Dawn Career Institute announced it is continuing its partnership for a second year with the Ministry of Caring to provide education programs to its clients. The ministry is a local nonprofit organization that serves residents facing a variety of hardships.
“This collaboration is two distinct organizations working together to make an impact – to help change lives – one client, one student at a time,” said Martha Bridles, admissions support associate at DCI. “Education is a benefit in and of itself. To know better is to do better.”
The community-based Ministry of Caring has a variety of supporters who “live in hope for the day when (they) will have eradicated the shame of poverty in Wilmington.” Staff, volunteers and donors provide the residents with case-management services, meals, shelter, counseling, community outreach programs, long-term housing, residences for people with AIDS, job placement assistance, child care, medical and dental programs. The organization also maintains a distribution center for donated clothing, furniture and household items.
Last year, all 10 ministry clients who received training from DCI graduated and nine of them achieved employment in the health care industry as Certified Nurse Assistants; the tenth participant chose to further their education before focusing on employment.
“Through this partnership, both organizations are helping individuals with their educational and career goals that ultimately might not have that opportunity if it wasn’t for this partnership,” said DCI’s Director of Admissions, Matthew Penrod. “It’s all about assisting others reach their true potential.”
The ministry’s staff is always finding ways to mend any new struggles with which their clients are presented.
“We collaborate with Dawn Career Institute because we know that their professional quality training and holistic student support is in the best interest of our clients, and resonates with our own goal to effectively prepare unemployed women and men for a viable job in today’s challenging job market,” said Mark J. Poletunow, the ministry’s CFO/deputy director.
Among the programs available is Nursing Assistant training that will be provided to seven ministry clients. DCI’s Nursing Assistant program prepares students for the skills they need to work with physicians and patients. The program is 10 weeks long, and graduates leave prepared to sit for the Nurse Assistant state certification exam.
“Our institute is dedicated to serving the community,” said Jena Zapata, DCI’s chief operating officer. “This partnership will allow us to continue to work directly with the Ministry of Caring to help them support their mission and serve their clients.”
The Ministry of Caring was founded in 1977 by Brother Ronald Giannone who believes “the poor should never be treated poorly.” The organizatio provides services at 23 sites in and around Wilmington. The organization is located on 506 N. Church St., Wilmington.
Dawn Career Institute is a career education institution based in Wilmington. with online program options also available. For more information, visit www.DawnCareerInstitute.edu.
