OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Metropolitan Community College is helping students advance in IT with the nation’s first “Mobile Device Repair Certification Program.”
The program helps students aged 17-22 who have been through the correctional system.
“We were seeing a problem that a lot of kids were going through in workforce development,” said Sundiata Menelik, co-founder and senior mentor.
Gary Girard, who serves as Vice President for Community and Workforce Education at Metropolitan Community College, said, “This becomes a starting point for them (students) to develop a path.”
Girard said the pathway could lead students to a career in IT or higher education.
The boot camp also helps students with rides and meals. Students receive a stipend to further the incentive to learn.
“With our boot camp program, our goal is to remove any barriers a student may experience,” said Lindsay Decker, Avenue Scholars Director of Communications.
Students like Jacob McClain and Aryon Tate said they have enjoyed their time in the program.
“I like it,” McClain said. “I’m actually happy that I got this opportunity because it’s been offered to me and I’m going to try to get it somewhere.”
“It helped me learn another trade,” Tate said. “It helped to have something under my belt that I might want to do in the long run.”
Part of the money for the program comes from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Aaron Hanson said each year the office uses a portion of the seized asset fund to help a nonprofit or charity.
“So basically we’re using the money seized from drug trafficking to help break the cycles of poverty and crime,” he said. “It helps young people to be able to live with dignity and to be able to take care of their families.”
The four-week program runs until next Thursday, June 29. Upon graduation, students are guaranteed a job with IFixOmaha if they desire it.
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