On Tuesday, August 15. Mi Casa Resource Center® celebrated it’s first graduating class of participants who completed it’s new Medical Office Administrative Assistant training program. The innovative new workforce development training, which serves underrepresented women and Latinx members of the community was created in partnership with UnidosUS, The Economic Development Agency (EDA) and Arapahoe Community College (ACC). Mi Casa Resource Center® has partnered with ACC to create the Medical Office training to provide real world skills needed to get an entry level career in the field which covers using electronic healthcare record (EHR) office systems, insurance, HIPPAA certification and the durable skills needed for the job. The 6 week class is intensive, yet flexible to the needs of Mi Casa participants and gives them the option to receive up to 7 prior learning assessment credits with their final portfolios toward medical certificates and apprenticeships through ACC, saving them time and money.
When participants come through the door at Mi Casa from all walks of life, they can sign up for the program and leave with job skills and an option to pursue higher education when they may have previously not seen this as attainable. Fourteen participants completed this inaugural class and the atmosphere was full of pride, joy and accomplishment. Graduating participants brought their families, parents, spouses and children. Angeles Ortega, the CEO of Mi Casa kicked the event off with a welcome and an overview of the almost 50 year old resource center, which has become a staple in the Denver community for workforce development, entrepreneurship, and supplemental services such as ESL and digital and financial literacy classes.
I am so grateful to Karen and Mi Casa and the program. Mi Casa has always been there for me and holds a special place in my heart
– Erika Animas
Karen Garcia ACC Medical Faculty member was instrumental in developing the program for Mi Casa and is also the trainer for the first two cohorts of the training. She delivered an inspirational speech and the “determination and guts of this class to be able to come to class every week with all of the busy things going on their lives such as being parent and having full time jobs”. She highlighted three participants and allowed them to come up and tell their stories which brought tears to everyone in attendance. Erika Animas, a participant, explained “I am so grateful to Karen and Mi Casa and the program. Mi Casa has always been there for me and holds a special place in my heart”. Participants told of their dreams to advance their careers and be an example to their children and now have plans for the future. Some participants already have plans to continue their journey and become college students at ACC in the Fall or Spring Semesters. Esparanza Ramirez, a Mi Casa Medical Admin Participant was there with her children. She will be starting an apprenticeship through ACC this Fall. She gave thanks to Mi Casa, ACC for giving her this opportunity.
The final remarks were given by Brent Edwards of Mi Casa and Amber Tolliver at ACC and recognized the work that had been made for this new program from ACC, UnidosUS and Mi Casa. UnidosUS representatives from Washington DC and El Paso also came in for the day of the historic event.
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