Career Path Services

Three weeks.
That's how long Rian had been out of prison when he walked into WorkSource Columbia Basin. Like many people returning to their communities after incarceration, he wasn't just looking for a job. His list of barriers was much longer.

- He was trying to navigate technology.
- Figure out online applications.
- Build a resume.
- Find transportation.
- Prepare for an interview.
- And convince an employer to see more than his past.

What happened next wasn't the work of one person. Or one program. Or one organization. A reentry team helped him prepare for his interview.

Staff helped him learn the technology needed to search and apply for jobs. Partners helped with transportation, work clothing, and required equipment. When he had a question, someone answered it. When he hit a barrier, someone helped remove it.

If "it takes a village" had a face, it might look a lot like Rian's story. It's the staff member who takes an extra call, the partner who helps solve a transportation challenge, the organization willing to invest in someone's future, and the people who refuse to give up when the road gets difficult.

None of us gets where we're going alone. Three weeks after his release, Rian accepted what he described as a career opportunity with room to grow.

What drives our team isn’t the job offer itself. It’s what he wrote at the end of his note: “This is not just a survival job, but a career. I’m hoping to mentor men facing similar challenges as the ones I was able to overcome.”

That's what happens when a workforce system works the way it's supposed to. People stop navigating programs and start building futures.

For 55 years, Career Path Services has partnered with communities across Washington to strengthen workforce systems that connect people to opportunity, stability, and possibility. Because when partners work together, barriers become smaller, pathways become clearer, and work becomes more than a paycheck.

It becomes what we mean by the dignity of work.

To learn more about Career Path Services and the work happening across our state, visit: https://www.careerpathservices.org/

As an Associate Attorney with Betancourt Law, PLLC, Tyler Ashby spends his days helping people navigate some of life's most challenging moments. Through his work in Family Law and Criminal Defense, he has also seen another challenge emerge time and again: talented, hardworking people struggling to find employment after involvement with the legal system.

For Tyler, that reality isn't just a professional observation. It's personal motivation.

He joined the Career Path Services Board because he believes everyone deserves the opportunity to build a better future through meaningful work. He has seen how difficult it can be to get a foot in the door, even when someone is ready to work, willing to learn, and committed to changing their circumstances.

At Career Path Services, we're grateful for leaders like Tyler who bring their expertise, compassion, and commitment to expanding opportunities for others.

➡️ Want to learn more about the work we're doing across Washington State to connect people with employment, training, and pathways to economic mobility? Visit our website https://www.careerpathservices.org/ and explore how we're helping individuals build brighter futures through the dignity of work.

Makaylia came to BankWork$ as a single mom working retail and doing everything she could to keep up with the rising cost of life.

From day one, she stood out. She worked hard, showed up prepared, and fully invested in building something different for herself and her family. After graduating from BankWork$ cohort, Makaylia was hired by Columbia Bank.

One of the first things she shared was how excited she was to finally have a schedule that matched her kids' school day. No more evening and weekend shifts. No more scrambling to find coverage. Just the chance to be there. When employers, community partners, and supporters step forward, lives change.

We're grateful to Columbia Bank for continuing to invest in programs like BankWork$ and, more importantly, for seeing the potential in graduates like Makaylia. Partnerships like this don't just fill positions. They create opportunities that ripple through families and communities for years to come.

Interested in partnering with Career Path Services, hiring program graduates, or learning more about Dignified Workday and our workforce programs? We'd love to start a conversation.

Learn more at https://www.careerpathservices.org orhttps://www.dignifiedworkday.org/about-us/

Pride in Our Purpose: Why Inclusivity is the Core of Career Path Services 🏳️‍🌈✨

At Career Path Services, our mission is to empower individuals, transform lives, and build vibrant communities through employment. But here is the fundamental truth: we cannot be successful in our mission without inclusivity. Employment isn’t just about a paycheck; it’s about dignity, belonging, and the right to bring your whole self to work.

We believe that a thriving workforce requires every voice to be heard and every identity to be respected. A place where everyone has a seat at the table and a safe environment to excel. This June, and every month, we stand proudly with our LGBTQIA+ staff, participants, and community partners.

When we build workplaces where people can live and work authentically, we don't just fill jobs—we transform futures.

Happy Pride! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

From leading a WHO-associated clinic in Afghanistan and advocating to keep midwifery clinics open, to building a new future for his family here in Washington, Jamal’s journey is one of resilience, leadership, and hope.

After relocating to the U.S., Jamal faced the difficult reality many internationally trained professionals encounter: years of expertise, but limited pathways to continue their careers. Through the MediWork$ program at Career Path Services, he gained support navigating U.S. workplace culture, rebuilding his résumé, and reconnecting to meaningful work.

We’re proud to share that Jamal was hired by Community Health Care in Tacoma as an in-person assister at the clinic just one week before graduation.

A special thank you to Community Health Care (Tacoma) for recognizing the value of lived experience, leadership, and community-centered care. Partnerships like this create real pathways to stability and opportunity for immigrant and refugee professionals rebuilding their careers.

If you believe in the dignity of work and the power of second chances, consider supporting programs like MediWork$ by giving, hiring, or sharing stories like Jamal’s!

➡️ Learn more:
MediWork$ https://www.careerworks.org/programs/mediworks/
Career Path Services: https://www.careerpathservices.org/

🚧 WorkSource Spokane is excited to announce 20 fully funded openings for the WSDOT Highway Construction Pre‑Apprenticeship Program.

This four‑week, full‑time training prepares participants for entry‑level highway and road construction roles—a critical talent pipeline for our region’s infrastructure and transportation workforce.

Program Highlights:
• June 1–26, 2026
• Mon–Fri, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM
• Location: CITC Spokane
• Certifications: OSHA‑10, Flagger, Forklift
• Cost: Fully funded for eligible participants
• Requirements: 18+ with valid Social Security card; full attendance required

Limited spots available!
Application deadline: May 18th
Apply here: https://workforce.jotform.com/260117253104039?Spokane

The Talent Solutions Team by WorkSource Spokane is here to help regional businesses thrive! Meet the team today at the Spokane BizFair https://ow.ly/lUQ850YW8Zz.
This free event is geared to current and aspiring small business owners.

➡️Where: Washington Small Business Development Center - 4420 E 8th Ave, Spokane, WA 99212
➡️When: 11am-4:30pm

Join us for guest speakers, panel discussions, and networking with nonprofits, small business owners, lenders, representatives from government agencies and more. Learn about licensing, marketing, funding, recruiting, retention, and more!