Michaela was recently promoted to Job Coach at Goodwill of Southern California – a testament to her success in the LA:RISE program and a stepping stone toward her goal of building a career in social work.

Before enrolling in LA:RISE, Michaela was facing homelessness and looking for an opportunity to reenter the workforce. At LA:RISE, she felt for the first that she had discovered a team that recognized her talents, was committed to her success, and would help her achieve her goals.

Michaela dove into LA:RISE programming, completing Goodwill's Leadership Academy and the National Retail Federation's Customer Service Training, and began a transitional job as a retail ambassador. Outside of work, she met with case managers to practice resume writing and interview skills, efforts that all paid off with her recent promotion.

Michaela is excited to pay it forward in her new role and use her story to support future LA:RISE participants.

EWDD is a leadership team partner of LA:RISE, an innovative, collaborative partnership that unites the City and County of Los Angeles’ Workforce Development System with non-profit social enterprises and for-profit employers to help people with high barriers to employment get good jobs and stay employed.

The City’s WorkSource Centers and LA:RISE prioritize individuals recently released from prison, the unsheltered or those at risk of homelessness, and youth ages 18-24 who are neither in school nor employed. After working in a transitional job at a social enterprise, leveraging WorkSource Center training and services, LA:RISE participants are placed in permanent jobs within the private or the public sector.