La Colaborativa is grounded in the belief that every young adult deserves the chance to flourish. Facing a host of structural barriers, our young adults are tenacious, empathetic, and, most importantly, determined to uplift their community. Our intensive workforce development programs, such as the Community Health Worker Certification Program, a critical investment made possible by the Atrius Health Equity Foundation, harnesses the unique assets of young adults by cultivating skills, building confidence, and charting pathways of economic mobility.
This month, we’re honored to share Noemy’s story, a powerful journey from survival to realizing an inextinguishable purpose. After completing the Community Health Worker Certification program, Noemy’s contagious determination and compassion have allowed her to obtain a full-time role at the Lynn Community Health Center, reflecting the spirit of our essential work.
A Young Mother’s Transformational Journey
At 14 years old, confronted by violence and instability, Noemy departed El Salvador for the unknown. Arriving in the United States, a quiet resilience far beyond her years propelled her forward, despite incessant challenges. Now 24 and raising a spirited four-year-old daughter, Noemy has spent nearly half her life navigating the hardships of immigrant life in this country, yet embodies an unfading optimism.
Determined to attain a brighter future, Noemy earned her certification as a Dental Assistant, a credential that should have opened doors. However, after separating from her daughter’s father, she faced the crushing reality of single motherhood that stifled her career. Balancing the relentless demands of childcare, she resorted to working overnight shifts cleaning offices merely to survive, while relying on her mother and sister to watch her daughter at night.
“The schedule, the lack of rest, the feeling of being stuck; it wore me down,” Noemy recalls. “I wanted more for my daughter and for myself. I just didn’t know how to get there.” It was her mother who planted the seed of possibility.
“She used to go to the food pantry at La Colaborativa,” Noemy says with a smile. “One day, she heard about the Community Health Worker Training Program and immediately thought of me. She knew I’ve always had a heart for helping others.”
With her mother’s encouragement, Noemy looked into the program, confirmed she was eligible, and applied. She was accepted.
“I was overwhelmed with emotion. The fact that I could study for free, earn a stipend to cover our living expenses, and receive transportation, it felt like a lifeline during one of the hardest times in my life.”
Since January 2025, Noemy has been part of a 20-member cohort of young adults training to become bilingual Community Health Workers through La Colaborativa’s innovative workforce development model. She has studied public health, enhanced her English, gained digital skills, like advanced Excel and data management, and earned crucial healthcare certifications.
Moreover, she applied this knowledge and refined her skills by rotating through hands-on internships, including with several departments within the organization, and became a Certified Application Counselor for MassHealth in Massachusetts.
As the program culminates with the graduation of this impressive first cohort, Noemy has been offered a position with Lynn Community Health Center, which will count toward the 2,000 hours of hands-on experience required for state certification. But beyond the skills and the structure, it’s the humanity of the experience leaving an indelible mark. Noemy plans to focus on mental health services, aiming to give back to the immigrant communities of Everett and Chelsea, the very communities that raised her.
“Here, I’ve been supported not just as a student, but as a person. I feel seen. I feel cared for. That’s something I’ve never experienced in a job before. It’s beautiful to know there are people who truly care about your growth and well-being.”
About the Community Health Worker Training Program
La Colaborativa’s Community Health Worker (CHW) Training Program is a pioneering annual initiative that offers young adults ages 18–24 from Chelsea, Revere, East Boston, Everett, and Lynn a direct pathway into meaningful careers in community health. La Colaborativa is currently accepting applications for the 2026 cohort.
The program offers a comprehensive pathway into community health careers by combining 80 hours of classroom instruction in public health fundamentals with 2,000 hours of paid, hands-on experience, coupled with career readiness, soft skill development, coaching, and mentorship programming. Participants receive a monthly stipend, transportation, access to childcare, and intensive wraparound services to help them balance school, work, and family responsibilities, ensuring success. With generous support from the Atrius Health Equity Foundation, this program is more than workforce training, it is a launchpad for future changemakers committed to dismantling the structural barriers that impact health outcomes in marginalized communities.
Transformation investments like the Community Health Worker Certification Program are impossible without your support. Please consider contributing as a recurring donor, with each dollar raised being used to dramatically improve the lives of our young adults.
