Stories

Muhyadin Ahmed is a lifelong resident of St Paul, MN and a student at Normandale Community College and participated in Right Track+ to complete an internship at Spire Credit Union

Cole Stevens, age 19, is the co-founder and co-director of the new youth leading change non-profit Bridgemakers. ...

Onika Goodluck (O) is the owner of O’s Kitchen, the Kitchen Manager at All Square, and a mother of three. Onika’s Earn & Learn story began while she was on probation and had recently had a baby.

Chuck Yang is a Minnesota native and an Autobody Technician at Caliber Collision Fleet. At 25, Chuck has found a successful career path with help from his wife, son, and Newgate School.

Asia Thao is an Advanced Panel Builder with Design Ready Controls (DRC). Asia started at DRC almost two years ago, with no prior experience. DRC provided Asia all the training and prep he needed to start on the floor, prepping harnesses for each production line to wire HVACs and data storage units.

Brandon Linder is a 19-year-old heavy machinery operator with Meyer Contracting, Inc. Growing up in Luck, WI. Attending Softec helped provide Brandon with the training he needed to be placed in a career he loves with plenty of room to grow.

Armani Black is a Technology Consultant in Houston, TX. Although she’s now a Texan, Armani’s story started on the ...

Zarea Mobley is the Administrative Assistant and a Market Garden Alumni at Urban Roots in St. Paul, MN. Zarea has ...

Bianca Dawkins is a Philanthropic Services Associate at the Minneapolis Foundation. In that role, Bianca helps with

Yasameen Sajady is the CEO of Maazah Chutney, a Minnesota-grown condiment brand that is opening Midwestern palates to new horizons. The Maazah brand was created by Yasameen, her two sisters, Sheilla and Nas, as well as their mother, Fatima. Yasameen received her Bachelors and a MBA from Augsburg University and joined Lunar Startups to build the skills she needed to be a successful entrepreneur.

Jazmine Darden’s career trajectory exemplifies the Earn and Learn model. Today, Jazmine is a teacher, an inventor, and an entrepreneur. She teaches 3D printing courses at Dunwoody, works with Minneapolis Public Schools' GISE and GEMS programs, and owns a handful of small businesses, most of which involve 3D printing. Raised in Brooklyn Park, Jazmine attended Augsburg University as a first-generation student where she utilized the TRIO and North Star STEM support networks which helped her navigate college as she excelled in her coursework.