This year’s Aurora Alworth Spirit award was given to Alondra Rodriguez. Although Alondra couldn’t be there in person to accept the award on March 5, 2020, she prepared and shared her story ahead of our event.

About the Aurora Alworth Award:
   skip to Alondra’s story

The Aurora Alworth Spirit Award was named for one of Capital IDEA’s earliest students whose perseverance and commitment to her education could not be extinguished, even by cancer. Aurora maintained her studies during her treatment and was an inspiration to her fellow students and Capital IDEA staff. Aurora passed away in 2002. We proudly honor her memory by recognizing one of our graduates who exemplifies this same spirit of perseverance, determination, and inspiring others.

This year’s Aurora Alworth Spirit Award recipient is Alondra Rodriguez. Alondra started with Capital IDEA in 2015 as a College Prep student. For a decade before that, she’d held onto a dream of becoming a nurse without any idea of how she would get there. Although she often feared it would never happen, she clung to hope, and in 2019, Alondra became the first person in her family to a graduate college.

Her Career Navigator, Sister Ane nominated Alondra for this spirit award because, throughout her time in college, Alondra had a heart for others and showed a willingness to help her peers, often taking time to work with other students who struggled despite her own demanding schedule and family responsibilities as a single mother of three.

When asked about her motivation to lend a hand to those around her, Alondra said that seeing others struggle reminded her of herself, and she knew how hard it could be to feel like it was the end of the world. Having someone to tell her that she could keep going made a huge difference to her and she wants to be that for other people.

For Alondra, that has meant getting involved in the Associate Degree Nursing Student Association to support her fellow students. She would reach out to those a level or two behind her in the nursing program, offering them encouragement, pulling them forward, and helping them find resources to keep them on track. Previously, Alondra also shared her personal story with the teen mom classes at Any Baby Can for the same reason — to be that voice of encouragement.

This award recognizes Alondra’s spirit of dedication to education, perseverance to overcome challenges, and willingness to help those around her.

Alondra Rodriguez’s Story:

My name is Alondra Rodriguez, I am a first-generation Mexican-American and a single mother of 3. My parents came to the U.S in search of the “American Dream” and a better future for us.

My father worked hard 7 days a week and often double shifts. He taught us that the only way to make it in life was to work twice as hard as the average person and save your money. I remember thinking from a young age that once I graduated high school, I would get a job to help them pay their bills. That was my end goal.

But then my grandmother got diagnosed with cancer. Growing up, I spent every summer and two weeks in the winter with her in Mexico every year. As her condition got worse, treatment options were basically non-existent. It was a huge eye-opener, and that’s when I knew that I wanted to make a difference for others like her.

Unfortunately, my teenage years got a little complicated, and I became a mom at the age of 15. I moved out and took on the responsibilities of my own household while still trying to finish high school. When I had my second child, I was transferred to Austin Can Academy, but instead of continuing, I dropped out and got my GED. It was a rough time, and I struggled with all the things that I see other teen moms struggle with: feeling overwhelmed, angry, and scared.

When things didn’t work out between me and the father of my children, I moved back in with my parents. Without their support, I don’t know if I would have made it. I had young children to care for, and I knew college was not an option. I needed a job, but I felt limited by my education. I wasn’t qualified to work in healthcare, which was still my dream.

I was fortunate to find a decent job at a clinic that primarily served low-income immigrants, and I was at least partially fulfilling my dream of helping those in need. After eight years there, they gave me the opportunity to work a few days a week as a Medical Assistant, and the other days I did administration and billing work. Although I felt lucky to have the job, I knew I wanted to do more.

In 2012, my oldest daughter took it upon herself to apply to Anne Richard’s Academy and got accepted. She wants to be a pediatrician. As we were talking about HER college plans, she helped me realize that I could still make my own dreams come true.

I took the first step and enrolled at Austin Community College. Then the realization of how expensive it would be hit me like a pile of bricks. I was the sole provider for my children, and I was already working full time and barely making ends meet. There was no way I could do it alone.

Thankfully, I heard about Capital IDEA. Not only did they pay for my classes, books, uniforms, and supplies but they assigned me a personal navigator that was truly my angel. Sister Ane took the time to listen and motivate me when things got hard and I felt like giving up. In nursing school, you have a lot of these moments.

Thanks to the love and support of my family, friends, and Capital IDEA, I made it! I am the first college graduate in my family. Unfortunately, my grandmother couldn’t be here to see it, but I know she is looking down on me and smiling. My parents are so proud and my siblings, too. My youngest sister has enrolled at ACC and is studying to be a sonographer.

I am now a Registered Nurse at St. David’s South Austin Hospital in the Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. It’s the same floor I worked on as a patient tech while I was in school. Once, when my school schedule got too demanding, I tried to quit, but instead of letting me go, they created a nurse externship position that allowed me to work one day a week. I felt so appreciated and valued. It was such a different experience from my early days when I was sure no one would want to hire me. I’m somewhere I’m needed, and I’m helping people every day. I finally have my dream job!

This spotlight is a transcript of the acceptance speech given by Aida Nacro at the Capital IDEA Celebration of Achievements luncheon on March 5, 2020. Aida received the Mark Melliar-Smith Leadership Award, presented by Alyssia Palacio-Woods.

AWARD PRESENTATION
  skip to Aida’s speech

Hello, My name is Alyssia Palacio-Woods. I am President & CEO of Austin Young Chamber, and a Board Member with Capital IDEA. This year, it is my honor to present The Mark Melliar-Smith Leadership Award. This award was created to honor and cultivate the tradition of leadership among Capital IDEA’s students and graduates. It is named for former Board member Mark Melliar-Smith whose level of involvement and dedication over his twelve years on the board serves as our example of excellence in leadership.

This year’s award goes to Aida Nacro.

Aida graduated from Austin Community College in 2016 as a Network Administrator. Aida knew that she wanted a career working with computers, but obstacles in her life prevented her from following that dream. Then she applied to Capital IDEA where she demonstrated focus, determination, and a high level of motivation.

