News / Nonprofit Partners

Working for Women Partners with Empowered Network to Support Financial Independence for Survivors of Human Trafficking 

Working for Women (W4W) is proud to announce a new partnership with Empowered Network, an organization dedicated to helping survivors of labor and sex trafficking reclaim their future. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to investing in the long-term economic mobility of women, particularly those navigating the aftermath of exploitation.

Empowered Network collaborates with trafficking survivors beyond the crisis to achieve their personal and financial self-sufficiency by providing advocacy, financing education, uncovering career paths, and removing housing barriers. Their model acknowledges that fiscal independence is the key to ending cycles of exploitation, and their work focuses on providing both guidance and short-term financial assistance as survivors work toward self-sufficiency.

“At Empowered Network, we believe that healing and growth happen not just in moments of crisis but through sustained support and empowerment,” said Kristy Norbert, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Empowered Network. “Partnering with Working for Women allows us to expand the opportunities available to survivors, opening doors to meaningful employment and long-term financial stability.”

Through this partnership, Empowered Network will become part of W4W’s growing nonprofit community—a network designed to amplify the impact of frontline organizations by connecting them with businesses ready to invest in women’s economic advancement through funding and skill-based volunteering.

“We are honored to welcome Empowered Network and its visionary leadership to our community,”said Beth Bengtson, Founder and CEO of Working for Women. “Their deep commitment to walking alongside survivors in pursuit of fiscal independence aligns powerfully with our mission. Together, we can transform systems of exploitation into pathways of opportunity.”

Joining the W4W network also brings Kristy Norbert, Co-Founder & Executive Director, and Kate Okamoto, Program Director, into a broader ecosystem of nonprofit leaders and social change advocates dedicated to breaking down barriers for women from marginalized communities.

Together, Working for Women and Empowered Network aim to redefine what’s possible for women who’ve faced exploitation—empowering them not only to survive but to thrive.