Ariel and Evergreen, Michigan Works! Southwest – A story of resilience and meaningful change

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Ariel Martinez Ochoa moved to the United States from Cuba in pursuit of an improved quality of life and better career opportunities. Although he had a passion for the healthcare field, while in Cuba, he was not allowed to pursue the further education necessary because he was over the age of 25. After arriving in the United States, Ariel obtained employment as a production associate in the manufacturing industry; however, he still dreamed of a healthcare career. He was referred to Michigan Works! Southwest’s (MWSW) Neighborhood Employment HUBs in Battle Creek, a program funded through WK Kellogg Foundation, for assistance with overcoming training obstacles, including financial hardship and communication barriers, that were hindrances to reaching his goal of becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Because English is Ariel’s second language, he also desired to improve his English skills before pursuing college coursework in a non-native language. Ariel also expressed concern that his need for income would be a barrier to attending school.

Michigan Works! Southwest was able to assist Ariel, through a variety of available sources, in obtaining his desired certification in healthcare. Through a partnership between MWSW’s HUBs and Kellogg Community College’s (KCC’s) Innovative Accelerated Credentialed Training (iAct), Ariel was supported with his enrollment in a 10-week CNA and life skills training at no cost to him, along with the uniforms required for the training, weekly gas cards, weekly food cards, and a $200.00 per week training stipend. Throughout the entire process, Ariel met regularly with his MWSW Business Solutions Career Coach, Julie Klein, to receive career coaching and support. Ariel was also provided with interview preparation and career guidance for future employment opportunities.

In December 2023, Ariel successfully passed his CNA training. At the end of each CNA training session, Michigan Works! Southwest partners with Evergreen Senior Care and Rehab Center, a local employer, to host a Meet and Greet. Evergreen is part of the Nexcare Managed Community that specializes in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Evergreen is also the clinical site for KCC’s CNA training.

After Ariel completed his CNA training and attended the Meet and Greet, he was hired by Evergreen as a patient care assistant in January 2024, earning $16.50 per hour. Mike Madden, Evergreen’s Human Resources Director, shared, “Evergreen is thankful for our long-standing partnership with Kellogg Community College and Michigan Works! Southwest. Ariel is doing a fantastic job in his role at Evergreen and is most definitely a success story, as he continues to pursue knowledge and training in the healthcare field.”

MWSW staff continued to aid Ariel after he began his employment at Evergreen by assisting with navigation of the CNA certification process, including how to access his State of Michigan CNA certificate. After passing the State of Michigan’s CNA certification in February 2024, Ariel was promoted to his desired occupation of CNA, and received a wage increase to $19.50 per hour. Ariel shares of his experience, stating, “I am extremely grateful for the educational assistance, career coaching, and guidance I’ve received through Michigan Works! Southwest.”

Although Ariel had completed his CNA certification, he had bigger dreams. With foundational work experience in the healthcare field, Ariel’s MWSW Business Solutions Career Coach referred him for additional training, to support his career laddering. Due to the location of Evergreen, it was determined that Ariel was eligible for support through the Michigan Rural Enhanced Access to Careers in Healthcare (MiREACH) grant, a program that provides support for the training needed to work in a variety of in-demand healthcare careers. He was referred to the MWSW MiREACH Coordinator, Lynn Page, for eligibility determination to receive additional healthcare training to become a Medical Assistant.

Lynn shares, “From the moment I met Ariel, I knew he would be successful. Ariel was very determined to complete the training on schedule and move forward with his career in healthcare.” Through the MiREACH grant, Ariel received training to become a Medical Assistant as well as a laptop to accommodate his online training classes. In December 2024, one year after completing his CNA training, Ariel completed his Medical Assistant training with a 4.0 GPA.

Ariel exemplifies the spirit of perseverance and ambition, working diligently to pursue his dreams of a career in healthcare. He has been very intentional about incorporating extra study time in his daily routine to continue to work on his English and ensure he pays attention to detail in his schooling. Michigan Works! Southwest is very proud of Ariel and his accomplishments and is excited to see him continue to excel in his healthcare career in 2025. Mike Madden, shares, “Ariel’s kind demeanor and patience with residents are a very good fit for the healthcare industry. We hope Ariel continues his education to become an LPN and eventually an RN, as he is very good at his job.”

Ariel’s success is a powerful example of how strategic partnerships, community support, and personal dedication can lead to meaningful change. Ariel’s journey from a determined job seeker to a successful healthcare professional is one of resilience and a bright future, thanks to the workforce development programs that empowered him to make his dream career become a reality.