After graduation, Aida made time in her extremely busy schedule to advocate for Capital IDEA by participating in Accountability meetings with local officials, visiting the State Capitol, and representing Capital IDEA at events with funding partners. Aida was also a member and key contributor to the IT Action Committee, a community collaborative that worked over the course of two years to address a critical need for trained IT workers to fill open positions. The committee made huge strides in improving our community’s ability to provide the right training and grow a local IT workforce.

Aida has also taken on a leadership role within Capital IDEA’s Alumni Association. She has managed all of this while also working full time as a Network Administrator, raising her two children as a single parent, and working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

Aida, please accept this award in recognition of your passionate and steadfast leadership.

AIDA NACRO’S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

Hello, My name is Aida Nacro, I am happy to be here today. I am originally from West Africa and I am a mother of two children. I was married, but in 2011, my ex-husband left, placing our family in a very vulnerable position. I started working over-time, but even working fifty hours or more a week, I still struggled to make ends meet. I felt uncertain about our future and had no time to dedicate to my children. That is when I heard about Capital IDEA, through a co-worker.

I could not believe that they would cover my tuition, fees, books and some child care assistance. It was the support I needed to finally go after the career I’d always wanted. I was accepted to Capital IDEA and decided to follow my heart and pursue a degree in Network Administration. My Career Navigator was so supportive, and Ron, the Employer Coordinator, helped me secure a paid internship, which gave me hands-on experience.

Now, I work for the Travis County and even though I am the only woman in my team, I feel right at home. I love my field, and I want to do my part to encourage and mentor other women to pursue degrees in tech careers. I also want to give back to the community that help me reach my goals. I am very involved in community work through my church. But my proudest achievement is being an example to my children and providing them with a better life. Thank you.

This spotlight is a transcript of the keynote speech Jaime Martinez gave on March 5, 2020 at Capital IDEA’s Celebration of Achievements luncheon.

When you look back at your life, who are the people that believed in you the most?

My name is Jaime Martinez, and I have been fortunate enough to have been surrounded by people who believed in me and pushed me to accomplish so much in my life. The truth is, school never came easy for me. I was not the best student in high school. That was probably because I didn’t put in a lot of effort. In fact, I remember when I asked my mom if she was coming to my high school graduation she joked: “I don’t believe you, you never to go school. I’m afraid if I go they’re never going to call your name.” In case you’re wondering, they did call my name, and I did graduate.

After high school, I married my high school sweetheart, Norma, and found a job at a fast-food place. Even though I didn’t study hard, I did believe in working hard. My willingness to show up and do the work eventually earned me an assistant manager position. I was making the most money I had ever made in my life, and yet I still felt like I wanted to do more for my family.

One day when my wife, Norma, was taking our daughter to daycare at a church she found a flyer for Capital IDEA. She came home and told me, “You can do this.” Remembering I was not the best high school student, I hesitated. I finally went to an info session, and this seemed too good to be true! I couldn’t believe that they would pay for everything. So I applied and I got in the program.

I know there are some students in the audience today that are going through the program now. I want to encourage you to keep going. Going to college wasn’t easy for me, either. I couldn’t speak English very well when I started so I had to improve my language skills. I also had to continue working to support my family. So I was attending classes from 5 pm-8 pm every day, and studying late into the night, then getting up in the morning to go to work. I know how you’re feeling right now. It’s a lot of work and it feels like it will never end. My advice is to trust that your hard work will pay off. Even if you’re struggling — keep at it.

For me, my hard work started paying off in 2003, when I earned my two certifications in A+ and Network + from ACC. Shortly after, I was able to land an interview with a contract agency that worked with Dell. I was applying to be a Customer Service Technician, but I didn’t get the job. Still, I impressed the person interviewing me so much, that he offered me a job as a Prototype Technician instead! I was so excited.

I worked as a Prototype Technician for about 5 years, and I was very happy there. Eventually, a position opened up in another department for Program Manager. I didn’t know anything about program management, but my supervisor encouraged me to apply. He recognized my work ethic, and he knew that what I didn’t know about the job, I would learn. After a round of intense and difficult interviews, I got the job.

I’ve been at Dell for 16 years. I’ve moved up from Prototype Technician to where I am today as a Senior Advisor for Project Management. I have two certifications from ACC, and I have managed to beat out people with higher degrees from top universities for jobs. Do you know what made the difference? People saw and recognized my drive to keep learning and my commitment to do whatever is needed to get the job done.

One of my former supervisors at Dell still tells the story about one winter when a hard freeze hit the Austin area. Since Dell is a corporation that allows its employees to work remotely, everybody in our department called in that day. When my supervisor called to check on me, he asked, “Jaime, where are you?” I said to him, “I’m in the lab, where else would I be? It’s a workday.” He was so impressed that he started using that story as an example of what a good work ethic looks like.

How you present yourself and the effort you put in matters. This is something I try to teach my kids. I tell them that I expect from them the same thing I expect from myself; to work hard and to keep learning. I even bring home my annual reviews to show them what people at work say about me. This way I can show them that I’m not asking them to do anything I won’t do myself.

Another piece of advice I would give is to surround yourself with people who believe in you. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t do anything. They don’t matter. The people who have mattered to me are the ones who encouraged me and believed in me. I had many supervisors at Dell and at the fast food place that valued me and always encouraged me when I moved on to something else.

During my time at ACC, one of the people who was really important to me was Theresa, my Career Navigator at Capital IDEA. She was always there for me. She would call me to make sure I was keeping up with my studies. She knew when I had big tests coming up and would ask if there was anything I needed help with. She even found a way to help me out with gas when I needed it to get to classes. When I wanted to quit she was there to encourage me to keep going. And when I graduated she is the one who introduced me to the contract agency that got me the interview with Dell.

Capital IDEA did so much more than just pay for my school. They supported me throughout the whole process, and they opened a door for me that I never thought would have been possible. I have a wonderful career with so many opportunities for advancement still ahead of me. I now earn about 4 times as much money as I used to. I have a great house and a daughter who now has the opportunity to go to a top university. I get to run marathons as a hobby. I get to travel all over the world for work and see some pretty amazing things.

