Workforce

C3 Fellow Profile: Kristine Girbe

The C3 Fellows program has placed over 225 C3 Fellows students in field placements, a milestone for the program. Fellows earn on average nearly $5 more per hour than students not in the program. Field placements are specific to the health care career interest of Fellows and connect them with CCAP partner employers in the health care field. 

Throughout her childhood on a dairy farm in northeastern Latvia, Kristine Girbe always had the ambition to pursue higher education outside of her rural community. Girbe was a senior in high school when the 2008 financial crisis hit Latvia. It became harder to access university education within the country, and Girbe turned her focus to higher education abroad. Her destination: the Twin Cities.

Thanks to support from an aunt who relocated to Minnesota, and her family back home, Girbe came to the Twin Cities to pursue college.

In her first year as a nursing student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC), Girbe applied and was accepted to the Central Corridor College Fellow (C3 Fellows) program.

The C3 Fellows program connects college students to healthcare providers along the Metro Green Line to gain entry-level employment and necessary experience to be successful health care professionals.  The program is one step in the Partnership’s laddering approach to career development for Central Corridor zip code residents. To date, partners have collectively increased the percentage of their employees who are residents of the Central Corridor by over 5%.

A Health Care Calling

It was during her first semester at MCTC in a hands-on anatomy and physiology lab entitled “pig anatomy” that Girbe decided that health care was right for her.

“The labs inspired me,” Girbe said.“Immediately, I wanted to figure out how all of this related to humans.”

An Entry Level Job at the UMN Medical Center

As an international student at MCTC, Girbe struggled to make professional connections within the health care field.  Meeting C3 Fellows Program Director Brian Mogren, however, changed everything.

Girbe met Mogren at one of the C3 Fellows program’s free CPR training sessions for MCTC students. After learning Girbe’s story, Mogren connected her with professionals in the human resources department of the University of Minnesota Medical Center.  These professionals and Mogren helped Girbe boost her resume, enhance her interview skills, and successfully land an entry-level position in the healthcare field as a floating custodian for the University of Minnesota Medical Center. 

Girbe’s entry-level position offered a window into the behind-the-scenes workings of a large and diverse health care institution.  Girbe regularly cleaned surgical instruments after procedures such as bone marrow transplants. She frequently enjoyed interacting with patients and appreciated the supportive work environment fostered by nurses and doctors on the surgery teams.  

“Everyone was so friendly and encouraging.  I enjoyed the experience very much,”Girbe reflected.“Being [at the Medical Center] helped me see my future.  I could see myself working in a hospital helping people.”

Today Girbe holds an Associate’s Degree in nursing from MCTC, anticipates receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Metropolitan State University in May 2017, and plans to study a PhD in physical therapy and work in a rehabilitation center with patients on post-accident remobilization.

“I want to help people manage their new lives,”Girbe said.

Girbe credits the C3 Fellows program with providing much of the support and guidance she needed to make her academic goals in a new country a reality.

National Visibility, Economic Benefit Result of Workforce Pathways

The Central Corridor Anchor Partnership has a demonstrated track record of fostering workforce pathways from communities into local Anchor institutions. The expanding national visibility of this work is accompanied by a growing interest in and attention to the Partnership’s development of a sustainable workforce pathways model through Scrubs Camps, C3 Fellows, and its new Nursing Initiative.

C3 Fellows has created over $600,000 of economic benefit to the Central Corridor

The Partnership’s ambitious workforce development initiatives have created impressive added value and economic benefit to the Central Corridor. To date, the C3 Fellows program has created over $600,000 of economic benefit. Over 225 Central Corridor students have participated in the C3 Fellows program. These students earn nearly $5 more per hour compared to their peers while gaining valuable networking opportunities working and interning part-time with Corridor employers.

 

 

CCAP’s career pathways workforce model mirrors recommended best practices

According to the 2017 Report to the Legislature from the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, chaired by Fairview partner Laura Beeth, Minnesota is facing a labor shortage across an array of industries due to inadequate training, education, and career experience of job applicants. The report notes that as many members of the current working population retire, Minnesota’s industries are left with more openings and fewer applicants, less qualified applicants, and more applicants of color than ever before. The best practices recommended in this report mirror the Partnership’s strategies of intentional investments in alternative career pathways, partnerships with private sector leaders to connect workforce pipelines, linking education and employment through apprenticeship programs, and building a workforce pathway beginning with high school students and continuing through to full time jobs and careers. Educating and diversifying Minnesota’s workforce is key to the state’s economic success.

