Success Story

When Brooklyn enrolled in the Surgical Technology program at Minnesota West, she knew it would be tough. What she didn’t anticipate was balancing school, clinicals, a daily commute, and a pregnancy. With hard work and community support, Brooklyn made it happen. Heading into her second year of the program, Brooklyn discovered she was pregnant and […]

  In 2024, Faiz and his family arrived in Minnesota from Afghanistan with a clear vision: to create a safe and stable future. The journey was not easy, but Faiz brought with him something more powerful than experience and resilience. From the start, Faiz faced challenges that would test even the strongest individuals. Although he

  When Enrique enrolled in our SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) program, he arrived with determination and a strong desire to work. He had excellent communication skills, a positive attitude, and a track record of landing interviews, but one significant barrier stood in his way: a felony conviction on his record. Despite his qualifications,

Receiving news of a plant closure is never easy, and it’s even harder when you personally know the people impacted. In June 2023, HyLife in Windom closed its doors, leaving over 1,000 workers without jobs. Among them was Linda, who worked in the office and often supported her coworkers with her bilingual skills. When the

When Natalia first walked through the doors of the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC), she was facing uncertainty. A recent high school graduate with experience in healthcare as a Direct Support Professional, Natalia had been unemployed for several months and was eager to return to a career she was passionate about. Working closely with

When Kurtis expressed his interest in obtaining his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), he wasn’t sure where to start. Fortunately, the Yellow Medicine Veterans Office referred him to our team at the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC), where he discovered the support and resources available to help him achieve his goal. Kurtis was eager to

As an employment counselor, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing countless stories of resilience and triumph, but none quite as inspiring as that of Alexandra. Her journey is a testament to the power of determination and the transformative impact of the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council (PIC). “When I first came to the Private Industry

Jady had reached a low point in his life, feeling trapped with no direction and little hope for the future. His prospects seemed dim until he discovered Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council’s Pathways to Prosperity program. Seeking a fresh start, Jady enrolled in the Blueprint Reading and Welding Fundamentals courses, determined to change his life.

Leonardo joined the Youth at Work (YAW) program during his senior year of high school with no previous work experience. Referred by his teacher at Benson High School, he was eager to gain hands-on experience. He secured a summer job at the Benson Public Library—his first real step into the workforce. When summer ended, Leonardo

After being laid off, Alexie Cross found herself navigating the daunting task of re-entering the workforce as a mother of four. Coming from a highly specialized industry with no formal education, she quickly realized that her experience wasn’t easily transferable to other fields. She applied to various jobs with no success and started to feel