Last, but definitely not least, I have to tell you about my wife Norma. She has been my rock. My encourager. She believed in me from the very beginning and always knew I could do anything I put my mind to. She stood by me and kept our family together during those hard times when I was hardly available to her because I had to work and study. And even when I wanted to quit, she encouraged me to push through, and she never stopped believing in me. I owe her everything.

Before I finish I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you. If you’ve ever supported Capital IDEA in any way, you have also supported me, and people like me. Capital IDEA opened a door for me to a future that I never would have dreamed of. Every time you give to Capital IDEA you provide an opportunity to change someone’s life. Isn’t it incredible to believe that your support has helped someone go from a small-town farm in Mexico, into a high paying job at one of the largest computer companies in the country? I am so thankful and proud to be a Capital IDEA graduate. Thank you for your support.

Caprice Boxton is an Austinite through and through. Her family has lived here for generations, dating back to the late 1800s. Caprice says she “grew up in Austin living a normal life.”  She graduated from LBJ High School, and like a lot of people, she struggled to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. She knew college was in her future, but she didn’t know what career field to pursue. Her creative side was pulling her toward art, but she needed something with more financial stability.

It was at this point where she met a Capital IDEA alumnus, Katherine Kirby, who introduced her to a program that would pay for her education and provide a sense of direction for her life. Before applying to Capital IDEA, Caprice was working low-paying jobs with companies such as McDonald’s. Now she was enrolled in Austin Community College (ACC) working toward a career as a Dental Hygienist.

The Dental Hygiene program wasn’t easy for Caprice. The course work was rigorous. “I really had to push myself to learn things. I’m not the best learner; the way I see things and interpret things are a little different.” What Caprice found at ACC was an extremely helpful faculty that showed her skills and techniques that would help her excel as a dental hygienist. “Some of the instructors even came in early to help me.”

Through Capital IDEA, Caprice was able to identify a career path that she enjoyed while also providing security for her financial future, and in May of 2012, Caprice graduated from Austin Community College with her Associates of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.

Caprice appreciated the amount of support Capital IDEA offered her throughout her time at ACC. Though, one of the best things about Capital IDEA for her was their commitment to diversity in the workplace. When Caprice entered the dental hygienist program she was not aware of the incredible lack of diversity in the field. According to the latest statistics for dental hygienists, 88.6% are White, with the next two race or ethnicity categories coming in at 4.3% for Asians and 3.67% for Blacks.[1]

Caprice recalled “feeling awkward” at times while enrolled in her program at ACC. While none of her instructors or fellow students did anything to make her feel this way, the awareness that she was the only person that looked like her was enough to give her pause.

When it came time to apply for jobs, she recalled the advice that people gave her to, “look for a place where there was already some diversity,” as this would increase her chances of getting hired. As well as hints that she should steer clear of small practices since “dentists are sometimes reluctant to break the mold by hiring a black dental hygienist because it’s not something that common.” After numerous job interviews, Caprice finally landed her first dental hygienist position with a corporation serving thirty-one dental offices in the Austin and Houston areas. As she explained, “corporations are usually a lot more diverse, there are more legalities and structure.”

The struggle to find work in the dental hygienist field is not unique to Caprice. Martelle Coke, the founder of BrownGirl RDH, an organization dedicated to bridging the diversity gap within the dental hygienist community, is all too familiar with stories like Caprice’s. The members of her organization form a community that encourages and inspires each other when facing the trials of disparity within the dental hygienist field. One such member, a dental hygienist for 22 years, living in Texas, recounts her story of losing out on a job due to her skin color:

“I’ve experienced not being hired because of my black skin twice to be exact. One in McKinney, Texas. The doctor found my resume on Indeed and was excited to meet me because we both graduated from the same private college in Wisconsin. The interview over the phone went so well, he basically gave me the job over the phone.” But the next day when she showed up in person, she was told the job was filled. The next day, a colleague inquired about the position and was told it was still open, and they were eager to schedule a hiring interview.

Caprice believes that diversity is necessary to help people live healthy lives. She understands that “People tend to be more comfortable and go to someone they look like. It’s about relatability.” Caprice also believes that diversity in her field is necessary to ensure equal care for individuals of all backgrounds, and this will only get better when there is more representation. For her, without her friend encouraging her and the support from Capital IDEA, she would have never even considered dental hygiene as a career. “People need to see other people that look like themselves.” Her advice to other minorities thinking about entering a field with a lack of diversity is: “Go at it hard. We need to represent in every field.”

Capital IDEA is committed to increasing diversity in our local workforce. In 2018, over 70% of Capital IDEA students were ethnic or racial minorities, and 77% were women.

For more information on BrownGirl RDH, visit: https://mybrowngirlrdh.org/

[1] https://datausa.io/profile/soc/dental-hygienists

Student loan debt is a real problem. According to a 2019 article in Forbes magazine, student loan debt in America has hit 1.5 trillion dollars.[1] Saddling new graduates with debt can have serious consequences for their futures. New graduates often have to settle for lower-paying jobs so they can start paying their student loans right away. They are also 36% less likely to buy a house, or buy a car, and are more likely to live with their parents.[2] It seems that students have a choice to either go into debt and earn their college degree, or stay out of debt but settle for a lower wage job.

Fortunately for Marco and Irineo, they found a third option with Capital IDEA.

Marco and Irineo are not brothers, but they have a bond that could be described as such. Despite the fact that Marco is the more outspoken of the two, both of them are Mexican immigrants, went to the same high school, graduated from the same automotive program at Austin Community College (ACC), and now work side-by-side at the KIA of South Austin dealership making the most either has ever earned at a job. Both of them also realized that the only way they would be able to attend college is to find a way to pay for it without incurring debt. It just so happened that their high school counselor introduced them to Capital IDEA, and after hearing a presentation, they were hooked.

