Yash Roy Photo
Davis-Taylor at Saturday's graduation: Ready for steady work.
Cameron Davis-Taylor is ready to reenter the workforce. This time around, she plans on being a chef.
She had no professional culinary experience until she joined the ConnCAT Culinary Arts Academy half a year ago. Now she knows she is ready to start a business and begin working.
Davis-Taylor graduated Saturday alongside 22 other students from ConnCAT adult academies. Two students graduated from the culinary program, eight students graduated from an inaugural “Biolaunch” program, and 13 graduated from their phlebotomy program.
“ConnCAT showed me that I can go back to school at this age and rejoin the workforce,” Davis-Taylor said. “I have the confidence to start my own business.”
Davis-Taylor and the other student in the culinary program had to take over the ConnCAT kitchen for the last segment of the program, and that “gave her the confidence” that she could succeed in the modern workforce.
The ceremony took place at the ConnCAT building in Science Park. The graduates and their families and friends heard from State Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, who celebrated both the program and the students.
“By earning your diploma today, you’re building your life blueprints, and bringing out your great in closing,” Russell-Tucker said. “Remember the journey, and embrace that journey.”
“As you step out into the world know that you carry with you the support of this ConnCAT family. Graduation is not the end of the journey. Even though you celebrate, we celebrate really hard, but it’s only the beginning,” she added.
Russel-Tucker applauded ConnCAT Founder and CEO Erik Clemons for helping found the institute to train New Haveners for good jobs.
“I remember when Erik told me about this 12 years ago to tap into the community and help secure meaningful high-wage jobs,” she said. “This program is near and dear to my heart because it creates opportunities for all learners.”
ConnCAT offers six-month-long adult job training programs, youth programs, and career pathway programs to New Haveners, free of cost. Through the adult job-training programs, ConnCAT helps New Haveners gain the skills necessary to thrive in bioscience, phlebotomy and the culinary world.
This graduation ceremony featured the first set of graduates of the Biolaunch program.
“This program was launched by industries who wanted to develop a local workforce to be part of their businesses and industry leaders wanted to develop this force here in New Haven,” OrLando Yarborough, the ConnCAT lead for the program, told the Independent. “There is no pathway designed for people who do not go to college to go into these lines of work, and that’s what we did here.”
The program was “life-changing” for its students, including Mohamad Abu Bakari. He registered because he wanted a boost in his career. He’s walking away with a job from an internship the program helped set him up with.
His favorite part of the program? “All of the support and guidance … they’re just always there for me.”
Yash Roy Photo
State Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker with ConnCAT Founder Erik Clemons at graduation.
Congratulations to all the students,I hope you have great success in all you do.Thank you Erick Clemons and all the staff for all your great work.