About The Help
The Help,” a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supports low-income women and those who have been involved in the criminal legal system. We are committed to providing secondary support systems for women with blemished backgrounds who are facing unemployment, housing instability, poverty, and social deprivation.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower system-impacted, low-income women with the resources and support needed to achieve economic success primarily through employment, homeownership, and financial stability.
Our Vision
We envision The HelpKC as a growing and sustainable organization where women are no longer defined by their past but are empowered to build a future of economic stability, personal growth, and holistic well-being—socially, spiritually, physically, mentally, and financially.
The Founder/CEO
Candance J. Wesson is an entrepreneur and the Founder/CEO of The Help(KC). She is deeply passionate about criminal legal reform, particularly regarding the reduction of collateral consequences. One of her personal goals is to create a strong support system for women, helping them understand that their lives do not have to be defined by one moment in time. She strives to help these women feel more confident as they reenter their communities, empowering them to engage fully in economic, social, and civic life.
In 2012, Candance founded The Help(KC), a reentry program exclusively for women in Kansas City. As a system-impacted individual herself, she intimately understands the challenges and trauma of incarceration, as well as the barriers faced by women affected by the criminal legal system. Candance has worked with nonprofit organizations, small businesses, faith-based groups, and community leaders, becoming a passionate advocate for second chances for women with criminal convictions.
Candance was honored with the 2019 Champion of Justice Award by the 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center for her work supporting women in reentry. As the former Dignity Ambassador for Missouri at Dreamcorps Justice (now Dream.Org), her efforts led to the passage of the #DignityForIncarceratedWomen law in Missouri in July 2021, ensuring that all women in Missouri jails and prisons receive free, quality feminine hygiene products.
She currently serves as a Federal Advisory Council Member for Dream.Org and is a member of the Governing Board of the Violence Reduction Program (VRP), which is focused on reducing gun violence in Kansas City.
Candance is a wife and mother of three children. She enjoys spending time with her family and has a passion for football, fashion, and home décor.
Candance will continue to advocate for the mission of The Help(KC)—empowering system-impacted, low-income women by providing the resources and support they need to achieve economic success through employment, homeownership, and financial stability.
The Board Of Directors
Candance J. Wesson
Damon Townsend
Deletta Dean
Kreasha Williams