Marco and Irineo realized that they could not waste an opportunity like this. It was too good to be true. Capital IDEA would pay for their entire tuition while attending ACC, and would also pay for the tools they needed as a requirement in the automotive program and to get started in their future careers. (Automotive techs bring their own tools to work.) While the majority of their former high school classmates were either opting to not go to college, or digging themselves into debt at a four-year university, Marco and Irineo made the decision to join the Capital IDEA program, graduate debt-free, and obtain good-paying jobs. Without the financial burden of student loan debt, both of them are able to give back to their families who have been so supportive of them throughout. Marco also got the chance to purchase what he calls a “project car” in the form of a ’93 Mustang GT, which he is excited to fix up with his newly acquired education and income.

When asked why he thinks most students choose not to go to college straight out of high school, Marco answered, “they get scared of going into debt.” Irineo agrees. He was motivated to apply to Capital IDEA because “it gave me an opportunity to explore something I wanted to do for free.” Capital IDEA was able to provide an opportunity for these two young men to earn a college degree and do so without the stress of having to pay anything back once they were finished. With their newfound financial freedom, both of them are set up for long-term success whether they choose to climb the ladder at their current job or continue their education.

Capital IDEA can help you earn your degree without incurring the burden of student loan debt. Are you ready to get started? CareerUp »

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[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2019/02/25/student-loan-debt-statistics-2019/

[2] https://scholarshipamerica.org/blog/the-far-reaching-impact-of-the-student-debt-crisis/

It was a long road for Lud Guerrero to get where she is now. In a society that values instant results, such as free 2-day shipping, and drive-thru windows, it takes a special kind of courage to keep fighting when things take longer than expected. Lud never expected to take such a long road, but thirteen years after getting married at a young age, and three kids later, she finally made the decision to go back to school, and take control of her future.

Lud and her mother emigrated from Panama to the United States when she was nine months old looking for a better life. Growing up, Lud was raised in a loving home by her mother and her aunt. Still, Lud’s mother suffered from a mental illness and alcoholism. Struggling to deal with her home life, Lud started acting out during her adolescent years which caused her to graduate from high school a year late, and at the age of eighteen, she was pregnant with her first child.

Raising her child became Lud’s top priority. She got married and put her personal ambitions on hold. Thirteen years and three children later, Lud felt the urge to go back to school and fulfill one of her life goals: to earn a college degree. Going back to school proved to be a challenge. With her husband not working and unable to pay the bills, she had to forego her aspirations of a college education a while longer just to survive. After being evicted several times, Lud separated from her husband and moved into the Texas Baptist Children’s Home with her kids. “I needed some stability and help. I knew I needed a change for my family,” Lud realized.

The Texas Baptist Children’s Home (TBCH) was able to provide Lud stable housing and enabled her to take a part-time job to keep providing for her kids, but she was still at a loss about how she would pay for school. Fortunately, through a friend and a family care coordinator, Lud was introduced to Capital IDEA. “When funds were available for Williamson County, I quickly acted and began my journey with Capital IDEA. It was the best decision I made for my future.”

Capital IDEA was able to provide Lud with the funds necessary to pay for her college education without her having to incur any debt. Yet, funding was only part of the challenge. “I was excited and bombarded at the same time because you forget how much time you have to put into studying, and I also had a family to raise.” With friends and daycare resources provided through TBCH, Lud was able to dedicate time to her school work.

In addition, Lud received motivational support from her Capital IDEA Career Navigator, Sara Hernandez. “When I wanted to quit or give up, she would talk me out of it and would help me with anything I needed. I know she had other students, but she would always find a way to help me.” It was a long road, but with the help from Capital IDEA and the Texas Baptist Children’s Home, Lud graduated in December 2017 with her Associates Degree in Surgical Technology. Shortly after graduating, Lud secured a job with St. David’s Medical Center as a certified Surgical Technologist. “I wanted to show my children how hard work pays off and that having a college education gives you opportunities. I love what I do.”

Lud is now in a place where she is able to provide for her family, and she sees a bright future ahead. If there is one thing Lud would like for others to take from her story it’s this: “There are resources available to help you. It may be a long process, but it’s worth it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t be discouraged if the process takes longer than expected.”

The journey may be long, but as Lud has shown us, with courage, perseverance, and the right support, overcoming life’s obstacles is possible. Capital IDEA is here to help support you on the road to providing a bright future for your family.

This year Capital IDEA student, Alicia Gonzales, is a featured family in the Austin American Statesman Season for Caring. Since 1999, Statesman readers have generously donated more than 11 million dollars in cash and in-kind goods and services, all of which have benefited the featured families and hundreds of others like them who are also supported by these agencies.

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Statesman.com | Alicia Gonzales: Aspiring nurse, single mother working to give family a bright future

By Luz Moreno-Lozano
Posted Nov 26, 2019 at 10:49 AM
Photos by Lola Gomez / American-Statesman
View on Statesman.com »

When Melinda Sertuche decided to go back to school, her 8-year old daughter didn’t understand why. “It was hard for her at first, because it was new. I don’t have any family members that had gone to college, so it’s not something that’s a normal thing in my family.” For Melinda, it meant spending less quality time with her daughter in order to study. It’s one of the challenges that most student-parents have to face. According to a report by the Government Accountability Office[1], one in five undergraduate students are parents. That same report also showed that about half of those student-parents left school without a degree.

Many parents decide to go back to school because of their children, hoping to provide a better living for their families, as well as inspire their children to seek higher education opportunities themselves. Sometimes, that desire is met with challenges that prevent them from doing so. This was true for Melinda. The desire for a better career and life was there, but she didn’t know how she could ever afford college, and pay for childcare. “It’s a huge stress,” describes Melinda, “how are you going to pay for everything, when you have to take a pay-cut to take classes?”

Capital IDEA understands the struggles that parents face when returning to school or work. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average cost of childcare in Texas for an infant is $9,324 per year. For a four year old it’s $7,062 per year. To put it into perspective, infant care in Texas costs 7.8% more per year than in-state tuition for a four-year public college.[2] At the end of the day, many parents find that the best economic solution is to stay at home with the kids and save on daycare costs.

Capital IDEA was able to provide Melinda with the support she needed to move forward with her college plans. Not only did we pay for Melinda’s tuition, books, and fees for her education, we were also able to provide her with financial assistance for childcare through our partnership with Workforce Solutions. Melinda says, “To be honest if it wasn’t for Capital IDEA, I wouldn’t be in school right now. There would be no way that I could afford going to school and work part-time, to get a new career. It would be almost impossible on my own to do that. Childcare was a huge factor.”

