Jackson Free Press

Lukisha Cork, 35, knows an opportunity worth grabbing when she sees it. The Greenville mother of four boys, aged 12 to 17, will be receiving her certified nursing assistant certificate on Friday, along with four of her family members. The family can credit Lukisha for their newly acquired skills.

Cork, who worked in an adult day care center in Greenville, developed a love for helping people. She searched the Internet to find a training program, but there was nothing closer than the CNA Training Center in Jackson. "She called me and was inquisitive about what we had to offer here," Director Maxine Lindsey told the Jackson Free Press. With Greenville a two-and-a-half hour drive from Jackson, however, the director had concerns about the four-day-a-week commute. "I'm trying to be an example for my children," Cork told her, saying she was determined to make the daily drive.

Lindsey encouraged her to find someone to carpool with, but Cork did much more than that: She recruited four others from her family to complete the 130-hour, six-week program—Billy Wright, La'Faye Cork, Latoya Cork and TyAnne Smith. Hinds County WIN Jobs Center paid the majority of the $2,800 cost for each student, with the CNA Training Center picking up the difference. "I don't know where this money is coming from, but we're going to make it some kind of way," Lindsey says.

The family's determination to better their lives is reflected in their near perfect attendance during the duration of the program. They only missed one day during the first week because of car problems.

At the completion of the program, students take a test to receive their state certification to work as nurse assistants. CNAs provide hands-on care and perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. They often help patients to eat, dress and bathe. They also take patients' temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate and blood pressure. Often, CNAs will go on to become nurses, Lindsey says.

"Be positive and don't give up," Cork wrote at the completion of the program. "There will be some rough times, but put God first and keep going because it will pay off in the end. Remember, for all the good that you do, there's a reward in the end, and I'm a firm believer of that."

The graduation ceremony will be held at the Jackson Medical Mall Friday, Oct. 30 at 11:30 a.m. Greenville Councilwoman Betty Watkins is the guest speaker, and Greenville Mayor Heather Hudson is expected to attend.

The next CNA class at the center begins on Nov. 5. For information, call 601-364-1188 or visit their Web site at http://www.cnatrainingcenter.com.