Anas was a senior at Spring Lake Park High School when he learned about the Anoka County Empowers program for young people. He was enrolled in his high school’s Emergency Medical Training (EMT) certification course when he discovered the Empowers program was offering a firefighter internship through a partnership with the Fridley Fire Department, so he decided to enroll in Empowers and he was hired as a Fridley Fire Department intern in October 2023.
Anas wanted to gain enough experience through his internship to decide if he wanted to pursue a career path as a medical professional or a firefighter. By March 2024, Anas decided his career goal was to become a firefighter. He felt the internship opportunity allowed him build skills to work well under pressure in stressful situations, how to assist people when they are in a crisis, and how to work well in a team setting.
Anas graduated high school in June 2024 and worked with his career counselor to enroll in the Anoka County Fire Training Academy (ACFTA). The Empowers program provided Anas with tuition assistance and he started the academy in July 2024. In November 2024 Anas graduated from ACFTA and obtained three certifications: Fire 1, Fire 2, and Hazardous Materials Operations. He is now recognized by the State of Minnesota as a certified firefighter. That same month, he was hired in a permanent position working as a firefighter with the Fridley Fire Department, making $17.06, two dollars more an hour than his previous work as a lifeguard.
Anas is currently enrolled at Century College working to obtain his paramedic licensure while continuing to grow his skills as a firefighter. He plans on continuing his education further by obtaining a dual Associates of Science degree in Fire Science and Paramedicine. These additional credentials will help him earn more as a professional firefighter.
“I wouldn’t know what to do without this program,” said Anas about his experience in Empowers. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for a career and this program provided me the space to discover that. It is an incredible program that has a lot of different options for people.”
The Empowers program, through Leading CareerForce Partner Anoka County, provides employment and training opportunities to youth and young adults. Empowers can help eligible young people ages 14-24 explore different careers, access education and training to meet career goals and find employment.
- Find out more about the Anoka County Empowers program.
- Contact a CareerForce location near you for help with career exploration, job search and more