Melinda would like other parents in her situation to know that there are solutions. There are ways for them to go back to school and work towards getting the job that will provide for their families and their futures. She is a testament to that. It hasn’t been easy, but she knows that in the end, it will all be worth it. As for now, Melinda has already started to see a positive impact of her decision on her daughter. “She used to not want to go to school. Now I’m getting notes from her teacher telling me that she’s eager to learn, and how good of a student she is. It’s pretty exciting to see my daughter excited about education because she sees what I do and how hard I work.” Melinda is currently finishing up her last pre-requisite class and is anticipating starting the nursing program at Austin Community College shortly thereafter.

If you or someone you know is interested in going back to school, but are having problems covering the costs of childcare, contact Capital IDEA to see if we can help you reach your career goals. We’re committed to removing the barriers that prevent adults from obtaining living-wage careers in Central Texas. We provide tuition and childcare assistance, as well as additional resources to help student-parents realize their dreams for a better career and life.

[1] https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/701003.pdf

[2] https://www.epi.org/child-care-costs-in-the-united-states/#/TX

By Jeff Sanchez | PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 6, 2019

If you live in the Austin area, but haven’t heard of the St. David’s Foundation, there’s a good chance you’ve seen their funding at work. Perhaps you’ve taken a stroll on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail over Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, for which they were a major contributor. Maybe you’ve taken your children out for some fun at one of the many local parks that St. David’s has helped improve. Their vision to “make Central Texas the healthiest community in the world,” continually leads them to take on initiatives such as medical research, parks improvement, and funding affordable and quality healthcare for lower-income residents.

Capital IDEA has been privileged to have a strong and healthy relationship with the St. David’s Foundation for more than 10 years. Over this decade, St. David’s has invested in excess of $6 million in Capital IDEA. That funding has provided high-quality education and training to hundreds of low-income students pursuing rewarding careers in the healthcare industry.

One of those students is Nancy Quiroz. Nancy achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse in the spring of 2018, and is now employed at St. David’s Medical Center as a RN Resident in the Intensive Care Unit. According to Nancy, in the zip code where she came from, 25% of the population lived below the poverty level. “Working to help pay the bills and contribute to their home usually outweighed the cost of going to college.” Nancy now sees herself as a role model and shares what she’s learned to help others in similar circumstances. In addition, Nancy also gives back to the community through charitable work with organizations such as the Special Olympics, Central Texas Food Bank, and the Ronald McDonald House. Thanks to the support of the St. David’s Foundation, Nancy’s future is bright.

Nancy is one of many whose life has changed through the community-building efforts of the St. David’s Foundation. More recently, the Foundation provided Capital IDEA with a grant to grow the number of nursing students in Hays County. This is significant as most of Capital IDEA’s funding is limited to Travis County and the City of Austin. Amy Silvey, Director of Development at Capital IDEA, explains it this way: “We recognize the need across Central Texas, but restrictions on funding make it difficult. That’s why flexible funders like St. David’s Foundation are so important to help us grow and meet the need. We hope it will encourage other funders to do the same.”

Prior to the St. David’s expansion grant, only two RN students were enrolled from Hays. Since receiving St. David’s funding, 56 nursing students from Hays County have been recruited. The expansion grant was also a key component, as Corridor Interfaith advocated to the Hays County Commissioners Court to approve a financial investment in Capital IDEA. With this new local funding, Capital IDEA is able to provide Hays County adults with the opportunity to change the trajectory of their lives and enter promising careers in the healthcare industry.

The impact of the St. David’s Foundation across Central Texas is immeasurable. Capital IDEA is excited to highlight St. David’s Foundation as our Partner Spotlight this month, not only to shine a light on the recent support for Hays County but to also thank our partner for their ongoing generosity and commitment to creating opportunities for people to live healthy and fulfilling lives. We look forward to continuing a strong partnership for many years to come.
 

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St. David’s Foundation has asked its partners to help spread the word about the open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act. Over one million Texans will purchase ACA insurance plans this year, and you can join them. You must apply by December 15th. This year, your healthcare premium may be lower than you think! Get a premium estimate using this calculator provided by St. David’s Foundation:  www.WhatsMyPremium.org

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About Capital IDEA Job Postings

Thank you for your interest in Capital IDEA! When we have a job to fill, we post it here in ‘Join Our Team‘. If there aren’t any posts, we don’t have any current openings. Whenever we do post a new job, we also post to these job boards:

• Mission Capitol
• Indeed
• Idealist
• Christine’s List

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What’s it Like to Work at Capital IDEA?

At Capital IDEA, we aim to empower our income-eligible neighbors with training and education so that they can fill a critical need in our community for caring, skilled, and highly motivated workers. Since our founding in 1998, more than 2,000 Central Texans have launched new careers and secured a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Capital IDEA has built a diverse and dedicated team that shares a passion for our mission. We reward performance through competitive salaries and merit-based raises. While we expect our team to go above and beyond in service to our community, we also believe that you must take care of yourself to take care of others. When you join our team, you’ll have high expectations to meet and big goals to work towards. You’ll also have a team who supports you, and you’ll know you’re making a difference.

Amber Bothne’s journey through nursing school was anything but easy. “I felt like I was challenged every step of the way.” Her experiences during nursing school would have kept most people from finishing. Yet, while the obstacles kept piling on, Amber believed that if she just kept showing up, and did her best, she would make it.

Amber has been drawn to nursing for many years. In 2010, her mother had complications giving birth to her little sister. While there were some good experiences with the medical care, it was the bad ones that motivated Amber to pursue nursing. “I wanted to make sure that patients got the care they deserve.”

Amber’s journey toward becoming a nurse began in 2012 when she enrolled at Austin Community College. After several years of pre-requisite classes, she applied and was accepted into the nursing program in 2016. At the start, Amber recalls being told that the intensity of the nursing program would require students to work less outside of school so they could focus on their studies. Not only this, but despite intensive coursework and about 16 hours of clinicals per week, the nursing program does not meet the government requirements to be considered full-time, so she would be losing about half of her financial aid. This would soon become a problem for Amber, as her father had recently gone through a job change which limited his ability to contribute to her education, and without her full-time job and full financial aid, finances would become tight at home.

