Daughters of Zion’s CNA Graduates Step Forward: A New Generation of Caregivers Emerges in Memphis
By: The Shelby County Observer Staff
October 7, 2025 | Memphis, Tennessee
The acclaimed program’s success proves that vision and accountability—not funding size—drive true community transformation
As the evening sun settled over Memphis, the atmosphere at Daughters of Zion’s William and Johnson Career College was filled with quiet pride and purpose. Ten graduates—each with their own story of perseverance, discipline, and newfound opportunity—walked across the stage to receive their Certified Nursing Assistant credentials, marking the completion of yet another successful training cycle under Daughters of Zion’s groundbreaking CNA program.
The graduates—Hashuni Williams, Destiny Jones, Ceyonce Peterson, Brenda Terry, Terenia Martin, Kelsey Hollowell, Kierra Franklin, Chrystalin Branch, Kyamta Smalley, and Ashley Todd—represent the fourth quarter class of 2025, and the continuation of a legacy that has come to define Daughters of Zion as one of Shelby County’s most effective and transformative training programs.
A Year of Milestones and Momentum
This ceremony, the culmination of months of study and practical training, came at the close of a historic year for the Daughters of Zion CNA initiative. Funded through a $175,000 Shelby County Commissioner’s Scholarship grant, the program has trained and certified dozens of healthcare professionals in just five-week intervals, all while maintaining one of the most efficient cost-per-participant ratios in the county’s history.
Each graduate’s journey reflects the mission at the heart of Daughters of Zion: empowering individuals from underserved communities to gain meaningful, long-term employment in the growing healthcare sector. Their achievement is not just personal—it represents a tangible investment in the public health and economic stability of Shelby County.
The Impact Beyond the Classroom
Graduates of the program leave William and Johnson Career College equipped not only with technical proficiency, but with a sense of purpose and readiness to serve. Many transition immediately into employment with hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare agencies, helping to meet the region’s rising demand for compassionate, skilled caregivers.
The short yet intensive nature of the program—just five weeks from enrollment to certification—has become its hallmark. In a city where educational barriers and financial challenges too often prevent career advancement, Daughters of Zion has redefined what opportunity looks like.
Each student’s success carries a multiplying effect: stronger families, more stable neighborhoods, and healthier communities. In this way, the CNA graduation ceremony stands as more than a celebration of individual achievement; it is a reflection of systemic change achieved through community partnership and disciplined stewardship of public resources.
A Legacy of Excellence
Now, with 48 graduates in just one year, Daughters of Zion’s William and Johnson Career College has become a symbol of how targeted education and responsible investment can reshape lives. Its graduates—men and women like those honored last night—are the evidence of a new model for community transformation: one that does not depend on vast budgets or bureaucracy, but on vision, accountability, and compassion.
Their time at Daughters of Zion was more than a course; it was a calling fulfilled. Each graduate leaves with the tools to serve others, the skills to build a career, and the confidence to step forward into a brighter future—proof that in Shelby County, small programs can yield extraordinary results.
About the Program:
The Daughters of Zion CNA Scholarship Program, operated through William and Johnson Career College, is funded in partnership with the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. The initiative has produced one of the highest job-placement rates in Tennessee for entry-level healthcare workers, providing residents with the skills, certification, and confidence needed to achieve financial independence.
About Post Author
