Thank you to those who joined us for our special Stargazing Painting Creations. Your support of the Creative Process means so much.
Our June Paint Night Fundraiser was out of this world! Attendees painted their own beautiful renditions of van Gogh’s Starry Night, while enjoying delicious food, complimentary wine courtesy of our friends at Simply Elegant Catering, and great company. The evening also played host to many little ones who played games, created galaxy in a jar crafts, and more! Towards the end of the evening, everyone was invited to join together outside for some telescope stargazing. The moon was beautiful!
Check out a few pictures from our WOW! Magic Paint Night below. It was certainly a Unique & Different and Outrageously Memorable one! Then search for other great opportunities on our Events page.
Our 17th annual Tie Dye Day & Carnivale reached new heights this year, literally and figuratively! We had a tall slide that made for some great races, more participants than ever before which meant a record-setting number of tie dyed shirts, and more.
We had an awesome stilt walker, fried dough, slush, great food, awesome music, a fitness class, games galore, and an awesome slide that hosted more races than we could ever count!
Thank you to all who were a part of this WOW! Magic day! It was truly an Outrageously Memorable one.
Thank you to our volunteers, including those from GLTS, East Boston Savings Bank, Conlin’s Pharmacy & Medical Equipment, and Wander Wellness. Thank you to our donors at Home Depot who supplied our tie dying buckets. And thank you to our Partners who were a part of the day: Simply Elegant Catering, NRG Entertainment, Taylor Rentals, Ellco Promotions, North American Amusements, Daddy’s Fried Dough, and Circus D’Orion!
Check out a few photos from the day below with a full album of photos here.
Check out upcoming WOW! Magic events on our Events page.
More than 180 Students walked across the stage at our 2017 LARE Institute Graduation Celebration, held June 15 at LARE Institute in Andover.
Please check out news coverage of the event in Rumbo News, July 1, 2017 edition, page 1 and 11.
It was a proud evening for all, as our LARE Institute family was joined by Students’ families, friends, the area and state DTA offices, and more!
American Training President and CEO Tom Connors welcomed the students, telling them that what they’ve accomplished at LARE is just the start. “Nothing can stop you from becoming who you want to be.”
Commissioner Jeff McCue of the MA DTA served as the Guest speaker, offering inspiring words for the graduates and encouraging them to engage in two tasks. He urged them to keep it up, to keep growing, keep reaching for more. And to tell their stories.
“Everyone faces struggles at some point in maintaining their motivation. Your stories are proof that with the right supports and the right work ethic, you can accomplish anything,” he said.
Six Students spoke at the graduation, sharing their inspiring stories.
Natalia De Souza spoke about the three C’s in life; Choice, Chance, Change. “You must make the choice to take the chance, if you want anything in life to change,” she told her fellow graduates.
At a young age, Natalia started worked at a McDonald’s, eventually working her way up to assistant manager. Making decent money and wanting more hours, Natalia dropped out of high school in 11th grade, with the hope of earning more to help her parents pay their bills.
In her early twenties, she found increasing difficulty finding a job to support herself and her three children. That was when she enrolled at LARE, seeking her HiSET (GED).
“I did it. I got my HiSET,” she said. “I made the choice, took the chance, and made a change in my life for a brighter future.”
Sok Yoeun was proud as she spoke of her new apartment and incredible job in her chosen field. “I went from having nothing to getting a beautiful place that my sons and I now call home,” she said.
The mother of two graduated from LARE’s Medical Assisting program “with a job I love, great pay, and it’s close to home.”
For 20 years, Curtis Carravallo worked in the landscaping and construction field. He did everything from irrigation installation to hardscape construction to working as a hoisting engineer, operating heavy equipment. Then, in late 2012, Curtis had an accident at work that caused him to lose the vision in his right eye.
He was unable to continue the work he had planned to retire from, the career field he had known his whole adult life. Anxious to get back to work, but in need of a career change, Curtis enrolled in LARE’s Medical Assisting program. He graduated as a certified MA and is now working at Children’s Health Care.
“The staff at LARE Institute is exceptionally helpful, thorough, knowledgeable, understanding, and the reason why I am extremely successful at my job,” he said.
Lady Luciano, a graduate of the Medical Assisting program, told her fellow graduates of her life before LARE. “I was going through the worst time in my life – personally, professionally, and financially.” She was homeless with two small children, living at a shelter, grieving the loss of her mother who had recently lost her battle with cancer.