Amber recounted her financial struggles to a friend who told her about Capital IDEA and the help they provide. Soon after applying to Capital IDEA, Amber got accepted into the program, and her financial strain was alleviated. Capital IDEA paid for her books, tuition, exams, scrubs, and even her pin. “When I tell people about Capital IDEA, I tell them that they pay for literally everything you need to get through nursing school. The financial support has been the greatest.”

Aside from the financial strain, Amber overcame two car crashes, helped support her family through her mother’s divorce from her stepdad, and grieved the passing of her beloved dog. The car crashes left Amber without a vehicle of her own, and she had to borrow vehicles to get around. Her mother’s divorce added an additional emotional element to the pressure of completing nursing school assignments on time. “It seemed like all of my family tragedies happened at the beginning of a semester, or around finals, so I had major, personal complications that were making it hard to get through nursing school.”

Amber was also facing challenges as a student. She dropped out her first semester in the program, because she was having a hard time taking tests. “Every time I asked someone for help they just told me to read the textbooks. It was really hard because I can’t read the textbooks. I don’t learn that way.” She eventually had to find a way of studying that worked for her.

As she neared graduation, Capital IDEA was able to help Amber with her studies by paying for her to take the Kaplan prep course. When she found out how much it costs, she was “extremely grateful,” and credits the course for helping her pass the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination).

After seven long years at ACC, Amber graduated from nursing school in May of 2019. If there is one thing that Amber would encourage others to do, it is to keep showing up.  “If you can just get yourself out of bed and to class, you would be surprised how far that can take you.” Often times we think of the financial strain as the biggest barrier to college graduation, but the pressures of reading textbooks, taking tests, and challenges of everyday life, typically go unnoticed by those who have never been through the intense nursing program.

Amber’s determination to finish, and motto to just keep showing up is an inspiration to those who struggle as students. Her advice to anyone is to “find what works for you. If you have the support that you need, you can do anything. You just need to keep showing up, and put one foot in front of the other.”

In October of 2019, Amber will begin her career as a Registered Nurse with Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. “I’m finally going to be doing the career I worked so hard for!” It is a statement of both joy and relief from someone who personifies the word perseverance.

By Jeff Sanchez | PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

Education is a powerful thing. It can open doors that were once thought to be non-existent, and it can change the trajectory of a person’s life. The people at Hindu Charities for America (HC4A) know this and believe it wholeheartedly because they lived it. “Most of us came to this country with two, half-full bags, as a student, or as an immigrant, and didn’t have much to live the American dream,” said HC4A board member, Dinesh Vakharia.  “All of our successes are because we had the opportunity for education.” It is out of this gratitude for the opportunities they were given in this country that HC4A wishes to do the same for others.

Capital IDEA’s partnership with HC4A began in 2014. Since then, HC4A has contributed $85,000 to Capital IDEA, providing financial support to students looking for a better life–students like Aaryan, Alicia, and Aurora.

Aaryan immigrated to this county in hopes of finding a better life. With help from Capital IDEA and donors like HC4A, Aaryan will graduate from the nursing program at ACC later this year. “Thanks again to Hindu Charities for America and Capital IDEA for supporting me to achieve my nursing degree and my dream of becoming a nurse.”

Alicia, a single mother of three, will soon graduate from ACC debt free and land a fantastic job as an RN. “I can never explain how grateful and appreciative I am for people like you giving me a fighting chance.”

Aurora had to drop out of college to help support her mother who had fallen ill. Without the help of donors like HC4A, there would have been no way back for her. “It has opened the doors for me and my son to have a better future, and I cannot thank you enough.”

Stories like these are only possible with donors like HC4A. Capital IDEA would not be able to provide people with these life-changing opportunities without the help of others. Capital IDEA student, Azhar Yousif, perhaps summed it up best when he said, “I feel safe now to know there are still good people in this world to help each other to stand on their feet.” Capital IDEA and its students are extremely grateful to HC4A and look forward to creating many more life-changing stories.

Since its founding in 2010, HC4A has focused on providing students with school supplies and vocational scholarships throughout Central Texas. When asked what he wanted the community to know about them, Mr. Vakharia noted that Hindu Charities does not have a religious affiliation, and the scholarships they provide can support anyone in the community. They strive to live out the motto of “Serve Where You Live™.” This year alone they awarded $104,000 in scholarships to students in the Austin area.

HC4A is expanding their work into other communities starting with Houston, Los Angeles, and Dallas. They are an entirely volunteer-run organization and host several fundraising events throughout the year to raise money for scholarships. The next event is the HC4A Gala on October 12th. This event is open to anyone in the community, and you can learn more about it at www.hc4a.org ».

“You can’t give up.” Jessica Jaimes holds this motto close to her heart and strives to live it out on a daily basis. It would have been easy for her to give up, and after enduring what she described as a “horrible and abusive” relationship, and the added responsibility of raising 6 kids, nobody would have blamed her.

“I want to set a good example for them,” was Jessica’s response to the impact she wanted to have on her kids. Giving up wasn’t an option for her as she overcame some of life’s most grueling obstacles to go back to school, get her degree, and realize her dream of becoming a nurse. Deep down inside, she knew that her kids needed an example of how you can take control of your life, and she needed to be that example. It just so happened she would find a way.

During an emergency room visit one day, Jessica got to chatting with a nurse about the realities of the profession. She had dreamed of being a nurse from a young age, but her life circumstances made it more of a dream than a possibility. As the nurse described the commitment it would take for her to get licensed, which included the cost of tuition, books, supplies, and exam fees, Jessica wondered how it could ever be possible. Then this nurse introduced her to Capital IDEA, an organization that would help pay for her education, help her with childcare costs, and walk with her every step of the way. The thought of going back to school was still a scary idea. With a new baby in hand, Jessica knew it would be extremely difficult. Her new husband would eventually provide the push she needed. “He asked me what I was waiting for,” then offered to take her to a CareerUp info session. “I wouldn’t have done it without him.” She was accepted into the program shortly thereafter.

