Who We Are
Empowering Education: Building Pathways to Opportunity
Empowering Education was founded in 2021 by Audie Wood in a small office at Western Kentucky University, born out of a challenge from a student that would reshape his career and redefine his understanding of community engagement. During a Sociology of Community class, a freshman asked a simple but powerful question:
“Professor Wood, when are we actually going to make an effort to fight social problems rather than sitting in a classroom talking amongst ourselves?”
That moment became the spark for a movement. Inspired by his student’s challenge, Mr. Wood returned to his office and began drafting a vision for how education could move beyond theory and become a tool for social change. His idea was to teach personal finance through a sociological lens—showing students not just how money works, but how systems, opportunity, and community engagement shape economic mobility.
What began as a classroom concept quickly evolved into action. Mr. Wood presented his course proposal to the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, which approved a pilot program aimed at youth involved in the juvenile court system. The results were immediate and transformative. Students who once felt disconnected from education began learning about budgeting, credit, and employment—not as abstract lessons, but as real tools for changing their futures.
The success of the pilot program allowed Empowering Education to expand rapidly—from Warren County to every county in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As the organization grew, so did its mission. Empowering Education began forging partnerships that addressed the full spectrum of barriers young people face on their path to self-sufficiency. Collaborations with organizations like Life Skills helped provide students with access to affordable mental health services, recognizing that financial literacy alone is not enough without emotional well-being. Partnerships with employers across Kentucky opened doors for mentorship, internships, and meaningful employment.
Further alliances with Trace of Hope offered education grants to help students afford college and trade programs, while collaboration with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KYCTCS) connected participants with affordable educational opportunities and certifications. Each partnership reflected Empowering Education’s holistic belief: that breaking the cycle of poverty requires addressing both personal capability and systemic access.
At its heart, Empowering Education is not just an organization—it’s a movement rooted in action, empathy, and empowerment. What began as one adjunct professor’s response to a student’s challenge has become a statewide effort to equip youth with the financial literacy, emotional support, and professional skills needed to thrive.
While the spark came from one conversation, the fire has been sustained by a dedicated team of educators, mentors, and community leaders who believe that education should not only inform minds, but transform lives.
Ultimately, the story of Empowering Education is not about the people behind the organization—it’s about the young people leading the way forward. They are proving that when given the right tools and opportunities, they can redefine what success looks like in their communities and inspire all of us to do more than just talk about change—they are living it.
