UpSkill OC

After a long and complicated divorce, Alba was forced to start over and rebuild her life. In order to support herself and her daughter, she realized she needed to find a career that provided more work-life balance. With an interest in human well-being and development and a desire to make an impact in her local community, Alba decided she wanted to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. After connecting with Orange County United Way’s UpSkill OC program, Alba was accepted to Concorde Career College’s Licensed Vocational Nursing program. Through hard work, diligent communication, and unwavering dedication, Alba has successfully completed her first quarter of training. “It’s been a real blessing as I work my way up to being a registered nurse. The staff has been so wonderful in helping me get started, providing career advice, and providing funding and support for training. Their services are excellent, to say the least. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A Veteran who enrolled in UpSkill OC with the goal of becoming a Class A Driver. He had been working as a delivery driver, but wasn’t earning enough to support his family. With a focus on increasing his income and improving self-sufficiency, Andrew worked closely with his UpSkill OC Case Manager to find a school that would allow him to maintain employment while attending training. Andrew was soon connected to an employer who not only offered training to become certified as a Class A Driver, but also offered employment as a Driver Helper at a rate of $3/hour more than his delivery job. Congratulations, Andrew!