b'million dollars to help fulfill a critical mission: helping low- and moderate-income individuals improve their economic mobility by developing career-ready skills.Theres a big difference between having a job and building a career, and Jessica knows it well. While one provides a paycheck, the other brings a sense of purpose.The truth about Jessica is that she never imagined being able to attain a career. As a young, single mother, shes spent more than a decade working long hours in multiple jobs to keep herself and her children afloat. In addition to cleaning houses, she provided long-term care for a dementia patient. For five years, she would return home from a 12-hour night shift at 7:30 in the morning to attend to her children, ensure they were ready for school, and then manage household chores and appointments before finally getting some rest.I think thats where a lot of my anxiety came from, Jessica says. It was a heavy load. I had almost no downtime to take a breath, but I was doing what I had to do. She certainly couldnt fathom adding school to her hectic schedule. When Success Coach Shaynie McDuffie recommendedTammy King, an instructor for her for the accelerated CMA Academy, Jessica began tothe CMA Academy, continues dream. Here was an opportunity to get paid while earningto mentor Jessica.a Certified Medical Assistant credential that would pave the way for a fulfilling careerin just six months. lady who has worked hard to pull away from circumstances Jessica is motivated, Shaynie says. I described the rigorthat held her captive. of the programfive full days a week, homework, workingTammy provided educational and emotional support for in a clinicand her instant reaction was, I can do this, ImJessica and observed her transformation over the six going to make myself and my children proud. Ive watchedmonths. She dedicated herself to gaining strong clinical her gain her independence and own her future. skills, but it is Jessicas caring spirit that will make her a Jessica had earned a certified nurse assistant license insuccessful health care professional.2013, but her first child was just a toddler and Jessica wasTalking about her beloved instructor prompts the same still adjusting to the responsibility of motherhood.response as the badge: tears. I was such a nervous wreck back then, trying to get myIt took a lot of people to believe in me in order for me to feet under me as a teen mom. I let the CNA slip away, shebelieve in myself, and Tammy was one of them. She is so reflects. Instead, I did home care and house cleaning. I alsosmart and gracious, so easy to talk to. She lights the fire worked at a chicken farm, getting all the eggs together. Iunder you because she believes in you, Jessica says. We just never really dreamed of a career. I didnt have anybodyall need that person in our lives.to show me the way.Jessica now has a trusted mentor in Tammy King. KingJessica found additional support in her class. We always is a registered nurse with 24 years of experience and ahad each others backs, she says of her fellow classmates. masters of advanced nursing education under her belt.Our highs were rooting each other on and watching each As an instructor for the CMA Academy, she trains the nextother succeed at the really hard things, like practicing generation who will care for our community. With Tammyinjections and tying tourniquets. Our lows were getting at the helm, the student pass rate is 100% and test scoresthrown into a clinic without feeling that we were ready. But are 19% above the national average.by the end of the day, we had it down.When Tammy met Jessica, she sensed her strong desireAt graduation, the students celebrated one another and to participate in the program. Jessica embodies all of thethemselves.attributes that Cone Health and United Way envisionedOne of the guys in classwe called him Brother John when we created the CMA Academy workforce program.because he was a preacherhe blessed our hands. The She is a very humble, passionate and hard-working youngentire ceremony was so beautiful. So many tears of joy.the giving effect202317'