Through its Hire Local program, the Memphis Medical DistrictCollaborative (MMDC) aims to connect talented locals with meaningful employment opportunities in Memphis and the Mid-South. A recently released report by Slingshot and MDRC, “Worker Voices on Economic Mobility in Memphis,” underscores the experiences of Memphis workers seeking living-wage jobs, featuring insights from Hire Local participants and graduates. This report highlights the challenges workers face, such as accessing living-wage jobs, navigating “survival mode,” and perceiving limited economic opportunities.

 

Participants were candid and honest in their responses, going beyond surface-level views of opportunities to earn a livable wage. In response to these experiences and to further enhance healthcare career pathways, Hire Local has actively partnered with institutions and organizations like the Methodist University Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s (UTHSC) Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS) program, the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP), and more. These collaborations provide participants as young as 17 years old (through the Career Launch Academy) with access to advanced training facilities, comprehensive curricula, mentoring, and real-world experience in healthcare fields while paying a living wage.

 

Hire Local actively recruits for various healthcare training programs, including EMT classes, Medical Assistant programs in partnership with the University of Memphis, CNA classes, and others. These initiatives that attract participants from multiple generations aim to equip individuals with the necessary skills a

nd support to enter and thrive in the healthcare industry, addressing the workforce needs of the Memphis Medical District and contributing to the economic mobility of its residents.

 

For more information about Hire Local, visit www.hirelocal901.com.

 

To sign up for Career Launch Academy (11th and 12th grade students), click here. 

New Report: Worker Voices on Economic Mobility in Memphis