Empowering Women in the Workforce
CWDB is proud to spotlight projects that expand women’s opportunities to secure good-paying jobs. CWDB supports grantees in creating job quality, equity, and career advancement for disadvantaged workers, including women.
Participants receive training and wrap-around supportive services to improve access to quality employment opportunities that can lead to long-term careers.
By prioritizing the recruitment of women, CWDB grantees foster greater workforce diversity and address regional disparities. Check out the individual stories below to see how CWDB has helped female participants achieve their employment goals.
Mahaila Laulu
Graduate, Registered Dental Hygienist Program
After high school, Mahaila explored many different career paths and ultimately settled on dental hygiene. She was happy when she found Kern County Employers’ Training Resource’s Dental Hygienist program. Since enrollment was limited, she knew she needed to do well in the prerequisite classes to improve her chances of acceptance.
Mahaila enrolled at a community college, pursuing the prerequisites for her associate degree, working part-time, and playing college basketball. Unfortunately, she was unable to graduate a semester early, which delayed her application to the program. She took advantage of that time by attending a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) program to gain experience in the dental field.
“I didn’t have to worry about the expenses anymore, and I could focus entirely on finishing my education and preparing for these crucial exams. I’ll always be grateful for what the RERP grant has done for me.”
After graduating from the RDA program, Mahaila got a job as a Dental Assistant, and that’s when she received the call saying she had been accepted into the Regional Equity and Recovery Partnerships (RERP) funded Dental Hygienist program at Taft College. She had this to say about that moment: “My dreams had materialized, and I was set to begin this next journey in my life.”
Kern County Employers’ Training Resource’s supportive services covered nearly everything Mahaila needed to be successful in the program, including the cost of the national board exams. Mahaila felt immense gratitude, relief, and happiness for this gift. She said it took a huge weight off of her shoulders.