From Student to Success: CNA Program Offered by Tennessee DHS Grantee Daughters of Zion Showcases Rose Mary Parker Success Story
By: Staff, July 2, 2024
MEMPHIS, TN—- In continuation of Daughters of Zion, a DHS Family First grantee,’ From Student to Success Series’ – we will feature Ms. Rose Mary Parker. She was a student in the August 2023 CNA cohort and her life has made a dramatic turnaround in less than a year. It is the goal of Daughters of Zion to establish lifelong partnerships with all the participants, therefore the relationship does not end after the class.
Interviewer: Thank you for participating in this interview.
Mary: It is my pleasure.
Interviewer: Are you originally from Memphis?
Mary; I am originally from Dundee Mississippi and I moved to Memphis as a child. I
completed high school here and then moved to Illinois. I moved back in 2022 because I was looking for a warmer climate and wanted to be closer to family
Interviewer: What was your life like when you moved back to Memphis?
Mary: I was a loan/mortgage processor and I was doing well for myself.
Interviewer: What was a breaking point in your life?
Mary: When the economy went bad, I lost my income. It was very scary being in that situation. I went down to nothing. I started looking around for something to do. I thought about being a CNA – I know that I could go ahead and work immediately because of the demand. But all the jobs that I was seeing required certification and I did not have any money to attend any of the programs in Memphis.
Interviewer: How did you come across Daughters of Zion?
Mary: I got a text from Dr. Kiner about the program and I followed up. The staff responded immediately and I was enrolled in the program.
Interviewer: How did you just randomly get a text? Usually, you have to express an interest.
Mary: I am not sure how my phone number got in the database – I see it as Divine Intervention.
Interviewer: What was your class experience at Daughters of Zion?
Mary: I was the oldest one in the classroom – I am 63 now. The other students were in their 20s and 30s and maybe 40s. I kept a positive attitude – reading the books – studying. On the day that I was going to take the licensing test – I heard the song ‘God Do It For Me,’ for the first time and I kept repeating it during the test. I passed the licensing test on the first try
Interviewer: What was the effect on your life from the Daughters of Zion experience?
Mary: It was all a positive effect – the program motivated me to let me know I can do anything if I keep a positive attitude. I had no issues with getting employment. I am working as a CNA and with the business development assistance that I got from Daughters of Zion I was able to open my own home health care business.
Interviewer: Tell us about your business
Mary: The name of my business is Holy Home Care. I provide in-home care assistance I am licensed with the state and I am working on getting clients and growing the business.
Interviewer: What’s next for Mary?
Mary: I hope to be operating from three locations in the city. I would also like to operate a homeless shelter.
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