Business Technology graduate

Asia Wise, 34 years of age, is a single parent of five, ages ranging from 4 to 18. Asia experienced various personal challenges that caused her to not work for over two years.

Once Asia decided it was time for her to go back into the workforce, she reached out to MCC. She enrolled in MCC’s ten week Business Technology Program where she gained additional skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, interviewing techniques, and personal and professional development. Asia successfully completed her training and is now employed at Jefferson Hospital.

Asia wanted to show her gratitude to MCC for all their support and agreed to speak on behalf of the 2009 graduating class for the Business Technology Program.

Good evening fellow classmates, MCC staff, honored guests, community, and family. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to share in our achievement.

For me, this a special occasion because MCC gave me the encouragement and tools to transform my life in just a short time. MCC taught me that the sky is the limit and that I am the only person that can hold me back from fulfilling my dreams. And that if I just believe in the goals and plans that I made for myself that doors will began to open and opportunities will present themselves if I just remained positive.

MCC has dedicated staff like Ms. Christine Harris who looked me right in the eyes and told me "Asia I will help you find a job”. When you choose to think positively, you will get a phone call that says "Asia you have an interview at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.” When you choose to think positively, you will arrive at the interview feeling so comfortable and confident it feels as if you already work there. When you choose to think positively, you will interview with an angel (named Gina Burton) who looks you square in the face and says "Asia I want you to work for me somewhere in this hospital, we will find a full time position for you.”

I stand before you today as a full time employee at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. I am a Registrar in the Emergency Room. It’s a fast pace environment where miracles happen everyday. I love my job. My coworkers are among the top Administrators, Nurses, Doctors and Educators in the World. Because of the tools MCC gave me, I now work in a place where my career possibilities, professional growth and educational opportunities are endless.

I would like to thank my family for their support over the past year, especially my son Quady. Quad, I love you. Quady is the man of the house and he holds it down while I'm working. And he is there for me when being a cry baby.

Direct Care graduate

Khayree Miles, began the Direct Care program in January 2009. He began the program working for a local security company in Philadelphia, but has always wanted more. He remembered reading the Metro Newspaper while on the way to work one evening and decided to give Metropolitan Career Center a call.

This is where Khayree found his calling. He has always cared for parents and relatives and he found this a great opportunity to train and make a career change despite the personal obstacles he was currently facing.

Today Khayree is working in his chosen field and is always looking for opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. He is currently working for Trusted Care, Incorporated as a Home Health Assistant and is truly grateful for his Direct Care Training at Metropolitan Career Center.

Business Technology graduate

Shadia Turner, a mother of a two year old child, relocated to Philadelphia PA from Maryland after being involved in an abusive relationship. She was placed in a homeless shelter.

Ms. Turner enrolled at Metropolitan Career Center (MCC) in the Business Technology Program on January 14, 2008. At the time of her enrollment, Ms. Turner was four months pregnant with her second child. During training, Shadia had many challenges but still stayed focused on her goal to complete training and gain employment. A few times when carfare was not on her card in a timely manner, Shadia would walk to school even in bad weather. Nothing would deter her from reaching her ultimate goal of completing training and becoming employed. Although she never complained, many times she would speak of not being able to eat after certain hours in the shelter. She also was not permitted to take snacks for her child into the shelter even though her child was often hungry.

Shadia attended and completed training missing minimal days in April 2008. At this time, Ms. Turner began working with MCC’s employment specialist to find employment, until her physician strongly suggested that she stop training because she was close to delivery. Ms. Turner reluctantly agreed to attach to Family Start and received services in the shelter for 60 days to deliver her child, always with the firm plan to return to training and place her two month old baby in child care. This decision was very hard for Ms. Turner but she kept her goal in the front of her mind. Being employed with freedom from living in a shelter and receiving TANF remained her focus.

Ms. Turner returned to MCC during the first week in June, 2008 with her children placed in child care. She resumed her quest for employment. In late July, Ms. Turner moved from the shelter into her own home, and with the help of Metropolitan Career Center employment services began work with Au Bon Pain. Ms. Turner is currently still employed; she and her children are doing well.