by Leslie Ford –

Coby was married and raising two daughters when he decided that he needed to provide a better life for his family. So he began taking classes at Austin Community College that fit around his work schedule. It was a slow and difficult process, but it became much worse when he lost his job. A friend told Coby about Capital IDEA, and he applied for the program. When he was accepted, Coby thought that his life was finally turning around. But shortly after he began the program, Coby’s wife asked for a divorce. Two weeks later, his father had a heart attack and died. Coby was devastated, but with support from Capital IDEA, he was able to focus on his studies and graduate as a Level I Support Technician. Coby is currently employed in the Information Technology Department at Home Depot. Coby shared his story as the Keynote Speaker at this month’s Capital IDEA Celebration of Achievements, which honored all of the 80 -plus Capital IDEA 2015 graduates.

Kimberly completed her GED when she was a 22-year-old mother with a young son. She applied to Capital IDEA and was accepted into the program. But after Kimberly had her second child, she left school. Two years later, with the strong support of her Capital IDEA Career Navigator, Kimberly resumed her studies. In 2015, she graduated as a registered nurse. Kimberly was presented the Aurora Alworth Award at the Capital IDEA Celebration.( Ms. Alworth was one of the first Capital IDEA students to receive her degree in nursing.)

Stories like these help us understand the difference our Seeds of Strength $25,000 grant makes to Georgetown adults working in low-paying jobs. For the past 16 years, Capital IDEA has been the only program in Central Texas designed to lift working adults out of poverty through long-term training in sponsored career fields. Capital IDEA identifies those careers and areas of study by partnering with business leaders and community colleges in Central Texas. The program enrolls qualified individuals, who will succeed at college-level coursework, for careers that are in-demand and pay well, such as nursing and high-tech jobs. Students must also demonstrate a commitment to give back to the community. The program is especially important in Georgetown, where the cost of attending community college is significantly higher due to out-of-district rates as well as higher transportation costs. There are currently 20 Georgetown residents in the Capital IDEA program. Five Georgetown residents have already participated in the program and are now employed in their new careers. Three Georgetown residents were among the 2015 graduates.

You may be interested to know that one current Georgetown resident in the program is pursuing a degree in Game Art in order to work in the video game industry. She came to Capital IDEA as a single mother with a three-month-old son. At that time, she needed to work two jobs to support her family. With childcare help from her mother, and tuition help from Capital IDEA, she has been able to work at just one job and focus the time she needs on her studies. This young woman has been working hard and is on track to graduate in the fall.

U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, shown in the photo with Kimberly R. and Board Member Melynda Caudle, attended the Capital IDEA Celebration, held in Austin, on February 5. He acknowledged Capital IDEA as one of the few programs that helps people reach their potential by training them to enter the workforce in jobs where there are shortages, such as nursing and technology.

February 5 was a very important day for all of the 2015 graduates, their families, and their communities. It was also a testament to the amazing work that Capital IDEA does in helping adults in low-paying jobs build brighter futures. Pat Donica, Deborah Albers, and I were proud to be the Seeds of Strength representatives at this annual Celebration.