Bianca Noroñas studied communications in Puerto Rico. She grew up in Hato Rey, and while studying in Santurce, she worked as a freelancer for documentaries, local movies, music videos, and short films. An awarded film editor, producer, costume director, and … Continue reading Bianca’s Story: Braving the Storm and Seeking Success
Breaking free for a brighter future Once enrolled at Goodwin University, Elizabeth found the MSOL curriculum engaging. “My two favorite classes were Leadership Practices in Organizational Communications and Negotiating and Conflict Response,” she recounted. “If you knew me five years … Continue reading Elizabeth’s Story: Lessons in Leadership and Summoning her Personal Power (Part Two)
Elizabeth Giannetta-Ramos grew up in the south end of Hartford, Connecticut, during the nineties, an era when the state’s capital was riddled with crime, gang wars, and gunfire. With her home in Hartford, Elizabeth attended private school in West Hartford. … Continue reading Elizabeth’s Story: Lessons in Leadership and Summoning her Personal Power
By Lauren Gee, LFSP, CCSP, CCO, Funeral Service graduate Growing up, my family and I lived above a funeral home that my father owned and operated, yet my contact with death was surprisingly limited. My mother and father purposefully shielded … Continue reading Lauren’s Story: A Funeral Service Career that Came Calling
Carmelot’s Story: Accomplishing Nursing Career Ambitions and Achieving his American Dream Carmelot Eliassaint loves Caribbean food and the color blue, and relaxes by listening to gospel music and reading. As someone who always enjoys helping people, his favorite quote is, … Continue reading Carmelot’s Story: Accomplishing Nursing Career Ambitions and Achieving his American Dream
Pri’s Story: From strong manufacturing student to proud producer How Priyansha Nayak went from a manual machine operator in Mumbai to a top-tier mechanical engineer As a child, Priyansha “Pri” Nayak would often play with gears and wrenches instead of … Continue reading Pri’s Story: From Strong Manufacturing Student to Proud Producer
Celebrating Local Black Talent Series Small Black Owned Business Feature Name: Robbin Jackson Affiliation: Goodwin student Business Name: Nutmeg Kettlecorn Business Type: Retail food business Year Founded: 2014 Who We Are & What We Do… Nutmeg Kettlecorn is a family … Continue reading Small Black Owned Business Feature: Nutmeg Kettlecorn
Jade Nardi is a young woman who, in many ways, raised herself. In a life that taught her early to either sink or swim, she’s lived without the luxury of a life raft for as long as she can remember. Growing … Continue reading Jade’s Story: From the classroom to the COVID unit
Iran’s Story Part Three: The business of building a road to peace Engaged in an entrepreneurial education The Peace Center provided Iran an introduction to Goodwin University’s Entrepreneurial Network (ENet) program. “I learned about ENet through program director Matt Connell,” … Continue reading Iran’s Story: Building a Road to Peace
Iran’s Story Part Two: A transformation of trials Iran’s transition to a new world wasn’t easy, and the temptation to return to his former life waited around every corner — coaxing him to come back through every connection and every … Continue reading Iran’s Story: A Transformation of Trials
Iran’s Story Part One: How one man dared to do something different and created his peaceful purpose Iran Nazario went from a hardened life on Hartford’s streets to a distinguished position as the passionate president and CEO of a non-profit … Continue reading Iran’s Story: Creating a Peaceful Purpose
Ariel’s Story: Motivated to Melt Metal How welding student Ariel Mari-Ayala found his future fusing with flames Watching welders work: Igniting inspiration “All my life, since I was very young, I liked to work with my hands,” Ariel Mari-Ayala stated. … Continue reading Ariel’s Story: Motivated to Melt Metal
How former CTRA scholar and first-generation soon-to-be Goodwin graduate found hope for her future in high school by Serena Seepersaud Nervous for new beginnings The thought of starting high school was daunting, and, like most 13- and 14-year-olds, I was … Continue reading Serena’s Story: Optimistic on her path to opportunity
Brian’s Story: From housing insecure to hopeful and helping others How Brian Sullivan built his small business and found success after his experiences with our nation’s flawed correctional system Goodwin University’s Entrepreneurial Network (ENet) is an 18-college credit certificate program … Continue reading Brian’s Story: From housing insecure to hopeful and helping others
How Morgan’s experience at CTRA, RMS, and Goodwin demonstrated the importance of togetherness and taught her to give back Morgan Sheldon is a creative communicator who enjoys connecting with others and crafting a strong sense of community for those around … Continue reading Morgan’s story: Making a difference with her degree
Timothy Mason grew up in an Eastern Connecticut town with over 150 active farms. Although his hometown boasts green pastures, red farm homes, and the many colors of an agricultural history, Timothy found life there to be a bit “monochromatic.” … Continue reading Timothy’s Story: From CTRA pupil to “paging Dr. Mason…”
Rising from Hardship, Remaining Hopeful, and Reaching for Happiness: How I helped lift my family out of poverty and pursued my professional passions By Bricherland “Bibi” Quinones For as long as I can remember, my mother told me that my … Continue reading Bibi’s Story: Hardship to Happiness
Popping the Bubble to Pursue her Dreams: How CTRA Scholar Taylor Marchand Took Control of Her Career Destiny Taylor Marchand was “the weird tomboy girl who wasn’t afraid of spiders or bugs” growing up, and she found it challenging to … Continue reading Taylor’s Story: Popping the Bubble to Pursue her Dreams