Our Story

The Amazon Model for Social Services and Economic Development

Essential Families, a Missouri 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Terri English-Yancy in January 2020, is the nation’s first nonprofit to integrate the Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Framework with artificial intelligence, transforming how families access economic mobility.

Our Impact

Essential Families has enabled 1094, families to close the digital divide and achieve economic mobility, with 2467 families currently on our waitlist.

We deliver services 24/7, on-demand, directly to families’ homes— whether they live in urban or rural Missouri, or in urban and rural communities across the country.

How We Work

Essential Families uses highly trained Digital Case Managers available to clients for up to 3 months, providing real-time reporting across the Urban Institute’s five upward mobility pillars:

Rewarding work
High-quality education
Healthy environments
Responsive governance
Opportunity-rich neighborhoods

Each household receives affordable broadband, a Chromebook, and a dedicated Digital Case Manager, serving primarily women and racial and ethnic minority clients disproportionately impacted by digital exclusion.

Proven Results

4.9 out of 5 client satisfaction rating for Economic Mobility workshops
4.8 out of 5 rating for Digital Case Manager follow-up services

With independent validation from Dr. Brent Never, UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management, Essential Families has effectively closed the digital divide for 1,060 families under federal Digital Equity Act standards.

Interested in learning about or funding the Essential Families Economic Mobility Program?

Click here to schedule a meeting with Terri English-Yancy

(Photo and Video Gallery)

April, 11th 2026,

Vineyard Garden CAN Workshop | Saturday - April 11th, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 12 NN

April, 06th 2026,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: 3818 Chelsea Drive/St. Michael Veteran Center

April, 04th 2026,

Essential Families CAN Workshop at Vineyard Neighborhood Association

April, 02nd 2026,

Palestine Senior Activity Center Economic Mobility Workshop

March, 31st 2026,

Digital Case Manager All Team Meeting

March, 26th 2026,

In Person Check-In 3 of our DCMs with the Palestine Senior Clients

March, 16th 2026,

St. Michael’s Veteran Center Registration Day. Thank you to Emma, Shamal, and our Digital Case Managers—Eric, Stephne, and Marshon. We registered 20 veterans and added 11 more to a growing waitlist.

March, 10th 2026,

Essential Economic Mobility Workshop at Palestine Senior Activity Center March 10th, 2026: In honor of Women's History Month, Essential Families is "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future."

February, 23rd 2026,

Essential Families attends city of Kansas City public budget forum, to address 2,493 children and families on their waitlist

February, 07th 2026,

Vineyard Garden CAN Workshop | Saturday - February 7th, 2026 | 11:00 AM - Noon

February, 02nd 2026,

Monday - February 2nd, 2026 | 6:00 -7:30 pm

December, 31st 2025,

Essential Families 1st Annual Fundraiser/New Year's Eve Gala

December, 15th 2025,

Celebrating economic mobility wins! Vanessa and Veronique won our follow-up contest with KC’s Digital Equity Department, receiving Chromebooks and support. Their commitment stood out, and Veronique will train as a Digital Case Manager in 2026.

December, 05th 2025,

Groundbreaking Event: Essential Families Office Building & Francine Marie Kerr Family Center

December, 02nd 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Dave’s Place

November, 17th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: WYCO Residents ONLY West Wyandotte Library 1737 N 82nd Street KCK 66112

November, 15th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Morning Star Community Room

November, 13th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: 2816 E 23rd St/ Seton Center

November, 12th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Get Help KC 11.12.25 Gregg/Klice Community Center

November, 11th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: 2816 E 23rd St/ Seton Center

November, 08th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Get Help KC Lamp Campus 1801 Linwood Blvd

November, 08th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: ONLY Lafayette County Residence 547 S. Business Highway 13 Lexington, MO 64067

October, 29th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: SENIORS ONLY 3325 Prospect Ave Palestine Senior Citizen Activity Center

October, 24th 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: ONLY Lafayette County Residence 547 S. Business Highway 13 Lexington, MO 64067

October, 23rd 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: St. Michael's Veteran Center

October, 23rd 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Hickman Mills Middle School

October, 22nd 2025,

Essential Families Economic Mobility Workshop: Gregg/Klice Community Center

October, 18th 2025,

Community Event: Giving Hope and Help - 13th Annual Feminine Hygiene Period Product Drive & Expo

October, 14th 2025,

We’re back! Digital Director , Digital Case Manager team meeting held on Thursday October 14th. Preparing for our upcoming Economic Mobility Workshops.

