, regardless of socioeconomic status. With a deep understanding of the social determinants of health, the WellSky Foundation partners with community organizations that are boldly addressing the top four socioeconomic factors affecting long-term wellness — housing, food insecurity, transportation, and isolation. The WellSky Foundation is committed to funding and supporting organizations that protect the people and communities they serve and create better outcomes for people in need. Together with our community partners, the WellSky Foundation is breaking down social barriers to health and wellness to build thriving communities. To learn more about the WellSky Foundation, visit wellskyfoundation.org.

About Sheffield Place
With the mission “to empower homeless mothers and their children to heal from their trauma and become self-sufficient,” Sheffield Place is a residential treatment and supportive housing program in Kansas City that focuses exclusively on highly-traumatized, homeless mothers and their children.  These families struggle with multiple barriers to success including mental health, addiction, domestic violence, low educational attainment, upbringing in foster care, and felony convictions, among others. The agency provides supportive housing, intensive mental health and addiction recovery services, case management, and life skills training.  The program features an average length of stay of nearly five months in the facility although the length of stay is carefully tailored to the unique needs of each family.

Once families stabilize and transition to permanent housing in the community, they continue to receive case management and other services for as long as needed through aftercare/outpatient services.  Sheffield Place also owns and operates 9 houses in the neighborhood for client use.

Sheffield Place will serve 170 or more families in 2026 – up from just 20 families served as recently as 2010. To learn more about Sheffield Place, visit SheffieldPlace.org

About reStart

For nearly 45 years, reStart has been a lifeline for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Kansas City. Serving everyone across the full housing continuum—from street outreach and emergency shelter to transitional housing and permanent supportive housing—reStart provides not only safe shelter but also wraparound services, including meals, counseling, and employment support. Each year, reStart serves more than 1,300 neighbors, offering nearly 90,000 meals and walking alongside people on their journey from crisis to stable housing.  With compassion, dignity, and community partnership, reStart is working to create a Kansas City where everyone has a safe place to call home. www.restartinc.org

 

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