On Wednesday, June 25, Phipps Neighborhoods celebrated the first graduation of Career Network: Healthcare. The 19 graduates went through an 11-week exploration and training program with support from Montefiore Health System and Hostos Community College. Over the course of the program they attended training activities and interned at Montefiore.
Welcoming remarks by Gloria Kenny and a speech by Evelyn Fernandez-Ketchum were followed by an inspirational keynote address delivered by Dianne Morales, Executive Director and CEO of Phipps Neighborhoods. Graduates were then invited to walk across the stage and receive a certificate of achievement as program staff, instructors, friends and family applauded them for their accomplishments.
Two of the graduates delivered speeches, including Cassandra DeBurst, who talked about how challenging and rewarding the program was for her.
“Everyone in this class had a change for the better because we were willing to change, to learn and to grow,” Cassandra said in her speech. “A lot of us have children, and we all know we want them to have a better life than what we have experienced thus far. Others just knew the life you were living wasn’t getting you anywhere or anything you wanted or needed. I think we all needed a new challenge. And right now we have won this challenge and are now moving on to new, bigger, and better challenges.”
Thanks to our partners JP Morgan Chase, Montefiore Health System and Hostos Community College for their support in continuing to address poverty, high unemployment and low academic achievement in the South Bronx.
Finally, congratulations to the Career Network: Healthcare graduates. Their achievement and growth has impressed us all and we wish them the best of luck.
Are you a young adult interested in a career in healthcare? Learn more on how to become a part of Career Network: Healthcare today.