A NEW CAREER DURING COVID-19

Quinniazia learned about the AACF Youth Workforce Development program through her phlebotomy training program with Lab Girls in Posen, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Due COVID-19 expanding communication via Zoom and other online forms of communication, Quinniazia was able to join the Youth Workforce Development program remotely and has never set foot in the physical office. She received her program orientation, interest and experience interviews, and submitted paperwork via zoom, phone calls, and online.

At just 20 years of age, Quinniazia already has a long history of caretaking behind her with caring for her grandmother together with her aunt since the age 15. Quinniazia tried out cheerleading and other sports activities during her high school career at Thorton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois, but preferred spending important quality time with her grandmother as her after school and weekend caretaker. Taking care of her grandmother led her to wanting to take care of others. “Putting a smile on other people’s faces was just something I adored.” - Quinniazia

The experience of caring for her grandmother led Quinniazia to complete a home health care course upon graduating from high school and work as a home health care worker during the year 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic surged. As a home health care worker during COVID-19 Quinniazia and her charge masked up and she diligently sanitized her hands at regular intervals. Eventually she found that she wanted more from her career and followed the advice of her godmother to pursue phlebotomy through Lab Girls six week training course. She is well into the course with a little over a week to completion.

At Lab Girls training course Quinniazia learned about AACF’s scholarships for job training programs. She called the office located in Oak Park, Illinois, signed up for the Youth Workforce Development Program and has worked with the Program Director and her case manager via zoom, phone calls, and emails. Through the AACF scholarship program 100% of her Lab Girls $2000 phlebotomy training course will be covered. Additionally AACF will help her scout for phlebotomy work in the Chicagoland area and be there for her at every step of her budding phlebotomy career.