RAPID CITY, S.D. — Wynter Childers, Owner and Creative Director of Created By Wyn Event Planning, did not set out to start a movement.

She was simply trying to find her way.

Raised in Spearfish, Childers was a gymnast who went on to attend the University of Alabama, where she studied advertising with plans to become an art director. But when she graduated during the uncertainty of COVID, those plans quickly shifted.

She came home and started building something of her own.

What began as planning themed parties for friends turned into a full event planning business, Created By Wyn, which she has now been running for six years. But as she stepped into entrepreneurship, she found herself facing a challenge many people do, trying to figure it all out without a clear path.

“I felt very isolated,” Childers said. “I had questions, and even the people I always went to didn’t have the answers.”

So she created a space where those answers could be found.

That idea became Women & Co.

The very first Women & Co. event had no attendees, a moment that could have easily stopped everything before it began. Instead, it became the foundation for what would grow into something much bigger.

What started as a small event for women to come together, ask questions, and share experiences has grown into something far more impactful. Today, Women & Co. is not just about connection, it is about opportunity.

The event now raises money for the Women & Co. Grant, which is awarded to one female entrepreneur to help fund her business.

Last year, that grant reached $4,500, made possible by ticket sales, sponsorships, and community support.

“I truly do think that we’re better together,” Childers said. “If I can push somebody to chase their dreams, I feel like it’s a win.”

That belief is what fills the room at each event. It is more than networking. It is women showing up for each other, sharing stories, learning from failures, and celebrating wins together.

And for one woman each year, it is a moment that can change everything.

The announcement of the grant recipient.

A dream backed by a community that believes in it.

The next Women & Co. event will take place at The Barn at Aspen Acres, bringing together women from across the Black Hills for an evening of connection, inspiration, and impact. This year’s theme, “butter yellow and cabernet,” adds a fun and stylish element, encouraging attendees to dress up and fully step into the experience.

Now, Childers is inviting others to be part of that impact.

Community members can support Women & Co. by attending the event, purchasing tickets, becoming a sponsor, or donating directly to the grant. For those who are unable to attend, donations can still be made, with every dollar going toward helping a female entrepreneur take the next step in her journey.

“It doesn’t just have to be someone starting a business,” Childers said. “It could be someone who already has one and just needs a little more help.”

It is a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity to change the direction of someone’s life.

And that is exactly what Women & Co. is creating.

One woman.
One dream.
One chance at a time.

For more information, to purchase tickets, or to support the Women & Co. Grant, visit createdbywyn.com or follow @womenandco.sd on social media.