Health and Wellness
Aurora Health Care steers youth into healthcare field
Aurora Health Care’s commitment to community extends beyond its hospital walls and clinics to the classroom, where many youth undecided about their futures are ripe for guidance. Through the YMCA’s Teen Achiever’s program, Aurora professionals mentor youth and help steer them into the health care field.
The YMCA Teen Achievers program provides students with a valuable learning experience through academic support, leadership opportunities and career development.
All Teen Achievers meet regularly to plan group activities that include fund-raising, community service and group activities.
Through Teen Achievers’ mentoring and tutoring components, Aurora Health Care sponsors two employee volunteers annually. The volunteers work closely with students to support them in their studies, and expose them to careers in the health care field through job shadowing.
Rhonda Taylor Parris, director of workforce planning at Aurora Health Care, said Aurora’s commitment to the Teen Achievers program is unwavering because of its positive impact on Milwaukee’s youth.
"Aurora has been involved with Teen Achievers for 15 years, and this won’t be our last year. We believe in developing young people, and one of the ways we live out that commitment to the community is by getting youth of color interested in careers in the health care industry."
Kori Young, Aurora Health Care’s teen advisor, agreed.
"In my role as the teen advisor with the Teen Achievers’ program, I have the good fortune of being a real-life example of what their goals and dreams can look like. Every student whom I work with wants to be successful and make a difference, and they will, with the guidance provided through this program."
Young said Teen Achievers help shape the lives of students regardless of their career choices. Teens who participate become better rounded because of community service activities and exposure to educational and career opportunities.
For youth to be considered for Teen Achievers, they must:
o Have at least a 2.0 grade point average
o Complete a membership application
o Obtain their parent’s permission
o Pay a $15 annual membership fee
o Attend at least 90 % of membership meetings
o Participate in at least 90% of community service activities
"Having been a Teen Achiever myself, I can say that students gain opportunities through this program they would not have access to otherwise," Young said.
"I’m able to provide them perspectives that they might not have considered, or point them toward resources that they may not have known about."
Michelle Johnson, executive director of the Black Achievers program, which is the supporting agency of Teen Achievers, said support from organizations like Aurora is key because the program exposes youth to careers in their fields of interest.
"Through our Career Clusters, seminars, shadowing, Adopt-A-Class, mentoring and tutoring programs, youth gain phenomenal exposure to real world opportunities and experiences," Johnson said.
"These experiences help them to prepare for life after high school and, typically, Black Achievers participants are more focused on future goals than most youth who graduate with just the high school experience."
"The other aspect of the program I really appreciate is that the youth really look to their mentors as role models," Young said.
"While entertainers and sports figures are revered by many young people, Teen Achievers are looking to African American doctors, lawyers, corporate executives and media representatives as their models for success.
"Teens can see that there are opportunities for them to work for companies like Aurora or Harley Davidson, and make a difference right here in their community."
For more information on Teen Achievers, call (414) 265-9622. |
