October 15, 2025 When Alicia Thomas was first introduced to the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work (VIEW) program, she was skeptical. With years of experience as a medical assistant, she was used to helping others - but when it came to seeking help for herself, she hesitated. "I didn't want a lot of people in my business," Alicia admits. "But I had to let go of stigmas around assistance." Encouraged by Michaela, her case worker, she agreed to attend a job fair. She never looked back. It didn't take long for Alicia to realize that VIEW was more than a job placement program; it was a pathway to her goal of self-sufficiency. As the job fair approached, she received free assistance with her resume, giving her the chance to put her best foot forward with employers - and recognize her own worth. "A big part of it was confidence," she remembers. "I didn't realize how much in life I had done. I am marketable." With a polished resume in hand, she arrived at the job fair with renewed energy and willpower. At the fair, Alicia's VIEW career coach, Sulli, helped connect her to a medical billing and coding training program through a Richmond-based adult education institution called Dream Academy. Given Alicia's experience as a medical assistant, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to develop her skills and pursue the career she'd always envisioned for herself. There was one problem, though: "I didn't even have a computer," she remembers. It all seemed out of reach. The VIEW program offered the lift she needed, bringing the opportunity to reach her goal within her grasp. VIEW not only covered her tuition, but also provided her with a free laptop, filling her with newfound hope and equipping her to pursue her goals in spite of what initially seemed like an insurmountable barrier. Still, her journey wasn't a direct route - it was full of detours, hurdles, and speed bumps. The program required Alicia to meet certain work participation requirements, which she struggled to achieve with freelance work through DoorDash and Walmart Spark. This challenge, compounded by narrowly failing to pass a certification exam and experiencing a devastating family tragedy, left Alicia exhausted, and she considered withdrawing from the program altogether. Yet she refused to give up, finding hope and strength in the support network she'd developed through the VIEW program. Alicia credits Michaela, Sulli, and Jennifer, a talent development specialist at Virginia Career Works, with helping her navigate this period of profound uncertainty. Their support empowered her to see the challenges she'd faced not as personal failures, but as experiences that built her resilience, strengthened her determination to push forward, and nurtured hope. "What impressed me most about Ms. Thomas was her unwavering determination to make her life change for the better," Sulli says. "She was working two part-time jobs, in training, and still seeking more," adds Jennifer. "A true go getter." Alicia recalls each of them going "above and beyond," regularly checking in with her, providing gas cards, and even helping her put food on the table when she needed it. Michaela continued to advocate for her, emphasizing how much progress Alicia had made, and the two of them worked to set new, attainable benchmarks. "I had the privilege of watching her career, hours, and income grow," Michaela says. "If nothing else, I was her biggest cheerleader." With the pathway ahead clearer than ever, Alicia set her sights on her goal of self-sufficiency. "You have to want more for yourself," she says, recognizing her power to make real change in her life. As she continued to dedicate long hours to working and studying, the VIEW program ensured not only that her needs were met, but her family's needs, too, allowing her to focus on her career. "They offered my husband work training programs that were free," Alicia remembers. "They took care of my whole family."" As Alicia's confidence and skills grew, she soon found herself on the path to securing the job she had always hoped for. When a new primary care medical facility opened nearby, she seized the opportunity and submitted an application, determined to turn her aspirations into reality. First came the interview - then the offer. "Alicia was uniquely qualified to join our practice," says Kearby, Alicia's supervisor, highlighting her experience as a medical assistant and completion of Dream Academy's medical billing program. She quickly began to emerge as a leader in the workplace, mentoring new members of the team and ensuring daily operations ran smoothly and efficiently. "Alicia was able to immediately hit the ground running and become an integral part of our clinic," Kearby adds, underscoring her ability to build relationships with clients and coworkers alike. Alicia recalls her case worker and colleagues from the Henrico County Department of Social Services and Dream Academy attending the job's open house, celebrating her accomplishments like their own. "She was so proud to show her office off and introduce me to her colleagues," Michaela recalls, emphasizing how much Alicia's coworkers seemed to appreciate working alongside her. Alicia still works in that position today, a realization of her dreams, goals and unshakable willpower. The job represents not only a new stage in her career, but a reflection of the belief that behind each closed door is an open path. Sometimes, it just takes a little support to step across the threshold. "I don't want to say it's my dream job," she admits. "But it truly is."