19 Nov NextGen Young Adult Reaches Her Goals and Lands a Job in Healthcare
Our NextGen program continues to help young adults reach their goals. Merary Lopez, a mother of one, started working with NextGen Youth Business Solutions Consultant Doneisha Wilson in November 2019. Lopez’s goal was to work at Atrium Health. Through our partnership with Central Piedmont, she was able to obtain her GED and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate. While working towards her dream, Lopez participated in NextGen workshops, job shadows and work experiences, gaining invaluable hands-on knowledge.
In September 2020 she began her career as Healthcare Tech/Nurse Tech with Atrium Health, assisting with COVID-19 testing. “[She] was persistent and it paid off with her securing a full-time position, making $18.20 an hour with full benefits,” says Wilson. “We’re all so proud of Merary for not giving up.”
Lopez says her experience with the NextGen was crucial to her success. “It helped me understand work responsibilities, get schooling and opened doors in so many places. But, more importantly the help from Ms. Doneisha was incredible. Her support and always checking on me gave me the opportunity to be better and work in the hospital.”
Charlotte Works oversees several programs for youth and young adults ages 16-24 to support their future career aspirations. Our NextGen program is designed to help young adult job seekers remove the obstacles to employment through a variety of services and there is no cost to participate. For more information on the NextGen program, read here.