Mariana Guzman was born and raised in Chicago. Growing up in a Catholic household, Mariana developed a strong foundation in faith. However, her journey and experiences ingrained her dedication to being a good person. Mariana stated, “I believe good follows those who do good, and most importantly, I believe in myself.” Mariana decided she needed a change from the office-based jobs - she wanted to follow her childhood dream to become a welder, have a better life, and have a more stable career with better pay. Mariana talked to her dad and friends who are certified welders, and they encouraged Mariana to pursue her dreams. After those conversations, she took a leap of faith and applied to the Chicago Women in Trades’ Women in Welding program. She impressed the staff with her serious work ethic and calm, positive attitude during enrollment. Mariana joined the Welding program’s Spring of 2023 class and excelled throughout. In June of 2023, before the end of the program, Mariana applied and was chosen to participate in the first All-Women’s Ironworker Pre-Apprenticeship 3-week pilot training program coordinated by Local 1, Local 63, and Local 444. Ten candidates were admitted. Only six people were going to receive direct entry. With three weeks remaining before her official graduation in August of 2023, Mariana was selected as one of the ten candidates. She left the Women in Welding program in good standing to enter another intensive training program. Mariana continued in her path of excellence. She completed her pre-apprenticeship training program and was one of the six selected for direct entry into a Trades Union – one of the most competitive Ironworkers Local 1. She has since been working through her apprenticeship period and has made great strides in skills and wages. By October 2023, Mariana landed a job working through Local 1 at Metropolitan Steel, with hourly starting wages of $34.00.

Kierson came to The Workforce Connection after learning he qualified for the Trade program due to being a dislocated worker from Chrysler. At the time, Kierson was unemployed and unsure what his next step would be. Once learning he could attend training leading to a career, he decided to invest in his education and work towards learning skills that lead to a career. Kierson explained he was apprehensive about returning to school after graduating high school 20 years earlier. However, he wanted to do this for himself and his daughter's future. He knew it would be difficult as a single father of a daughter with special needs, but he was ready and motivated to accomplish his career goals. With assistance from his Career Planner, Kierson enrolled in the Welding program at Rockford Career College. After the 8-month program, he earned his Diploma in Welding! Two weeks after graduating, he obtained a position at Hennig Inc. as a Welder. Kierson enjoys his new job and says he enjoys utilizing his new skills. His latest employment provides a livable wage and benefits, including health insurance, which is particularly important to him and his daughter. He stated, “Without the opportunity of this program, there was no option for me to go to school. I would have had to find another job; now I have something to build from.” Kierson is continuing to add career goals and is preparing to take his aptitude test for the Local 23 Plumbers and Pipefitters Apprenticeship program! When asked if he wanted to share anything about his success and the program, he said, “He highly recommends the program to anyone eligible and that they would be a fool not to take advantage of it!”

Congratulations Kierson! We are so proud of your accomplishments and look forward to seeing you continue to succeed in your new career!

Jayce Sampson became a participant in the YouthBuild of South-Central Illinois program on March 6, 2023. Jayce voiced in his interview with staff that he had endured abusive treatment under the care of his adoptive parents, which caused him to get a court case because he broke into their shop. In Jayce’s case, this all changed for him after he started accomplishing the goals he established at the beginning of the program. Jayce struggled with attendance until one day, Jayce had to go to court. The judge told Jayce to prove him wrong, not to follow his in-dad’s footprints, and end up in jail. After that court appearance, Jayce did a complete 360-degree turn. Jayce was one of the first participants in his Cohort to obtain his State of Illinois High School diploma. His girlfriend gave birth to their baby girl on the same day he took his last test. He immediately started working with the Job Developer in applying for jobs. Jayce got hired at Casey’s General Store. Even though Jayce had this job, he continued to apply for better-paying jobs. He got a job at North American Lighting (NAL), a car part manufacturing company. Jayce has restored his relationship with his adoptive parents. They have let Jayce and his family move in with them and are helping them get on their feet.

District 214 apprenticeships have benefited many students and, in some cases, the businesses we partner with. An apprenticeship with Keats Manufacturing helped Joe Grzelak, a senior at Prospect High School, shape his aspirations for college and beyond while helping the company build toward its future.

Watch this Success Story video on YouTube!

