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The nonprofit Yuut Elitnaurviat People’s Learning Center is the principle adult education and workforce training organization in Bethel, the hub for the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) region. This vast area in southwest Alaska covers 75,000 square miles (around the size of South Dakota) and is home to over 26,000 people. The organization’s mission is to prepare residents for in-demand, high-wage jobs that are critical to the economy of the region. Its extensive work in career development extends from basic qualifications to specialized certification, both of which seek to increase the earning potential of residents and help fill open positions with qualified applicants.
One of its leading programs is the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) course. Open nursing positions are a constant in the region, both in Bethel and the surrounding villages. Yuut Elitnaurviat’s program prepares residents to fill those positions, which increases the capacity of the local medical system and the earning power of the individuals. The average annual salary for an LPN in Alaska is $67,620, much higher than the average per capita income in the region, which ranges from around $13,000-$20,000 per year.Other flagship programs include the Aviation Maintenance and the Public Safety courses.
According to Yuut Elitnaurviat’s Director of Operations Tiffany Tony, graduates of these programs can get hired almost instantly when they complete their studies. The center also offers adult education including a GED program for those looking to expand their job prospects or driving school for people interested in a job that requires a license, which many in the Y-K region do not have.
The Yuut Elitnaurviat People’s Learning Center is just one Alaska nonprofit that is training the workforce of the future – and one example of many nonprofits that are part of a healthy economy.
Learn more about how nonprofits are a major economic driver in our Nonprofit Economic Impact Report.