Graduate Profile: Renikka Robinson
Renikka Robinson, IDEA PCS Class of 2020, came to her Advanced Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) apprenticeship at Forest Hills DC through SOME Center for Employment Training. Her SOME instructors first told her about DC HEAL healthcare apprenticeships while she was preparing for her Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam knowing that her long-term goal is to become a Registered Nurse. Her experience at Forest Hills, a long-term care facility, has been so successful that she’s staying on as a CNA Team Lead and starting her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Trinity Washington University.
Renikka is part of the first cohort of DC HEAL, a healthcare workforce initiative led by the DC Health Care Workforce Partnership in collaboration with CityWorks DC and funded in part by a philanthropic gift to DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education. DC HEAL is a one-year, full-time, paid apprenticeship in clinical and non-clinical roles in DC hospitals, clinics, and health care centers. In addition to completing an industry-recognized credential, apprentices typically work 36-40 hours per week, earning upwards of $40,000, while gaining real hands-on work experience.
The Power of Practice
Renikka described herself on day one as “nervous and confused.” While she had the drive to pursue a clinical career in health care, she hadn’t had the opportunity to develop her skills in a real world setting to build the muscle memory of the work. That changed as she trained alongside skilled CNAs and kept showing up every day. “Doing something repeatedly only makes me more relaxed,” she said, describing how the unfamiliar gradually became second nature.
Finding Purpose in Caring for Residents
Renikka points to one group as the real difference-makers in her apprenticeship: the long-term care residents themselves. “They give meaning to the work I do every day,” she said. One moment exemplifies what she means. She cared for a resident with dementia who was frequently anxious and resistant to care. But, rather than rush through her tasks, Renikka slowed down–speaking gently, explaining each step, keeping a consistent routine–until the resident felt calm. It’s moments like this one that reflect the larger lesson she took from the apprenticeship: healthcare means caring for the person behind the diagnosis.
Building a Foundation for the Work Ahead
Renikka expected the apprenticeship to focus mainly on technical CNA skills–taking vital signs, documentation, safety procedures. Instead, she found that listening, patience, and treating each resident as an individual mattered just as much. That insight, paired with the confidence her supervisor and team helped her build in providing safe, respectful, compassionate care, sharpened her sense of direction: continuing her education toward becoming a registered nurse, and taking on greater responsibility in patient care.
The steady paycheck during her apprenticeship also made a significant difference: it gave her the financial stability to build her career without choosing between income and the opportunity to learn and grow. It helped relieve much of the stress that comes with paying for everyday expenses while preparing for the future.
Looking Ahead
Renikka’s next step is clear: continue working at Forest Hills as a CN Team Lead while completing her nursing degree at Trinity Washington University. The apprenticeship gave her the technical proficiency, professional confidence, and sense of purpose rooted in the people she serves in addition to a paycheck, network of supportive colleagues, and a pathway to her future.
Renikka’s journey reflects what CityWorks DC apprenticeships are built to do: give young people the time, mentorship, and deep work experience to grow their skills and self-awareness to launch a rewarding, meaningful career with a clear path for upward mobility while also providing Forest Hills with the local talent to build an inclusive senior living community that feels like home. To learn more about how CityWorks DC helps young people build careers through hands-on learning, visit cityworksdc.org/programs.
