The Spring 2025 Career Launch graduation event celebrated two program milestones: the largest graduating class ever and the first double graduate. Career Launch was created in 2019 to help address staffing shortages. The program covers tuition, uniforms, books, supplies and equipment. Participants are also offered opportunities for mentorship and professional development, with post-graduation job placement […]
Building the future workforce: Akron Children’s and Portage Lakes Career Center partner to meet community needs
Akron Children’s is tackling its growing demand for private duty home care nurses through a unique collaboration with Portage Lakes Career Center (PLCC). According to Patrice Russell, director of talent acquisition and workforce pipelines, the program illustrates the importance of community partnerships in addressing critical workforce needs. For Akron Children’s, it was particularly significant for […]
Career Launch celebrates its first graduates
When Akron Children’s introduced its workforce development program in 2019, it was with the intention of filling in-demand, entry-level positions in specific degree paths. Two years later, Patrice Russell, talent acquisition programs manager, held the first-ever Career Launch graduation ceremony (virtually) to celebrate 5 graduates who recently completed the program. “This graduation is a success […]