“I put all my energy and concentration in school and I focused on being the very best student I could be,” she said. “I wanted to make my mom and my children so proud of me.”
Lady earned her HiSET before graduating from the CNA program. But that wasn’t all. “I never stopped trying to improve my current situation,” she said.
Lady got her driver’s license and a car, passed her CNA state test, got a job at American Training, and moved out of the shelter into a beautiful apartment.
“Today I feel proud of myself for being able to accomplish the goals that I have set. I know that my children are proud and will always know that Mommy didn’t give up and I know that my beautiful mom is smiling at me from heaven,” she added before thanking her LARE family for making her a better person and always believing in her.
For 22-year-old Aprile Medina, LARE gave her the start she needed for the bright future she’s planning. The mother of one enrolled at LARE, with the goal of earning her HiSET, but realized she wanted more. After completing her HiSET, she enrolled in the CNA program, earning her certification. Still, Aprile wants more. “I hope one day I can climb the ladder and become a nurse or doctor like I dreamed of as a little girl.”
She thanked her classmates and fellow graduates for their support along the way. “After this long journey, I would love to give LARE, DTA, and my family a big thank you for being here me…I found happiness, love, and future at the end of the light. Thank you.”
Jamie Johnson spent twelve years working in finance before deciding she wanted to do something that would help others. She enrolled at LARE in the pharmacy technician program where she worked hard to earn her certification.
As she stood before the crowd, she said, “The moment you ever find yourself questioning your ability to succeed, remember this: when we were first learning to walk or get around on our own; we all fell, we cried, we struggled. We all got right back up too and today, we celebrate standing. Standing tall and even running. To the class of 2017 though, I say let’s make history by flying.”
Our Students then marched across the stage before switching their tassels in unison, marking their end as LARE Students and start as LARE alums. Congratulations Graduates!
Check out photos of the graduation, Students celebrating with their families, and more below, with a full album of photos here!
Thank you! For joining us at the Gatsby Mansion!
What an ab-so-lute-ly amazing evening of WOW! Magic, filled with Outrageously Memorable moments, great company, fabulous entertainment, delicious food, and the celebration of our own American Training Family members!
Check out news coverage of the event in the May 22, 2017 issue of Rumbo here.
The 2017 Celebrate Good Times Gala at the Gatsby Mansion had us all dolled up and looking spiffy. Jay Gatsby was so pleased to have his mansion filled with his closest friends and the ATI Family. His girl Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, and Nick Carraway were there. Babe Ruth, Charlie Chaplin, Einstein, Amelia Earhart, Coco Chanel, Al Capone, and Alice Paul mixed and mingled among the ATI Family. And musical greats Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Jane Green graced the mansion with their presence.
But the true stars of the night were the Guests and Residents of American Training! The night was all about celebrating who they are and what they’ve accomplished. We handed out the Mentor, Creator and Spirit Awards. Congratulations to our 2017 award winners!
Mentor Award – Mallorie Cantwell; Creator Award – Gregory Trepanier; Spirit Award – The Amplifi Music Class of Erika Spanos, Grace Sullivan, Danielle Bowman, Damien Freeman, and Jacob Murphy. And congratulations to our 2017 nominees: Maryanne Lippold, Linda Frazier, Frank Bekkenhuis, Crystal White, and Raymond Boisvert.
Check out the photos below, with a full album of photos including those from the photo booth, here.
Thank you to our 2017 Celebrate Good Times Gala supporters!
Thank you to all who joined us for the Next Step Graduation. It was such an honor to celebrate our students for their hard work and dedication to the program. We were lucky enough to be joined by our students, their families, MRC, and the students’ employers, all of whom were there to recognize our graduates.
We enjoyed a photo booth through NRG Entertainment, heartfelt speeches, and delicious food, before handing out Certificates of Appreciation to employers and Certificates of Completion to our very proud graduates.
“Just to see the look on their faces the day of the graduation made me feel so proud that I was able to help them accomplish one of their goals,” said Mayelin Taveras, Program Instructor for Next Step at American Training.
As a gift to each of our 21 graduates, we handed out gift cards and the memories of an Outrageously Memorable WOW! Magic evening!
“My students really are the best,” said Mayelin. “And I wish them the best in everything they set out to accomplish.”
Check out a few pictures, captured by Steven Antonio Photography, from the graduation below.
And check out a few more from our photo booth.