The journey through college was not easy. She dropped out a few times for personal reasons and took a 2-3 year hiatus. But, “even when life would knock us down,” she was surrounded by support. In addition to her husband who never let her lose sight of her dream, her Capital IDEA Career Navigator also kept encouraging her. She pushed Jessica to rejoin the program even after she’d been gone for a few years.

This past May, Jessica reached an important milestone —she graduated from the Registered Nurse program at Austin Community College. A few months later, she passed the NCLEX exam and received her RN license. With her license in hand and applications in, there is no doubt Jessica’s dream job will soon become a reality.

Already, the impact this journey has left on her family is immeasurable. As the first person in her family to graduate from college, her kids have seen firsthand what a person can accomplish when they don’t give up. As a result of her hard work and determination, her kids have now opened their minds to the idea of attending college, and her older ones are already making plans to do so.

For Jessica, Capital IDEA was more than just an organization. It was a lifeline. “They never gave up on me…they could have easily said, ‘just let her go,’ but they just didn’t.” Giving up was not an option for Jessica, and it has made all the difference.

Dear Friends,

This past year, Capital IDEA celebrated 20 years of lifting adults out of poverty and into living wage careers through education. As an avid runner, I can say that leading Capital IDEA these past two decades has been much like a marathon with progress coming one step at a time. We’ve not only kept the pace, we’ve adapted along the way to the needs of our students and our local workforce. When Capital IDEA started, jobs in the semi-conductor industry were in high demand. Today, that demand is in healthcare and information technology. We’re training students for the best careers of the day and keeping an eye on what’s ahead. Of the students we’ve invested in, 1,600 have crossed the finish line so far, and that number keeps growing. Thanks for reflecting with us on our past accomplishments while we gear up for the miles ahead!

Read now: 20th Anniversary Edition — 2018 Annual Report (PDF) »

– Steve Jackobs, Exceutive Director

GRADUATE SPEAKER

Jeremy spoke at Captial IDEA’s Celebration of Achievements in February 2019 and was featured in Capital IDEA’s 2018 Annual Report.

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Good afternoon, my name is Jeremy Acosta and I’m honored to be here as a Capital IDEA alumn and one of the first graduates to come from the IT Career ACCelerator when it was just a pilot program. I’m glad to be here to speak about my experience and the obstacles that I overcame to get to where I am today.

I have a great job as a Help Desk Technician at LifeWorks, and I enjoy every moment. LifeWorks is a local nonprofit that provides pathways to self-sufficiency for more than 4,000 youth and families, many of whom are facing life’s most difficult challenges, including homelessness, trauma, and abuse. In addition to help desk support, I also work on their network and servers.

Before all this, I was a trouble maker. My parents separated while I was still young, and it was just me and my mom. I never had a father figure in my life, and my clearest memory to this day is watching my mom struggle to make ends meet and do what she had to take care of me. With no guidance in my life, I ended up getting into all kinds of trouble and ultimately landed myself in jail, just like many statistics would have predicted.

After I got out on probation, I had fines to pay and restrictions on where I could go. I did my best to find a job so that I could pay my dues, but it wasn’t easy with a record. Frustrated and feeling stuck, I started considering some of the same things that got me in trouble in the first place.

Luckily, my mom saw the signs, and she decided to intervene. She told me that I had a choice – to give up on myself and go back to jail, or do the right thing because I was a smart man. I made the right choice and decided not to go down those old roads.

I moved to Houston to look for work. I found a fire and water restoration job. It was physically demanding and I was always on call, day and night, including weekends and holidays. I typically worked over 130 hours a week. I was finally paying my fines and earning good money, but the job was taking its toll. I couldn’t keep it up so, I decided to go back home to Austin.

When I got back, my mom told me about this program called Capital IDEA. She said they could help me earn an associate degree and get into a high demand career. I went to the information session to learn more, and I remember thinking to myself, “What’s the catch? This is way too good to be true. All this support!”

I took a leap of faith and applied anyway. I got in, and I was on my way to college. I thought college would be like an extension of high school, but I was wrong. Fortunately, I had the support of Capital IDEA, most of all, I was glad I had James, my Career Navigator. He was there when I needed to talk. It was like I had an extended family.

I had to learn how to use my time wisely, especially when I took the Career ACCelerator route, which allowed me to go at my own pace. I ended up pushing as hard as I could, taking up to 15 credit hours in one semester. I changed my work schedule, taking on 18-hour weekend shifts, so I could be at school during the week. Because of the reduction of hours, I was hurting financially, but none of that mattered because I had a goal, and I was trying to make good on an important promise I had made to my aunt. She was sick, and doctors told us she didn’t have much time left. My promise to her was that she’d see me walk the graduation stage.

I delivered on that promise. My aunt was there when I graduated in 2017, as was my whole family. It was one of the proudest moments of my life. I was the first in my family to graduate from college. Since then, one of my cousins has followed in my footsteps. I now enjoy encouraging others to take a leap of faith to improve their lives, just like I am doing every day.

Since graduation, I have been working for LifeWorks, where I get to serve more than 200 employees on all their computer and connectivity needs. So far, I have earned four pay raises and I was voted what is like our Employee of the Month. I’m no longer struggling like I used to. It wasn’t easy to get here, but now, I find it very easy to do this job I love. I have hit some major milestones in my life, and the newest one is my little one. I have a great partner: my wife, a great motivator: my son, and a steady job that helps me enjoy what I have. As for my future, I am taking the steps to become a homeowner. I also plan to continue to sharpen my IT skills and would like to earn my Bachelor’s Degree. Whatever else comes after that, I know how to set goals and take action to reach them. Thank you Capital IDEA for giving me this second chance.

Highlights From an Oustanding Year
2017 ANNUAL REPORT

Capital IDEA’s 2017 Annual Report is now available online. We are proud to share these highlights from an outstanding year of lifting working adults out of poverty and into living wage careers through education. We hope you enjoy reading about student successes because this report is chock-full of amazing stories and impressive numbers!

