Traction in Local Hiring: Expanding on Success with C3 Fellows

The Central Corridor Anchor Partnership (CCAP) is doubling the scope of its Central Corridor College (C3) Fellows program just as partners have learned that the Partnership has met and surpassed a key goal, to increase the hiring of local Corridor residents 5% by 2017.  Joining the ranks of the two inaugural C3 Fellows institutions—Minneapolis Technical & Community College and Saint Paul College—are Augsburg, St. Catherine University, and Metropolitan State University. 

The Partnership initiated the C3 Fellows Program in 2013 as a key strategy to create a more diverse and local healthcare workforce, and provide college students improved access to relevant work experience.  Since 2013, the C3 Fellows Program enrolled 411 community college students and placed 132 of these students in part-time positions in health care.  C3 Fellows were 72% low-income; 75% female; 68% students of color; and 34% first-generation college students. Fellows earned an average wage of $14.44 per hour, and had an overall academic success rate (calculated by combining data on retention, transfer, and graduation) that was 10% above their peers. 

Growing a local workforce

Laura Beeth, Fairview's System Director for Talent Acquisition

CCAP is committed to achieving a workforce among anchor institutions that is more representative of local communities along the Central Corridor in order to contribute to better local health outcomes, improved educational achievement, and increased household incomes.  declared that we wanted to boost the percentage of employees who live in our nearby zip codes from 13% to 18% by 2017.  Recent data collected from partners confirmed that the Partnership met and surpassed this goal – hitting 19.5% in 2015.

While this initiative has multiple benefits for students, employers also believe that C3 Fellows will be a strong source for local, reliable employees who serve important interests in longer-term retention, institutional loyalty, and reduced recruitment costs.  Laura Beeth, Fairview’s System Director for Talent Acquisition, believes that the C3 Fellows program contributed directly and also in a significant indirect way to achieving the local workforce objective.  “I know that as we work on C3 Fellows, Scrubs Camp and other initiatives to grow a more local and diverse workforce, these values become increasingly imbedded in our leadership culture and reflected in all we do to grow our workforce.”

Model of Partnership

The McKnight Foundation and the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative were key initial investors in C3Devinder Malhotra, President, Metropolitan State University Fellows.  Both employer and college partners have committed to funding the C3 Fellows program and thereby decrease the level of dependence on foundations.  

Support from the three new colleges was prompt and enthusiastic.  “This is a great investment in opportunities for our students,” noted Augsburg College’s President Paul Pribbenow.  “And we see great value in our relationship with employers and the community.”  President of Metropolitan State University, Devinder Malhotra, concurred.  “We see a critical need to position our students for career success,” he explained.  “We are grateful for this partnership opportunity to strengthen what we can offer by cooperating with health care employers.” 

“The beauty of C3 Fellows is that we are accomplishing something powerful together that none of the partners would or could do alone,” reflected Michael Christenson, Associate Vice President at MCTC.  “That is the key to effective partnerships.” 

C3 Fellow Profile: Alfred Djei

C3 Fellow, Alfred DjeiAlfred Djei is dedicated, responsible, and thoughtful in his personal life.  His commitment to these values has carried through to his professional life choices. Currently a surgical instrument technician at Regions Hospital, Alfred gives credit to the C3 Fellows Program for helping him with his biggest challenge in school: the fear of graduating without employment.   

Previously a video broadcasting professional from the Ivory Coast, Alfred immigrated to Minnesota to be with his wife, and was determined to become successful in the United States.  In 2012, at age 34, Alfred was a student at Minneapolis Community & Technical College (MCTC) studying for a technician certification. While he was studying to become certified, a great fear came over Alfred.  “I was drawn to be a student at MCTC because they have every specialty in healthcare you want to study,” Alfred said. “But I also needed a job and I didn’t know how to maximize my resume in school.”

Landing a Mentor

Feeling overwhelmed with the pressure for his studies to lead to gainful employment, Alfred went to MCTC’s Career Services Center, and happened upon a C3 Fellows program poster.  The Central Corridor College (C3) Fellows program connects MCTC and Saint Paul College students to healthcare employers.  It is one key strategy for the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership to pursue its goal of hiring more local residents, especially in health care careers.  The Partnership hopes to boost the percentage of local residents in the anchor institutions’ workforce by five points to 18% in five years. 

Alfred contacted Brian Mogren, career counselor and C3 Fellowship program coordinator, and a successful mentorship began.  “Brian was able to give me the point of view of an employer insider,” Alfred explained. “Every question I had was answered -- if I emailed a question at 11:05, I had my answer by 11:07.” 

Brian’s reliable guidance became a beacon for Alfred.  “He worked with me on matters specific to me,” Alfred said.  This high touch attention allowed some of Alfred’s fears to subside, so that he could start mentally focusing on his certification.  He then successfully applied to become a C3 Fellow.

A Fellowship with Results

After being accepted to the C3 Fellowship, Alfred’s engagement with his specific interests in healthcare began to flourish.  He not only renewed his commitment to study and focus on his certification, but he found new energy for job exploration.  Under Brian’s direction, Alfred became exposed to networking opportunities, career fairs, and volunteer positions.  “I wouldn’t have found these things,” he noted, “without being a C3 Fellow.” 