More about our Next Step Program
Here at American Training, we go the extra mile to incorporate FUN & Entertainment into all that we do. We call it WOW! Magic. It’s Extraordinary Customer Service that provides Unique & Different opportunities and Outrageously Memorable moments.
Our StarWorks team focuses on building confidence and skills that lead to employment for people of all levels of abilities and challenges. We work with you to find the right job to meet your needs and wants. And we do it all with our signature WOW! Magic, something you won’t find anywhere else.
In addition to turning the ordinary upside down through the standard elements of a Pre-ETS program, we’ve also added some great features to make our program shine for you!
We feature the help you are looking for before you go to work or continue your education, like information about jobs and college, benefits information, or how to use public transportation. Through regular attendance, we will help you get a paid internship in the field that interests you! We make sure that your hard work and dedication to the program pays off with surprises, parties, snacks in class, and more fun than any classroom you’ve ever been in!
For more information, give us a call at 978-685-2151.
This Suicide Awareness Training on Friday, June 2, 2017, is 2 CEUs for Registered Nurses and Social Workers, and CEUs for LMHCs are pending.
Course Description
Suicide Awareness will cover basic information about suicide, such as terminology, suicide truths, statistics, warning signs and risk and resilience factors. We also discuss how to talk with someone at risk of suicide as well as resources to get them the help they need.
At the end of this session you will be able to:
Meet Our Trainer
Mary Quinn, LICSW, has been a clinical social worker for 28 years and holds a Master in Social Work degree from Simmons College School of Social Work. Prior to joining American Training she worked for 10 years for the Samaritans of Merrimack Valley, a program of Family Services of the Merrimack Valley, providing suicide prevention, postvention and intervention training. She has presented over 120 Suicide Prevention Trainings for Gatekeepers of Older Adults and over 30 Suicide and Aging – A Gatekeeper Workshop trainings, both of which are on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center Best Practice Registry. She created and presented Middle Aged Men and Suicide – A Troubling Trend workshops to clinicians. She has presented at the MA Department of Public Health Suicide Prevention conference and at the American Association of Suicidology annual conference. Mary is a Master Trainer in the Connect™ Suicide Prevention, Postvention and Survivor Voices Projects and is a QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) trainer.
Cost
Course fee is $40 per person and must be paid prior to beginning the course.
Registration
Register here or contact Danielle LaPointe at 978-685-2151, ext. 6850 or daniellelapointe@americantraininginc.com.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made 15+ days prior to the course will receive a 50% REFUND. Cancellations within 14 business days or for absentees will receive NO REFUND.
Questions
Please contact Danielle LaPointe at 978-685-2151, ext. 6850 or daniellelapointe@americantraininginc.com with any questions.
Tuition must be paid prior to beginning the course.
Space is limited!
Search for other training opportunities on our events page.
This Babysitter Training will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 6 Campanelli Drive in Andover.
Course Description
This course is specifically designed for youth between the ages of 11 to 15, and will certify students in American Red Cross Babysitter Training and American Red Cross Pediatric First Aid and CPR. Topics include the following:
• How to provide child care for infants and children
• How to choose age-appropriate activities
• What to do in an emergency
• How to recognize and handle a variety of behaviors
Students will also learn the basics of starting a babysitting business, including leadership styles, decision-making skills, resume preparation, and how to safely market your business. The course is highly interactive and features videos, activities, games and tools babysitters can use to build their knowledge and skills and manage their babysitting business effectively.
Meet Our Trainer
Danielle LaPointe is a certified Babysitter Instructor and First Aid/CPR Instructor through the American Red Cross. For the past 12 years she has been involved in various organizations working and volunteering with youth ages 10 – 16 as a camp counselor, religious education teacher, tutor, and mentor. At the age of 13 she started her own babysitting business and has been caring for children from infancy to teenage years since then.
Costs
Course fee is $125 per person. Includes training, lunch, and all course materials. Course fee must be paid prior to beginning the course.
Registration
To register, please contact Danielle LaPointe at 978-685-2151, ext. 6850 or daniellelapointe@americantraininginc.com.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made 10+ days prior to the course will receive a FULL REFUND. Cancellations made 5-9 days prior to course will receive a 50% REFUND. Cancellations within 4 business days or for absentees will receive NO REFUND.
Questions
Please contact Danielle LaPointe at 978-685-2151, ext. 6850 or daniellelapointe@americantraininginc.com with any questions.
Tuition must be paid prior to beginning the course.
Space is limited!
