Michigan Works! Southwest Annual Report 2025

Ariel Martinez Ochoa moved from Cuba in pursuit of a better quality of life and additional career prospects. After settling in the United States, Ariel obtained employment but still aspired for a career in healthcare. To help overcome the obstacles Ariel faced in becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), he was referred to Michigan Works! Southwest’s Neighborhood Employment HUBs. Michigan Works! Southwest was able to identify and utilize a variety of fund sources to assist Ariel in obtaining his CNA certification and accessing additional supportive services. Through a partnership between Michigan Works! Southwest’s HUBs and Kellogg Community College’s (KCC) iAct, Ariel successfully

completed a seven-week CNA and life skills training. While in training, Ariel met regularly with Michigan Works! Southwest’s Business Solutions Career Coach, Julie Klein, to receive coaching and address barrier removal. This included gas and food cards and a weekly training stipend through the financial support of Michigan’s Barrier Removal and Employment Success (BRES) program and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. At the end of the CNA training, Michigan Works! Southwest partnered with local employers to host a meet and greet. Through this opportunity, Evergreen Senior Care and Rehab Center interviewed and hired Ariel in December 2023 as a patient care assistant at $16.50 an hour. After meeting the State of Michigan’s requirements to obtain his CNA license, Evergreen Senior Care and Rehab Center promoted Ariel to his desired occupation as a CNA, and he received a wage increase to $19.50 an hour.

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IMPACT AWARD