Stand Up for Jobs: Dee’s Story
Dee dreamed of being a nurse since she was six years old, but by the time she was in her twenties, she was off track and trying to find her footing in a series of short-term jobs. When environments felt toxic, she left. Each temporary job found her further from her dream of a stable career.
Dee’s stability was further threatened when she suffered the devastating loss of her younger brother to a fentanyl overdose. “After seeing my brother in the casket, I was just like, what am I going to do now?” With grief blurring her vision of the future, Dee had no choice but to look back. She enrolled in nursing school, determined to give her six-year-old self her wildest dream.
Six-year-old Dee didn’t have to worry about rent. Adult Dee did.
She scrolled through Facebook looking for a “bridge” job—something to take her from where she was to where she wanted to be. She came across a post about the Kentucky Cares Program, a partnership between the Louisville Urban League and Norton Healthcare. “I reached out by email, and Ashton ended up calling me like an hour after.”
Within days, Dee was enrolled in the very first Kentucky Cares cohort. The two-week program introduced her to healthcare careers across radiology, pharmacy, labs, and patient care. She shadowed in operating rooms, labor and delivery, and endoscopy. and she credits the experience with helping her see a long-term path forward. The program also gave her practical tools: resume coaching, interview prep, and even a stipend for uniforms.
The highlight of Dee’s experience was a visit from Corenza Townsend, Chief Administrative Officer of Norton West Louisville Hospital. Townsend shared that people doubted her ability to open Norton West Louisville Hospital, but she did it anyway. Dee says, “Her visit meant everything. We saw someone like ourselves who conquered the doubts.”
Any doubt in her own abilities disappeared when a classmate had a seizure in class; Dee was the first to respond. “I instantly went into that mode, like okay, we gotta do something.” She remembered what she had practiced in the program: elevate the head, lay the person on their side… Dee guided her peers through the emergency. Her classmate recovered. Dee thinks of the incident as a test she passed with flying colors, proof that she was ready to work in healthcare.
Job offers were further proof. Dee was offered two jobs shortly after graduation from the program. She chose the position as a Patient Care Associate (PCA)—direct patient care that aligns with her passion. The role gives her stability and a schedule that allows her to complete her associate’s degree, the credential she needs to sit for the RN exam and fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse. “My win is I get to work three days a week… I’m loving it. I’m finally able to live now.” Kentucky Cares gave Dee the skills, exposure, and confidence to transform a cycle of jobs into a clear career path.
Dee Thomas, KY Cares participant
The Kentucky Cares program aims to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the healthcare industry while simultaneously providing underserved communities with access to sustainable careers. For more information, visit lul.org/jobs/kycares or call (502) 585-4622.