Search for other training opportunities on our events page.
What an ab-so-lute-ly amazing Spring Break!
We learned and laughed so much!
The day began with a ice breaker, a sheet filled with funny questions to ask our Colleagues, something that would get us talking to those we rarely see because of our varying branches and locations. Questions ranged from “What is the best present you’ve ever received?” to “What ice cream flavor describes you?” or “Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?” The hilarious answers made for great conversation starters!
Our host Jay Gatsby, otherwise known as our President & CEO Tom Connors, welcomed us. We discussed what had changed since the last Spring Break in Neverland and what we could work on changing before the next one in 2018.
We enjoyed a beautiful tribute video to our American Training Family members whose memories we carry on in our hearts.
Then it was on to training! We put on the Ritz with our Mission and Core Values. We heard from Colleagues about how our Mission and Values shape us. We heard stories of our Values in action and how our Mission drives us to give our all for those we serve.
Before we started our WOW! Magic training, we were treated to a Unique & Different performance. Our Colleagues Amy, Sarah, Destinee, and Julie performed a vintage rendition of “Oops I did it again” that received a standing ovation!
The final training of the day had us get a wiggle on and learn about how our WOW! Magic affects those we serve. We heard from Colleagues who have grown through our WOW! Magic, as well as stories of Guests, Residents, and Students who have experienced more fulfilling lives and Outrageously Memorable moments because of it.
It was truly an inspiring morning followed by a wild afternoon of games and competition.
First up was the Great “Getsby” a mashup of musical chairs and a scavenger hunt. Specialized Housing and Clinical & Youth Residential Services dominated as our Colleagues searched Gatsby’s Mansion, the Andover Country Club, for described items and raced back to get a seat at the front of the crowd. One-by-one they were eliminated, with Specialized Housing coming out on top!
Then it was on to Knots and Oughts, a game of human tic tac toe. The competition was fierce, as the final two came down to Vanway and Clinical, but it was Clinical who won the final round! They also took first in our Silent Movie competition.
The final game, the West Egg Races, kicked off with all of our teams in a close running. Team Admin. won the game, but it was Clinical & Youth Residential Services who won the coveted ATI Spring Break trophy! For the first time ever in the history of ATI Spring Breaks!
Wow! What a great day spent enjoying games, learning, laughing, and having fun with our American Training Family!
Check out a few photos from the day below, with a full album of photos here.
This Babysitter Training will be held on Friday, February 24, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6 Campanelli Drive in Andover.
Course Description
This course is specifically designed for youth between the ages of 11 to 15, and will certify students in American Red Cross Babysitter Training and American Red Cross Pediatric First Aid and CPR. Topics include the following:
• How to provide child care for infants and children
• How to choose age-appropriate activities
• What to do in an emergency
• How to recognize and handle a variety of behaviors
Students will also learn the basics of starting a babysitting business, including leadership styles, decision-making skills, resume preparation, and how to safely market your business. The course is highly interactive and features videos, activities, games and tools babysitters can use to build their knowledge and skills and manage their babysitting business effectively.
Meet Our Trainer
Danielle LaPointe is a certified Babysitter Instructor and First Aid/CPR Instructor through the American Red Cross. For the past 12 years she has been involved in various organizations working and volunteering with youth ages 10 – 16 as a camp counselor, religious education teacher, tutor, and mentor. At the age of 13 she started her own babysitting business and has been caring for children from infancy to teenage years since then.
Costs
Course fee is $125 per person. Includes training, lunch, and all course materials. Course fee must be paid prior to beginning the course.
Registration
To register, please contact Danielle LaPointe at 978-685-2151, ext. 6850 or daniellelapointe@americantraininginc.com.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made 10+ days prior to the course will receive a FULL REFUND. Cancellations made 5-9 days prior to course will receive a 50% REFUND. Cancellations within 4 business days or for absentees will receive NO REFUND.
Questions
Please contact Danielle LaPointe at 978-685-2151, ext. 6850 or daniellelapointe@americantraininginc.com with any questions.
Tuition must be paid prior to beginning the course.
Space is limited!
Search for other training opportunities on our events page.
Thank you to all who joined us for our second annual Healthy Hearts Free Blood Pressure Clinic!
Our nurses provided blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen level checks to more than 100 people. Attendees enjoyed great music, heart healthy snacks, our signature WOW! Magic, and more!
Check out a few photos from the event below. And learn more about living a heart healthy life here.
