Over the summer,
Chandler-Gilbert Community College awarded five members from the Gila River
Indian Community (GRIC) small business certificates as part of a joint effort
to educate tribal members on becoming successful entrepreneurs on the
reservation. The program is part of the
GRIC's Career Pathways program, a tribal program that helps connect members to
job training, education and employment.
David Johnson, 26, a
computer programming student at CGCC and member of the GRIC, is one of the five
members to receive a small business certificate. With hopes of someday running
his own video game design company, Johnson initially enrolled in the program to
find a job on the reservation. Ten months later, he has secured a job as a
video and graphics trainee and is preparing to launch his video game business.
"The Career Pathways small
business program taught me so much about running my own company and connected me
to so many influential people who want to help me succeed," said Johnson.
"Prior to this program, I had little to no knowledge about what it truly
meant to be a business owner. Now I feel
confident talking to others in the business community about my own desire to
run a video game company and have the foundation to get me started."
Career Pathways is a
grant-based system funded by the U.S. Department of Labor that inspires and
supports educational opportunities for adults on the reservation. The program
is combined with on-the-job training to get participants into the workforce. In 2012, the GRIC Employment & Training
Department was awarded a $3.1 million federal grant to run Career Pathways and
provide free tuition for student programs. Career Pathways operates five
vocational sectors including medical, construction, business, hospitality and
government.
Johnson, along with his
classmates in the business sector took classes for 10 months in the areas of
accounting, business, finance and marketing while learning how to develop their
own business plan.
The program uses an
accredited curriculum from CGCC's business school so students would finish with
a nationally recognized small business certification; however, the coursework
was tailored to fit the individual needs of its students.
Lynette Clark, the
Career Pathways Business Sector Specialist at Gila River, worked closely with
members of the GRIC and CGCC to develop a curriculum that was unique for
students on the reservation. As such, it
emphasizes the value education, of learning essential life skills and the
importance of reinvesting in one’s own community. Ultimately the program hopes to see its
students’ success also translate to tribal success through their efforts to
give back.
"This program is designed to motivate
students and provide them with the necessary tools to succeed. Whether
or not the students pursue their business of interest, they will go forward
with the knowledge they learned in this program and can apply it to further
their education and move up in the workforce," said Clark.
"Chandler-Gilbert Community College has been a great partner and has been very
accommodating to our tribal needs. We hope to continue this partnership and to
help other interested entrepreneurs."
Johnson hopes that other
tribal members take advantage of opportunities such as the Career Pathways
Program. "I have met so many
wonderful people as a result of this program, and hope one day I can give back
to those who helped pave the way for my dreams. I am extremely grateful for
this opportunity."
