“I had the opportunity to work at the Governor’s office, a transformative experience that taught me to not limit myself and give back to my community. I live on the South Side of Providence, a predominantly immigrant Hispanic community – minorities who are new to political nuances and uninformed due to language barriers. Through my internship I was tasked with disseminating information to the general public and educating the Hispanic community about decisions being made in our state. As a Latina immigrant I am not expected to be interested in government, but I learned to challenge those expectations during my internship and was empowered to speak and act in ways that serve my community so that they too can find their voice. As I go into college I will continue to stand up for those who are underrepresented and advocate for my community.”

“I worked for the same company for 17 years and had a hard time making ends meet. My boss denied my request for a raise and wouldn’t even give me health benefits. I tried to find a better job but without access to a computer it was hard. Bonnie at Skills RI helped me fix my resume, gave me access to a computer and helped me complete more difficult applications. Soon after, I ended up getting interviews at not one, but two different companies in the health care field. When CharterCARE offered me a position in the Environmental Services Department at Fatima Hospital, I was so excited to begin a new career. I now have a union job with a great schedule, overtime pay for weekend and holiday work, and health benefits for me and my family. It is a family-friendly place to work and feels great to be appreciated!”

“Before the PrepareRI program, I was shy and disassociated from group conversations. During my interview, I was shaking and stuttering, afraid of saying the wrong thing because I felt like my voice and opinions weren’t important. My internship at Tech Collective changed all of that. I was given many different assignments with deadlines and was invited to sit in on important meetings to take notes. I quickly got over my fears and feelings of intimidation around adults and felt more comfortable speaking in small group settings. I am proud of the progress I have made in my career and personal life and was thrilled to find out my coworkers were so impressed with my work they wanted me to stay on during the school year. PrepareRI opened up opportunities for me to get a glimpse of where I want to go in the future and I am thankful for the guidance and leadership opportunities.”

“I had been trying to get my life together and felt lost, looking for my place in the workforce and a chance at a career with potential for advancement. I met Duncan at SkillsRI and he connected me to the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association Pre-Apprenticeship Program at CCRI in Newport. The experience I had with this program was incredible. I’ve made contacts and associations I would have never made otherwise and have learned things I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I have never been more proud of the accomplishments that I made through this program. Upon graduating, I was immediately hired to work at Bristol Marine and I’m extremely excited about the possibilities that lie ahead of me.”

“This summer I interned at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, reporting directly to both the Vice Presidents of Communications and Membership, where I was exposed to many different areas of the organization. Highlights included working on strategic advocacy efforts, attending board meetings, networking with members, and participating in round-tables with our federal delegation. It was a very unique opportunity for someone my age, especially meeting so many political figures! Experiencing firsthand what it is like to work in a professional setting will help me when I enter the work world in a few years, and for that I am grateful. Through the internship, I also realized that I want to major in law, which I would never have known without the PrepareRI program. I will be attending Roger Williams University in the fall and hope to have a great career!”