"I was really determined to make a better life"

Okema's Story

"When I was in school, I was really determined to make a better life for me and my daughter, so I was just basically focused, I was strong willed, and I guess it shone through without me even knowing.

Mentally, I was just prepared to do what I needed to do to get me and my daughter on the right path, to just being good and successful in life."

Since graduating from the Center for Employment Training, Okema has been promoted twice in less than two years. SOME has helped many determined men and women like Okema succeed in the workplace, most recently the 43 members of the Center's Spring 2010 graduating class.

You can help students like Okema build better lives for themselves and their families.

SOME's Center for Employment Training

Securing a job that pays a living wage lifts individuals and families out of poverty and benefits our community as a whole. Consider the impact that 50 Center graduates have on the public budget, shown at left. The average salary of a Center for Employment Training graduate, $24,000 plus benefits, was used in this calculation.

At SOME's Center for Employment Training, homeless and low-income men and women participate in six months of intensive training to prepare for jobs that pay a living wage. Center graduates are equipped to work in one of three high-growth fields where they can earn enough to care for themselves and their families.

Because of the economic downturn, finding a new job is very tough. The District's unemployment rate remains well above the national average. We need your help more than ever.

Learn more about the Center for Employment Training »