Success Stories About New Centers

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With the opening of each new Neighborhood Networks center, the needs of a new, targeted population are being met. Our success story archive link features many testimonials of how these needs are met.

Thanks to the LaGrave Learning Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Mandy Carlson went from public assistance to homeownership in less than a year. The center's computer classes and Carlson's aggressive pursuit of a new career enabled her to become proficient in Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, PowerPoint, and QuickBooks, and land a job with the North Dakota Board of Accounting. "There is no way I would've been able to get my job without the LaGrave Learning Center," said Carlson. "I use everything I learned at the center every day in my job. The center allowed me to find the perfect job at the perfect tim." The same month Carlson began her job, she also bought a home of her own.

When her daughter was born, Latasha Hampton vowed to continue her education and end her dependence on public assistance. The key to making this happen was located just a few doors away from Hampton's apartment—the Sutton Place Neighborhood Networks Center.

The Sutton Place Neighborhood Networks Center offers four state-approved, technology-based training programs, including a pharmacy technician program. The pharmacy technician program provides students with all of the tools to become a pharmacy technician and to secure jobs at healthcare facilities that generally hire more experienced technicians. Less than 6 month safter enrolling, Hampton became the first Sutton Place pharmacy technician graduate. The training she received allowed her to obtain a position for a competitive starting wage—and her dedication has earned her merit increases.