-
·
Driving toward a new career: How ApartmentWorks helped Jose transition into Property Maintenance
For more than 15 years, Jose Uribe built a career in property management. As a property management assistant, he coordinated maintenance teams, oversaw repairs, and ensured apartments were ready for residents. But over time, he realized he wanted something different. “I’m more of a hands-on person,” shares Jose. While he understood the maintenance process inside and out, he…
-
·
MediWork$ empowers Scarlett Medina to pursue future in healthcare
Scarlett Medina was working a warehouse job and searching for something more meaningful. She knew she wanted a career connected to healthcare, one where she could grow professionally and make a real difference, but she wasn’t sure how to get there. “I wanted to pursue a career more in medical, maybe billing,” Scarlett shares. “I just didn’t know where…
-
·
Choosing a future: how Toria Willis found her breakthrough with JVS SoCal’s BankWork$
With years of experience in customer-facing roles, Toria was reliable, skilled, and hardworking. Yet despite her strengths, she felt stuck. She knew she was capable of more, but lacked a clear path forward. Originally from Seattle, Toria moved to Long Beach three years ago in search of opportunity. She worked as a receptionist and administrative assistant at…
-
·
From Congo to California: How HealthWorks helped Niclette to restart her caregiving career
As a young woman growing up in the Republic of Congo, Niclette Massamba helped care for her elderly grandparents. In her home country, assisted living facilities are not common; and caring for aging family members is part of life. What began as responsibility soon became a calling. After moving with her family to Maryland, Niclette…
-
·
From Caregiver to CNA: How HealthWorks helped Nicole Blackstone get certified
For more than a decade, Nicole Blackstone dedicated her life to caring for others. She provided hands-on support to family members, friends, and private clients, helping them eat, move safely, attend appointments, and maintain independence in their own homes. Caregiving wasn’t just work for Nicole; it was a calling. But despite her years of experience, one major barrier stood in her…
-
·
Turning setbacks into success: Rita Elder’s journey with JVS SoCal
When Rita Elder was laid off after years of dedicated work in human resources for large entertainment companies, the experience was both shocking and deeply disappointing. Like many professionals impacted by corporate mergers and layoffs, Rita suddenly found herself questioning what came next and how to rebuild after losing a role she had invested so much of…
-
·
JVS SoCal’s HealthWorks empowers single mother to build a future in healthcare
Before Karina Marroquin enrolled in JVS SoCal’s HealthWorks program, she was in the middle of one of the most demanding chapters of her life. A new mother, Karina had put her career on hold to care for her newborn, unsure of when, or how, she would be able to reenter the workforce. What she did know was that she wanted…
-
·
Overcoming barriers: How Emely Ventura built a new career with JVS SoCal
For Emely Ventura, pursuing a career in healthcare was always a dream—but one that felt just out of reach. As a young woman balancing financial pressure, self-doubt, and uncertainty about her next steps, Emely faced barriers that made advancing her career feel overwhelming. She knew she wanted to help others, but without access to affordable…
-
·
How ImagingWorks gave Teodora Chrystie a new career path
Before joining JVS SoCal’s ImagingWorks program, Teodora Chrystie built a creative career in production. After earning a master’s degree from USC School of Cinematic Arts, she worked in a selection of feature and short films. Most recently, she collaborated with nonprofits producing documentaries and digital content focused on wellness, and mental health, for streaming platforms. While the work was fulfilling, it also came with uncertainty. Like many in creative fields, Teodora faced financial instability. Over time, her interactions with the medical professionals she filmed sparked a…
-
·
How ApartmentWorks helped Daniel Escamilla rebuild his life
For much of his adult life, Daniel Escamilla was a hard worker with a passion for hands-on trades. After spending seven years as a supervisor at Starbucks, Daniel discovered a love for maintenance work through espresso machine repair. He later became a maintenance technician at a chemical plant, responsible for keeping complex systems running safely…
Category: Success Stories
Graduate stories from the Institute for Career Opportunity.