Drive for 5 grad now working as RN at Twin Cities hospital
August 28, 2025
DEED's Drive for 5 initiative is helping Minnesotans prepare for and find family-sustaining employment and fill high-demand positions in high-growth fields. Emma's story exemplifies the power of industry sector partnerships at the core of Drive for 5, which we launched in 2023 to connect people with employment in five fields: the caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology and the trades.
The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State used a $740,000 Drive for 5 grant to launch a Pre-Licensure Nursing Apprenticeship pilot program that Emma participated in. This pilot empowers students to earn while they learn, allowing them to stay focused on their studies and clinical experience. This made a big difference for Emma, a single mother who previously had to rely on a food shelf as she juggled work, school and caring for her children.