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Ladies Night Out
Voices for Change: Real Stories, Real Impact
Join us for an evening of connection, inspiration and purpose at Ladies Night Out—a special gathering for women to share good food, meaningful conversation and stories that matter.
This year’s theme, Voices for Change: Real Stories, Real Impact, features two remarkable women from our own church who are leading change in the world through justice-rooted work:
- Wendy Loloff Cooper, CEO of Generation Schools Network, works to reimagine education and expand opportunity for students across the country. A former street school co-founder and national education leader, Wendy will share how her love for vulnerable youth led to a life of advocacy and innovation in education systems.
- Kendis Byker, Director of Grantmaking Strategy at The UPS Foundation and co-founder of Truckers Against Trafficking, has helped train over 1.2 million industry professionals to combat human trafficking. With deep passion and a global voice, Kendis will share how her journey of faith and justice took her from co-founding a nonprofit to influencing national policy and humanitarian strategy.
Together, they’ll offer stories of courage, calling and God’s faithfulness—and invite us to consider what change might look like in our own lives and communities.
This evening is open to all women of high school age and up—bring your friends, neighbors or family members and come ready for a night of purpose, connection and encouragement.
A meal will be shared, and we’d love your help! If you’re willing, please sign up to bring an appetizer, salad or dessert to help create a warm, welcoming space for all. Whether you’re bringing a dish or just coming to enjoy the evening, please register online so we can plan well and be great hosts.
Contact Jayne at jayne@myconnections.church with any questions.
Meet Our Speakers
Kendis Byker
If you had told a young Kendis Byker that one day she’d be fighting human trafficking through the trucking industry and then continuing that journey as a member of The UPS Foundation, she would have looked at you funny! Come join our new pastor’s wife to learn more about her social justice journey, God’s great faithfulness and the hopeful solutions on the rise in helping to end modern-day slavery.
Bio:
Kendis Byker is the Director of Grantmaking Strategy for The UPS Foundation, which delivers pathways to empower resilient, just and safe communities by delivering health and humanitarian aid, eliminating systemic barriers to economic opportunity, building local capacity and advancing sustainability around the world.
She co-founded and formerly served as the executive director of Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a nonprofit organization that educates, equips, empowers, and mobilizes members of the trucking, bus and energy industries to combat human trafficking. Kendis grew TAT to train over 1.2 million industry members to be the eyes and ears of our nation’s roadways.
Kendis is co-winner of the Norma Hotaling Award for demand reduction and winner of the 2019 Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts in Combating the Trafficking of Persons. She served as a member of the USDOT’s Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking, and is also an Ashoka fellow, a global organization that identifies and invests in leading social entrepreneurs.
Wendy Loloff Cooper
Wendy has been an active member of our church community for years and currently leads our Children’s Ministry with heart, creativity and vision. In addition to her work here at Connections, she serves as CEO of Generation Schools Network, where she’s dedicated to transforming education and expanding opportunity for students nationwide.
Bio:
Wendy began with Generation Schools Network in 2010 as the Rocky Mountain Managing Director and was asked by the Board of Directors to assume the CEO role in 2012. While earning a business degree, her love for education was catalyzed through volunteering to teach a business entrepreneurship class in an economically struggling Denver neighborhood on Saturday mornings at a local church. She brings extensive experience in the non-profit and education sectors, especially in the areas of network development, school replication and innovative educational models. She has worked in higher education (Northwest College, Colorado Christian University & Harvard University) and co-founded the Street School Network, which grew to include more than 50 schools in 27 cities under her leadership. She holds a BS in Business Management from Colorado Christian University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. She has completed fellowships with both Catapult and the Billions Institute for large scale social change. Wendy is currently studying for her PhD in Education & Social Justice at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Generation Schools Network, Chief Executive Officer, 2012 – present
Generation Schools Network, Rocky Mountain Managing Director, 2010 – 2012
2Revolutions, Educational Consultant, 2009 – 2010
Denver Street School & Street School Network, Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, 2000 – 2009
Denver Street School & Street School Network, Director of Development & Associate Executive Director, 1996 – 2000
EDUCATION
- Lancaster University, PhD Education & Social Justice (ongoing)
- Concordia University, M.Ed. Education Leadership
- Colorado Christian University, B.A. Business Management
ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIPS, AWARDS, and SPECIAL SKILLS
- Social Capital Toolkit Advisory Board, Christensen Institute, Harvard
- Billions Institute Fellow (2019-2021)
- Turning Point in the City Board of Directors (Chair – current)
- Student-Centered Accountability Program Board (2018-2020)
- RIM Institute Training (2019)
- Summit Education Group Charter Board (Chair 2017-2018)
- Community Partner Award, University of Colorado – Denver (2018)
- School Accountability Committee, Mesa Middle School (Chair 2013-2014)
- Catapult Fellow (2010-2011)
455 Sherman Street, Suite 120 • Denver, CO 80203 | www.GenerationSchools.org