In the next five years there will be over 6,500 health care job openings in the Twin Cities  

The Partnership’s development of a Nursing Initiative apprenticeship program is an intentional effort to grow its workforce pathway model. It is also a direct response to the 3,250+ four year BSN nursing jobs that will become available in Minneapolis and Saint Paul over the next five years.  This collaborative program supports racially and ethnically diverse RN nurses from the Central Corridor to earn BSN degrees.

Following presentations by Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow and Fairview System Director of Talent Acquisition Laura Beeth at the fall 2016 Anchor Institution Task Force Conference in New York City, the Partnership was invited to submit an article on its workforce and other initiatives to the conference journal. Fairview’s involvement on the national stage, including recognition by the White House for its commitment to hire youth workers and award of a federal grant to fund nursing apprenticeships, has brought additional exposure to the work of the Partnership.

The message is clear: the Partnership’s workforce development focus rides the cutting edge of career pathways programming in the nation, and will only become more important as our Anchor Partners look to hire more members of Minnesota’s increasingly diverse population.

 

 

C3 Fellow Profile - Diane Barber

C3 Fellow Diane BarberDiane Barber is not a quitter.

A mother of adult children who struggled with her own physical limitations, Barber was looking for a lifestyle change. A new routine of daily workouts at the gym gave Barber renewed confidence in her abilities, accompanied by a sense that her personal progress could be an infectious catalyst.

The positive physical changes she experienced inspired her to make a professional change that would enable her to spread a message of positive self-growth through her daily work. Barber decided to leave her career as a medical records administrator and enroll at Saint Paul College to pursue an associate’s degree in accounting and personal training with a certificate in holistic nutrition.

Barber became a Central Corridor College (C3) Fellow to connect with health care providers in the Twin Cities. The C3 Fellows program offers students living along the Metro Transit Green Line opportunities to gain entry-level and necessary experience to become successful health care professionals. 

““I am finally moving forward with my education so that I can satisfy a long-term goal of mine: a career within health care,” she reflected.”
C3 Fellow Diane Barber

C3 Fellow Diane Barber

A Bumpy Start to Career Change

Barber’s experience as a mid-career adult returning to school at Saint Paul College got off to a bumpy start.

She suffered a concussion during her first year while pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Personal Training. Related health setbacks including weaker memory required extra effort on her part to write all of her thoughts down so as not to forget them later. She struggled in a required statistics course, but got a tutor, and worked through tears of frustration to complete the course. Every day, Barber was determined to work harder so that she could progress and succeed in her health care career.

Casual Encounter Opens Doors

In 2013, Barber unintentionally introduced herself to Brian Mogren, C3 Fellows Program Director, while casually inquiring about a poster advertising the various professional opportunities offered through the Fellowship.  Mogren introduced himself and encouraged Barber to meet with him later that afternoon. 

“Before meeting Brian, I never thought that I could be a C3 Fellow,” she said.  “He encouraged me to apply that afternoon.  I am so grateful that I bumped into him that day.”

Following their conversation, Barber successfully applied for a position at Region’s Hospital/HealthPartners as an administrative assistant.  For a year, this position allowed Barber to financially support herself while attending classes, and helped her build a network within the health care field.  After her conversation with Mogren, she learned the importance of effective communication and to never be afraid to ask for what you need.  Barber’s proactive inquiry about the C3 Fellows program set her on a path for success during and after her time at Saint Paul College.

Giving Back

Barber maintains a close connection with Mogren and the C3 Fellows program.  As a C3 Fellow, she has taken advantage of the opportunity to attend several hospital tours, learn tips on how to maintain a job, and build confidence in her skills in establishing professional connections.  Today, she continues to find ways to give back to her community and the C3 Fellows program so that others can follow in her footsteps.

As a C3 Fellows alumnus, Barber volunteers to lead the Scrubs Camp hosted by Gillette Children’s Hospital.  In this mentorship role, she has the opportunity to inspire young adults.  One of the biggest lessons she teaches her students is, “Don’t be afraid to follow your goals. All you have to do is trust yourself and never quit.”

With that attitude, there is no question that Barber will continue to experience success in her career as a personal trainer, helping to shape healthier, happier lifestyles for people in the Twin Cities.