February, 15th 2025,

4th T-Mobile 5G Internet Hotspot Distribution - Southeast Community Center

February, 08th 2025,

3rd T-Mobile 5G Internet Hotspot Distribution - Northeast Library 6000 Wilson Ave

January, 25th 2025,

2nd T-Mobile 5G Internet Hotspot Distribution - Southeast Community Center

January, 21st 2025,

1st T-Mobile 5G Internet Hotspot Distribution - Southeast Community Center

December, 18th 2024,

Lyriks Institution - Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop at Southeast Community Center

December, 17th 2024,

ArchWell Health - Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop - 3135 Prospect Ave

December, 12th 2024,

St. Michael's Veterans Center - Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop at 3818 Chelsea Drive

November, 11th 2024,

Resiliency at Work (RW2) - Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop at Southeast Community Center

November, 07th 2024,

Rural and Greater Kansas Digital Navigator Team Meeting

October, 19th 2024,

Linc Community Event. Family and Community Engagement Director, Mikia Johnson

October, 12th 2024,

Community Outreach Bash, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Saturday, October 12th. Digital Navigator Dorothy Burrell, Family and Community Engagement Director Mikia Johnson

September, 12th 2024,

Dallas County - Buffalo Missouri Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop

August, 21st 2024,

State Senator Barbara Anne Washington Essential Telehealth letter of support.

August, 12th 2024,

Essential Rural Digital Opportunity Workshop- Lexington Missouri

July, 12th 2024,

Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop and 500 Household Celebration

June, 22nd 2024,

Washington Wheatley Community Partner Event- Essential Families uses courier service to deliver laptops and workshop essential equipment and material.

June, 22nd 2024,

Essential Families is growing: Now using courier service to deliver laptops and essential workshop material and equipment

June, 18th 2024,

Essential Families works to eliminate digital divide Rae Daniels Interview

June, 15th 2024,

Latinx Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop

June, 12th 2024,

Latinx Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop

June, 08th 2024,

Manheim Park Neighborhood Meeting- Our newest Community Partner

May, 20th 2024,

Community Partner: Greater KC LINC

May, 16th 2024,

May 16th: Digital Navigator Curriculum Training (May 14th-16th, 2024 Trainer: Tamiika Samuel, Digital Navigator Council District 5 Director)

May, 15th 2024,

Della Lamb Essential Digital Opportunity Workshop

May, 15th 2024,

Digital Navigator Curriculum Training - May 13-15th, 2024 | Trainer: Christina Kohn Digital Navigator Council District 6 Director

May, 08th 2024,

May 8th, 2024 Community Partner : Key’s Reality

May, 07th 2024,

Community Partner: ArchWell Health. Aging Population Healthcare.

May, 04th 2024,

Entrenamiento de Navegadores Digitales de LEC

April, 16th 2024,

Community Partner: Black Family Technology

March, 19th 2024,

Essential Telehealth Letters of Support for Veterans, Unserved and Underserved Rural, Urban Communities, and Early Childhood Mental

February, 27th 2024,

Community Partner: ArchWell Health. Aging Population Healthcare.

November, 14th 2023,

Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School

October, 14th 2023,

W.E.B. Dubois Learning Center 50th Anniversary Event- Community Partner Registration

October, 04th 2023,

First 2-day Virtual Digital Navigator Curriculum Training Cohort. Trained 8 new Digital Navigators. We now have 59 Digital Navigators for the greater Kansas City area.