A milestone for skills program that works to transform lives

Glenda Squalls, unit coordinator in the Center for Advanced Endoscopy at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, was checking in patients, ordering lab work, conferring with doctors and nurses and setting up the next day's schedule one day this week.

She made the multitasking look easy.

"Glenda's great," said nurse Ann Harris.

Squalls, 47, a nine-year Abbott veteran, also is living testimony to a flourishing partnership between a venerable nonprofit outfit that has trained and placed about 850 unemployed women, and eight Minneapolis-based employers who have provided them with good jobs and career advancement.

"I'm happy," Squalls said of her career at Abbott. "This is a good group of people."

A decade ago, Squalls, a single parent, was on public assistance while she cared for her two daughters and her ailing mother.

Squalls enrolled in Train to Work, then a fledgling program of Project for Pride in Living, the Minneapolis-based nonprofit housing and family services organization. She got paid minimum wage for a month of sharpening her administrative and communications skills, including a two-week internship. Then she went on to a job at Abbott.

Last spring, Train to Work celebrated its 10th anniversary and 100th class. Most graduates were placed in jobs with partner employers or found work on their own, said Olletha (Ollie) Muhammad, who supervises the program's staff of five.

"We help build skills, confidence, improve attitudes in some cases, and help them reach career objectives," Muhammad said. "It's not just a job. We stay in touch with these people and their employers for at least 18 months."

The 18-month retention rate is 95 percent. The program runs on about $600,000 annually, contributed by supporters and participating employers to cover student wages and staff salaries.

North Memorial Medical Center has hired six participants in the program in the past year and keeps track of the student interns there and helps them find permanent jobs, said Keisha Powell, a human-resources representative with the hospital.

"We promote internally within North Memorial, and some of these individuals have moved up with us and a few have left for other opportunities. We're very satisfied," Powell said.

Cheryl Ewing, a 46-year-old mother of four from Richfield, said the program helped her refresh her skills and meet people. Ewing graduated in May and is working with her employment specialist to get a job in health care.

"It's been great to have a support system," she said. "I don't feel so much on my own. I've got a feeling that there's a great job right ahead."

Besides Abbott Northwestern and North Memorial hospitals, the Train to Work partners are Children's Hospitals and Clinics, Hennepin County Medical Center, U.S. Bank, Metropolitan Health Plan, Allina Commons and Educational Credit Management Corp.

Neal St. Anthony • 612-673-7144 • nstanthony@startribune.com