Cultivating Careers

“I felt stuck at my dead-end fast-food job and I was financially struggling. I had made a lot of bad decisions in my past and so I had a criminal background, which made it hard to look for anything else, and I had limited work history that mostly consisted of fast food, retail, merchandising, and telemarketing. I desperately wanted a “real” job, a “good” job, a “better” job, but I believed where I was at was all I deserved.”

“I have seen Project Iowa help so many people, including myself. There’s a lot of nonprofit organizations out there, and I question the actual impact some of them make in the community. Project Iowa really does make an impact. All of the staff works very hard and is always willing to help, even after your time in the program. They simply want to help people like me find employment. They ask for nothing in return. I personally think that they are making a huge impact in our community.”

“One of my goals and dreams was to find a career passion in Iowa, and I’m now learning so much about environmental management careers in Iowa for the first time. Very much inspired by our course together. Thank you!”

“There isn’t a demographic out there that shouldn’t use Project IOWA. I am probably in the minority that I had a successful career and had to start over. I know it is hard on the ego of that type of person to probably ask for help, but I gained so much personally and professionally from this experience!”

“Project Iowa matters because the world we live in is confusing and difficult to navigate alone. Everyone experiences unique obstacles and needs a little support sometimes. It is important to have outlets like Project Iowa for people to receive support in achieving their goals. Project Iowa can help people understand their strengths and use them as leverage to achieve their success. The more successful people are at achieving their goals, the more they contribute and give back to their community as productive individuals.”

“The help and positive energy here is contagious. I have recommended the program to lots of people. I was struggling with life decisions and then I came to Project IOWA. It showed me that whoever you are, you matter and don’t ever forget that. We are all entitled to happiness in our lives.”

“When I started Cultivating Careers with Project IOWA, it was very intentional from the staff perspective. I had my one-on-one time with my mentor and it was like, ‘What is the job description? Let’s look at your resume and craft it. What is your elevator pitch?’ and took me outside of my comfort zone, but that is where you are the strongest, that is where you stretch yourself. It helped me understand that I am not just bound to just this and I am more than just a set of words that I wrote in my resume. I can present that very loud and clear in that interview enrolment. I was very grateful for that support.”

“Prior to being laid off from my (then-current) position, I wanted to explore other career opportunities, and the Cultivating Careers program looked like an amazing opportunity. We had amazing facilitators for each of the courses – Path to Purpose, Wellness, and Cultivating Careers. Additionally, we had an amazing cohort of people who went through the program together. We all were willing to be open and honest and vulnerable, which, I believe, enhanced our relationships as a cohort. Everyone was very kind, caring, encouraging, and supportive of one another. We truly had the BEST group to travel this journey with.”

“The Cultivating Careers program grounded my job search by helping me rediscover my work interests, skills, & values. I found community & support unexpectedly in a caring, supportive group led by coaches who demonstrated caring but pushed us to be accountable to each other & individual selves.”