Opportunities present themselves every day but are often disguised as hard work. A longtime program has proven that message to be true.
Since 2010, the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT) has been partnering with Yale New Haven Hospital to provide skills training to job seekers who face employment barriers. The courses were initially offered in medical coding and phlebotomy. In 2016, a culinary program was added. These courses provide training in much-needed, hard to fill jobs in the community.
“ConnCAT partners with employers who are open to its training programs and understands how it creates opportunities for employees to apply for positions in healthcare or the culinary field,” said Michael Holmes, EVP and chief operating officer of Yale New Haven Hospital.
The program provides individuals training and education with the expectation they will be offered full-time positions. When the students graduate, they may choose to pursue a career in health care or the culinary field.
Instructors create a learning environment that inspires hope, innovation, creativity, and excellence while providing a path for individuals to revitalize the landscape of the urban community.
Aside from preparing for the workforce, mentors and instructors also teach skills in business etiquette, giving students a second chance to succeed. By the end of the program, individuals must recognize the importance of hard work and dedication, as well as the fundamental expectations, including showing up consistently, communicating effectively, and engaging positively with others.
Holmes stated many of the individuals need role models who are in positions they aspire to be. With Holmes’ decades-long experience in leadership, he has worked one-on-one with many students, spreading motivation and inspiration.
Krystle Gentles
“That’s what it takes to be a leader. You must give back,” added Holmes. “You have to create opportunities to pull people up or at least give them the incentive that there’s ability to continue to grow.”
An example of success is Krystle Gentles, a proud graduate of ConnCAT and a phlebotomist at Yale New Haven Hospital.
Gentles started in February 2023 and graduated four months later. During the initial stages, Gentles underwent a two-week trial period of various healthcare courses to test her strength and weaknesses, but she knew where her interest lay - phlebotomy.
From Monday through Friday for six hours each day, Gentles treated the program like a full-time career, working closer to her goal of landing a job at a hospital.
“It helped us with our resumes, our interview skills, and how to dress for an interview,” added Gentles.
Just before graduating, Gentles secured an internship with Yale New Haven Hospital, and in March of this year, she was offered the phlebotomy position.
Gentles credited her success to the ConnCAT program, which played a key role in helping her prepare for the real world and opening a door to additional opportunities.
“It’s a program where you feel motivated for being who you are. You don’t have to meet anybody else’s standards. They make you feel important,” said Gentles.
Read additional success stories of YNHH’s community programs >
