Najae Anderson is a young woman who came to Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center (MRNC) to receive assistance enrolling in and completing vocational training classes to make a better life for herself.
Najae Anderson is a young woman who came to Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center (MRNC) to receive assistance enrolling in and completing vocational training classes to make a better life for herself. Her goal was to become a Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA) and begin the journey of helping people in the field of healthcare.
The first encounter Najae had with her Employment Services Coach, Meaghan Owens, BSW, was when she called Mary Rigg to get information about how she could begin the process of getting connected to resources in and around MRNC. Najae knew she wanted to become a CNA; she just needed a little bit of help getting there.
Najae was so excited to begin this new opportunity and quickly worked to complete the necessary steps to be enrolled in the Opportunity Youth (OY) program at Mary Rigg. In October of 2020, she compiled all required documentation for her file, completed her Bridge and OY Application, attended a three-day long Job Readiness Course hosted virtually by MRNC Employment Services staff, and passed her TABE test to show proficiency in math and reading. Ms. Anderson was now ready to register for CNA classes and work towards earning a state recognized industry training credential.
By January 2021, Najae was now ready to find CNA classes to register and attend. Through a partnership with Ready2Care, LLC, Najae registered for classes and had her first class on February 3rd, 2021. She attended classes regularly where she would spend time working on homework, quizzes/tests, and hands-on training to learn how to work as a CNA. She completed two weeks’ worth of clinicals where she worked as a CNA to get acclimated to her new career field. By March 4th Najae had completed all class requirements and was scheduled to take her state board licensing exam on March 19th, 2021.
On March 22nd, Najae’s Employment Services Coach received the long-awaited notification that Najae had passed her state board licensing exam!! Najae was now ready to enter the workforce as Najae Anderson, CNA, and begin making positive impacts on individuals seeking assistance from certified nurses’ aides.
Prior to meeting her Employment Coach at Mary Rigg, Najae was unsure about how she would persue her dreams of working in the field of healthcare, but through her participation in the available programming at MRNC, she has since gained support in the form of employment, educational, and financial stability.
Thanks to programs like EmployIndy and Bridges to Career Opportunities, stories like Najae’s happen every day. The unending support and funding ensure that Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center can persist in being a leader to empower individuals to participate in adult education and job training programs in and around Indianapolis.