Building a Future: Dorika’s Journey Through GAP School’s Healthcare Pathway

“This program gave me another chance in life to gain my high school diploma, and not just a diploma, friends also. I’m super grateful for everything, forever this will be one of my best experiences.”

After moving to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2024, Dorika had been providing for her family by working as a home health aide. Once she found GAP School, she started in our YouthBuild program’s Healthcare Pathway. With the help of our program and staff, Dorika was able to start a job at a local assisted living home, receiving a wage increase that allowed her to stop working nights.

During her time in the Healthcare Pathway, she studied and was able to earn her Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) certification through our program’s partnership with HeartCert. 

With her newly attained CNA certification, Dorika was then accepted to Allina Health’s Medical Assistant Apprentice Program. Through the apprentice program, she is able to work full time for Allina Health, take additional online medical assistant certificate classes, and receive hands-on learning led by Allina Health nurses — all while being paid!