C3 Fellows Welcomes New Healthcare Director Supported by McKnight

*Shawn Vang, new C3 Fellows Healthcare Program Director*

The Central Corridor Anchor Partnership received exciting news in July 2019 when Fairview Health Services welcomed new Central Corridor College (C3) Fellows Healthcare Program Director Shawn Vang. Mr. Vang has long worked with C3 Fellows from the employer side of the program, serving as Fairview’s lead liaison and working directly with students through resume preparation, mock interviews, and career fair engagement.

“Shawn has been a voice and role model in the community as we advance our anchor mission strategy through education and job opportunities, especially focusing on diverse communities,” said Laura Beeth, supervisor of the C3 Fellows Healthcare Director position and Vice President for Talent Acquisition at Fairview.

“Over the years, Shawn has demonstrated leadership, partnership, project management, team building, and creative thinking, while he is always approachable and kind. So many of our local residents, students, and employees reach out to Shawn for advice, coaching, or just to check in.”

In early 2019, the C3 Fellows program transitioned to a separate healthcare and financial services employer-led model. Participating partners in the healthcare program include Augsburg University, Fairview Health Services, Hennepin Healthcare, Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis College, Regions Hospital/Health Partners, St. Catherine University, Saint Paul College, and University of St. Thomas.

McKnight Support for Career Pathways Employment

The Partnership understood foundation support to be critical to this employer-led transition. In early August 2019, McKnight announced its decision to award $100,000 over two years to grow C3 Fellows as an employer-led delivery system for increasing workforce diversity and raising incomes in communities in St. Paul and Minneapolis through health care career pathways employment.

Partners are excited to take advantage of the 2019 fall semester to re-launch and promote the C3 Fellows program. Mr. Vang is meeting with partners to identify lead contacts for the program at each institution and coordinate organizational calendars to develop a timeline for C3 Fellows. “There will be some delay in increasing and reporting program numbers as the program relaunches and attempts a fresh start at gathering students and student data,” noted Mr. Vang. “I am excited to work with partners to develop this program and focus on matching the right students with real-time employer needs.”

C3 Finance Fellows Complete Wells Fargo Internships

Eighteen college students from six partner institutions of the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership completed teller internships at various Wells Fargo branches in mid-August. Students consistently reported a positive experience and appreciated the opportunity to build professional confidence and learn about financial services career opportunities. Students from Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis College, Saint Paul College, Augsburg University, University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University participated in the program and attended a celebration luncheon on August 7.

Andrea Merkle, Wells Fargo program manager, thanked all of the participating partners and noted that the interns gained not only work experience but professional development training, workshops, and volunteer service in the community.

Joe Ravens, Region Bank President for Wells Fargo’s Eastern Minnesota/Western Wisconsin region, was the luncheon’s keynote speaker. He urged students to be curious in seeking out professional growth opportunities, to stay connected with people they come to know in their growing networks, and to be committed to their own success.

2019 Scrubs Camp Success

*Saint Paul College Scrubs Camp participants*

Augsburg and Saint Paul College successfully exposed some of the largest groups of high school students to date to careers in health care at their recently concluded Scrubs Camps. The week-long summer camps introduce high school students to opportunities in medical fields and to life on a college campus.

Organized annually by HealthForce Minnesota, Scrubs Camps take place throughout the state, providing students with opportunities to interact with professionals from various health care organizations and gain hands-on experience in health care professions.

Campers engaged in real-world tasks such as monitoring heart rates, creating dental molds, and performing forensic science tests. The camps offered 4-5 sessions per day led by volunteers from local health care and educational organization. Activities included a visit to St. Catherine University and an interactive learning session at Sholom Assisted Living Facility.

career kickstarter:
"I never would have thought that working in an emergency room would be something I wanted to do," noted Melanie F., who attended Saint Paul College Scrubs Camp. By the end of camp, after engaging in hands-on sessions with ER professionals, "now I could see myself there,” said Melanie.
favorite experience
"I really liked making new friends and also getting to know about different jobs that I didn't know about before," said Melanie, who learned about Scrubs Camp from friends who attended in past years and had positive experiences.

Thanks to the many volunteers from Saint Paul College, Fairview Health Services, Augsburg University, St. Catherine University, and other organizations, students gained access to information about careers in health care they did not previously know were available. These partners encouraged students to look seriously and critically at different career paths, and make connections with volunteers as well as their fellow campers.

Members of the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership are strong supporters of Scrubs Camp. Many of the volunteers that provide their time and expertise for the camp are employees of CCAP partner organizations.

Launching Health Care Careers

*Augsburg Camp participants engage in a hands-on session*

A central aim of Scrubs Camp is to help students identify what in the medical field they find interesting and inspiring. Valerie DeFor, Executive Director of HealthForce MN, encouraged camp participants to take note of the activities that caught their attention or that they were good at. “Find out what was interesting and cool about what you enjoyed, and build on that,” offered Valerie.

By the end of the Augsburg Camp, 97% of campers shared that they planned to pursue a career in health care, and 93% indicated that they planned to attend a four-year college.

Looking to the Future

*Augsburg Camp participants talk with a community volunteer*

Campers thanked partners for scholarship funding that supported their week of learning and connecting, and a few shared their thoughts at each camp's closing ceremony. “Before I attended Scrubs Camp I never would have considered going down this path [to health care],” stated one camper. “It changed my view completely.”

Others echoed this experience, noting that Scrubs Camp was their first exposure to what a career in the medical field really looked like. They appreciated learning to apply empathy, communication, and teamwork skills to health care-specific situations.

Augsburg’s Dean of Professional Studies, Monica Devers, spoke at Augsburg's closing ceremony, encouraging students to continue to look ahead toward college and in-demand careers. “We are committed to opening doors and giving students access,” Devers said, noting that the camp “gives students a taste of what it’s like to be in college. We cannot graduate enough of you into these professions.”

Scrubs Camp photos: Emily Braverman