News

When Jane Stephenson launched the New Opportunity School for Women, it was her friend Gurney Norman who first inspired her. Gurney called Jane in 1986, while she was the first lady of Berea College, to ask if the college had any outreach programs for ... [Continue reading]

Seven NOSW graduates joined four staff members at the beautiful Carter Caves State Resort Park for the long weekend of September 19-22 to explore servant leadership. Pictured above are (from left): Tiffany Burton (November 2022), Amy Kelley ... [Continue reading]

Dear friends of the New Opportunity School for Women, When a woman is given the tools to rise, a whole community is lifted. I’ve seen that truth in the steady dedication of our staff and interns, and in the faithful generosity of donors and ... [Continue reading]

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”—Maya Angelou Before she came to NOSW, Johnnie Chavours had one defense she used again and again: to run. Running track had helped ... [Continue reading]

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. For Cyndi, the journey has been one of tragedy, grief, and heartbreak. Yet, in the depths of despair, she found hope through the New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW), her faith, and the unwavering ... [Continue reading]

The New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) was honored to receive a 2025 Appalachian Foodways Fellowship Award at the 48th Annual Appalachian Studies Conference, held at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee. This recognition places ... [Continue reading]

Greetings everyone! I am thrilled to be back with the New Opportunity School for Women team as we embark on a new year of serving Appalachian and Kentucky women. As we reflect on the past year and set goals for the future, I am grateful for the ... [Continue reading]

NOSW encourages our graduates to continue their journey of growth and leadership throughout their lives. Each year, we invite a small group of women to a Graduate Leadership Retreat to gain new skills, meet graduates from other classes, and spend ... [Continue reading]

NOSW graduates from a number of residential classes came together for their annual reunion on Saturday, August 17. When they entered the fellowship hall where they had shared so many meals, they found it transformed into an enchanted forest with ... [Continue reading]

We've had a great week at the New Opportunity School for Women. Thanks to the generous friends and organizations who made donations in July, we met our $20,000 challenge match! Gifts ranged in size from $25 to $10,000. It was truly a team ... [Continue reading]