Alfred decided to volunteer at Regions Hospital and he began volunteering with surgical instrument technicians.  “It is a great place,” Alfred said. “My peers were friendly and professional.”

As it turns out, Alfred’s peers and supervisors must have felt the same way.  After Alfred received his certification, he began employment at Regions Hospital as a surgical instrument technician.  Alfred takes his job very seriously and is dedicated to expanding his impact in his specific field. 

And Alfred is not done with his education.  Currently enrolled in business management classes at MCTC while working at Regions, Alfred is a very busy, and very happy professional student.  He feels that his C3 Fellowship keeps on bringing benefits.  “Brian and I still keep in touch,” Alfred affirmed.   “He helps me with each new direction I take.”

C3 Fellow Profile: Aaron Kaase

Aaron Kaase has known his share of disappointment and frustration.  Nearly two years out of a solid footing in the workforce at age 36, he credits the Central Corridor College (C3) Fellowship program for his dramatic turn of fortune.

“When the economic downturn came in 2008, I decided to go back to school,” Aaron recalled.  “But it wasn’t easy.  The transition from work to school was really stressful and disenchanting.”  He first applied for a scholarship at another local college, but was turned down.  Eventually, he made his way to Saint Paul College, and found an open door there.

Aaron’s father urged him to consider the health care field as a promising career change. He decided to look at the academic programs available that combined Healthcare and IT at Saint Paul College.  For Aaron, it was critical to find a way for his time at school to be productively connected to finding a good job. 

Career NavigationC3 Fellow, Aaron Kaase

“Making contact with a career navigator at Saint Paul College was very, very helpful,” he reflected.  “My first two semesters at Saint Paul College were so much better because I connected with faculty who cared about me finding a career.”  Career counselor and C3 Fellowship program coordinator Brian Mogren became Aaron’s inspiration and guide to a future in IT and healthcare. 

“Brian told me that the C3 Fellowship was really something to consider,” Aaron recalled.  “He had a big impact on me.  Brian talks and acts fast, but he is the most genuine, empathetic and positive person -- few people I know are as positive.” 

The C3 Fellowship program is one key strategy for the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership to pursue its goal of hiring more local residents, especially in health care careers.  The Partnership hopes to boost the percentage of anchor employer workforce from Central Corridor zip codes by five points to 18% in five years. 

A Fellowship with Privileges

Aaron applied and was accepted as a C3 Fellow, and soon he discovered that this fellowship would greatly exceed his expectations.  Almost immediately, he was able to take advantage of many opportunities he did not envision, and was overwhelmed with happiness at his change in fortune.  “We were exposed to so many employers,” he recalled.  “And there were even people who were very busy working at the hospitals, but they were willing to look at the minute details on your resume and give you feedback.” Aaron found with time that the mentoring and preparation from the C3 Fellows program gave him the confidence he needed to network and interact with healthcare employers. 

For Aaron, being a C3 Fellow provided privileges and opportunities that he believes he never would have found otherwise.  “The high level of personal attention from my career counselors and faculty, the interaction with healthcare providers on tours of their facilities, detailed interviewing skill preparation, networking opportunities, and ultimately the chance to apply for and get a good part time job,” Aaron recounted, “these things were all made possible for me because I was a C3 Fellow.”

Praise for the Green Line and Partnership

A resident of St. Paul and the Midway area since 1999, Aaron describes a certain parallel with his own career fortunes and the opening of the Green Line.  “The Central Corridor area used to be tired, gritty and disheveled, and for a long time, I didn’t see that changing,” Aaron mused.  “I was pretty pessimistic about University Avenue, and figured the Green Line would be just the number 16 bus on tracks.” 

He now sees the Green Line bringing new vitality, and Aaron realizes that there may be a connection.  “You can see now that there was this shared need,” he explained.  “Healthcare employers needed employees and the Green Line was going to take the people living nearby to their jobs.”  Realizing that he is now part of an effort of colleges and hospitals to build on the investment in the Green Line to promote economic prosperity, he sees his C3 Fellowship with even more enthusiasm.  “That’s fantastic! What an amazing concept, right?” he said.  “It’s absolutely awesome.”  Even his pessimism about University Avenue has disappeared.  “I was wrong.  You can see all kinds of new signs of life along University Avenue,” he noted.  “Heck, the Turf Club has remodeled!” 

Currently employed in Health Information Technology (HIT), Aaron is taking additional math classes and working on professional certification at the same time.  He still finds time to keep in contact with his previous networking connections and enjoys the idea of more people working near the Green Line corridor.  His advice for Saint Paul College students thinking about a health care career?  “Apply to become a C3 Fellow!” he said.  “Just do it, and take advantage of all the privileges this fellowship brings.”

More Background: Read Jay Walljasper’s story in MinnPost, “How innovative programs are opening pathways to good health-care jobs for inner-city youth”.