2017 was an excellent lead-up year to 2018 — Capital IDEA’s 20th anniversary! We are honored to have served the Central Texas community these past two decades, and we look forward to supporting Central Texans’ career dreams and financial goals for years to come. You can help us mark this milestone year with a gift of $20 (or $200!), and thank you! Donate »

2017 Annual Report (pdf): Read it now! 

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Highlights From an Oustanding Year
2017 ANNUAL REPORT

Capital IDEA’s 2017 Annual Report is now available online. We are proud to share these highlights from an outstanding year of lifting working adults out of poverty and into living wage careers through education. We hope you enjoy reading about student successes because this report is chock-full of amazing stories and impressive numbers!
2017 was an excellent lead-up year to 2018 — Capital IDEA’s 20th anniversary! We are honored to have served the Central Texas community these past two decades, and we look forward to supporting Central Texans’ career dreams and financial goals for years to come. You can help us mark this milestone year with a gift of $20 (or $200!), and thank you! Donate »

2017 Annual Report (pdf): Read it now! 

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PUBLISHED APRIL 27, 2017

Capital IDEA is honored to be a grantee of the United Way of Williamson County. UWWC unites people and organizations to build stronger communities and improve lives. By stabilizing families, helping kids succeed academically, and empowering good health, United Way is working towards a community where people thrive, lead healthy lives, and everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

On Wednesday, April 5, 2017, Capital IDEA was one of many hosts for UWWC’s “Day in the Community” for students from Hernandez Middle School in Round Rock. At Hernandez Middle School, all 6th-8th grade students are part of the International Baccalaureate Program. In addition to high academic standards, students participate regularly in community service and action learning.

The April event provided opportunities for students to explore STEM-focused careers. As hosts, Capital IDEA staff were on hand to welcome Hernandez Middle School students to the Austin Community College Eastview Campus, home to many of the healthcare and paramedic training facilities at ACC.

We took this opportunity to share with students the advice Capital IDEA is known for—how to turn a career goal into a realtiy. We covered the basics of healthcare career opportunities in our area; the academic credentials that can get them into those careers the quickest; and the best opportunities for them to fund a college education without getting into serious debt.

The tour of ACC’s Eastview campus included nursing classrooms, surgical tech clinical training rooms, phlebotomy and radiology labs, and a visit to the EMS training rooms. Responses from everyone, students, teachers, and staff, were positive and engaging. We were delighted to meet these bright young adults and be a part of this Day in the Community.

Dear Friends,

We are pleased to share the below report with you. The success of any workforce development program is cause for celebration, and we are especially thrilled for the success of Project QUEST. The leaders of COPS/Metro and the San Antonio business community generously shared the Project QUEST model with Austin Interfaith and business leaders when they came together in 1998 to create Capital IDEA. We appreciate their support and we appreciate them undertaking this rigorous, demanding, long-term random assignment study. It provides the gold standard of scientific proof of the Project QUEST model.

Capital IDEA, like Project QUEST, invests multiple years and multiple thousands of dollars in the community college education of unemployed and working-poor adults as they acquire the necessary education, credentials, and soft skills to become productive professionals in health care and other technical fields. This study’s findings of “large, sustained impact on participants’ earnings” gives us confidence in Capital IDEA’s “significant gains in… average quarterly earnings of those employed” as found by the University of Texas Ray Marshall Center in its June 2015 report, “ Evaluation of Local Investments in Workforce Development.” Moreover, the Ray Marshall Center estimated Capital IDEA’s economic return on investment to taxpayers at 501 percent over 20 years. That’s the equivalent of a 17 percent annual rate of return. Read the Ray Marshall Brief

As any parent will tell you, nurturing development in children is neither quick nor easy nor cheap. And it will take you years before you know the results of your daily efforts. We should not be surprised that transformation in adults demands equally persistent effort, investment, and patience. Thank you for your faith in the people of Central Texas.

Sincerely,

Mary Molina
Founding Board Member
Austin Interfaith

Mark Melliar-Smith
Founding Board Member
Retired CEO SEMATCEH, Canon Nanotechnologies

Steve Jackobs
Executive Director

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Findings Featured in the Austin American-Statesman

Texas job program shows unusually strong, lasting gains, study finds

by Dan Zehr – American-Statesman Staff

“Other programs have had large earnings impacts, but they haven’t taken people completely out of poverty into the middle class,” said Mark Elliott, a co-author of the study. “That is a stunning achievement.”
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“Project Quest served as a model for at least three nearly identical initiatives in Texas, including Capital IDEA in Austin. Elliott said results at those organizations almost certainly would match the successes found in this study.

“To me, this is the best economic development program anywhere,” he said. “Employers are struggling to fill positions, and you’re training residents who are really unlikely to make it on their own to fill those positions.””

READ FULL ARTICLE

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Escalating Gains: Project QUEST’s Sectoral Strategy Pays Off

April 2017 By Mark Elliott and Anne Roder, Economic Mobility Corporation

In 2005, QUEST agreed to take part in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study to assess its impacts on participants’ earnings. The evaluation focused on individuals who were pursuing training for health-care jobs, including licensed vocational nurse, registered nurse, medical records coder, and surgical, sonography, and radiology technician. Between April 2006 and October 2008, 410 individuals enrolled in the study, of whom 207 were assigned to the treatment group and 203 to the control group.

The Conclusion: QUEST has demonstrated that investing in low-income individuals’ skills can have a meaningful and lasting impact on their lives.

READ FULL REPORT

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As Capital IDEA approaches its 20th year, we are seeing impacts extend beyond simply good careers for our graduates and new skilled workers for the economy. We celebrated our 1300th graduate last year, Amy Lopez-Escobedo—she not only has gone from struggling in unskilled, low-income jobs to becoming a Registered Nurse, she has now become a career navigator for her husband, enrolled in construction management at Austin Community College. AND together they are preparing their three children for higher education. Her story, on page 5 of our 2016 Annual Report, is one of individual, family, and community success. On to 2017!
– Steve Jackobs, Executive Director

2016 Annual Report (pdf): Read it now!

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