Emily Munoz has always had a passion for nursing since she was little. With a strong desire to help people and support them during times of sickness and pain, she knew she wanted to be a nurse. Due to barriers, she could not begin nursing school immediately after high school. To get work experience, Emily first connected with Elgin Community College (ECC) through the Future Workforce Leaders Program (FWLP), which connects area youth ages 16-24 with opportunities to explore different career paths through paid work experiences and job shadowing.

Through FWLP, Emily was connected with Hanover Township, completing a paid work experience with their Community Health Department. As her paid work experience ended, her WIOA Navigator suggested she explore the CNA Apprenticeship through ECC. In December 2023, Emily completed her CNA course with AVID CNA School, ECC’s RTI vendor, and passed her state exam.

Now a licensed CNA, Emily is completing her on-the-job training with The Vines, a senior care center in Elgin. She loves working with patients and has developed a strong sense of the kind of healthcare worker she aspires to be. As she completes her apprenticeship, Emily takes the necessary prerequisites to enter ECC’s nursing program. Her experience as a CNA apprentice gives her insight into current issues with health care and a chance to refine her basic skills, making her an excellent candidate for the nursing program.

Salim Medjdouba immigrated to the United States from Algeria in 2022. With a degree in commercial and management sciences from the University of Boumerdes, he set out to establish his life in a new country. Thanks to family connections, he settled in the Elgin region. With experience as a machine operator, he found employment at a local manufacturer working as a materials handler, moving on to roles in production assembly as he worked to find his fit in the workplace.

Fluent in three languages, Salim knew he needed to master a fourth, English, for his career to flourish truly. In September 2023, he enrolled in Elgin Community College’s (ECC) English as a Second Language (ESL) Program, hoping to become proficient enough to enroll in the college’s technical courses. While in the ECC ESL program, Salim heard about ECC’s free Pre-Apprenticeship in Manufacturing. He and a family friend signed up to take the course together. Salim began the program eager to learn how to translate his technical knowledge into English, finding a common language on the machine floor. Salim passed all pre-apprenticeship classes, earning his OSHA-10 card and Forklift Driver certification. He then successfully interviewed for a materials handler job with a well-known local manufacturing company. As he began his new job, Salim was grateful for the chance to upskill and get into a company with upward mobility and opportunities. His new employer, Elgin Sweeper, is also on ECC’s target list to develop registered apprenticeships; hiring one of our pre-apprentices opened the door for those discussions in 2024.

Ms.Burson came to OAI unemployed with barriers in transportation and personal challenges that she battled consistently. Her car was in the repair shop, but she could not afford the repair fee to get it back. Upon enrolling in the OAI JTED program, she completed the Foundational Skills Workshop, which prepared her with the soft skills needed for an entry-level healthcare job. OAI's Systems Navigator met with her 1-on-1 to address all her barriers and concerns and developed an Individual Service plan. OAI utilized JTED Barrier Reduction Funding to assist Ms. Burson with vehicle repairs and Lyft rides while the car was in the shop. Upon completing the 120-hour training at Excelsior Healthcare Academy, she passed her state exam to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Ms. Burson was invited to the " Northwestern Medicine Career Pathways & Pizza" event at the OAI Chicago Southland Office. Soon, she landed an interview and a job shadowing practice, and the recruitment manager liked her CNA and communication skills and offered her a job on the spot. Ms. Burson started as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Northwestern Hospital on November 1, 2023, at $20.76/Hour. She also plans to utilize the $10,000 Tuition Reimbursement Program at Northwestern Medicine to enter advanced on-the-job training in Nursing.

Barrett Morrissette participates in the OAI's Electro-Mechanical Technician program funded by a Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED) grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. In July 2023, Barrett saw a posting on Indeed describing OAI's Electro-Mechanical Technician training program. He was immediately drawn in as he was always interested in robotics and learning how machines function. However, Barrett tried several different resources, courses, and curriculums, but none taught in a way that made him stick to it. When trying to recover from his previous layoff as a sales development rep, he decided to try one last time with OAI. Once accepted into the program, Barrett completed the Foundational Skills Workshop that prepared him for the soft skills needed in the manufacturing sector and met with OAI's Program Coordinator 1-on-1 to create an Individual Service Plan that outlined all the transportation support, career coaching, and stipends needed to complete the training. During the program's 2-month span, he learned mechanical and electrical skills and earned the PMMI certification. He applied those skills to emergency repairs and working with electrical, appliances, and HVAC during an interview at Sam's Club. Barrett is now a Maintenance Technician at Sam's Club, earning $36.15 per hour. Barret stated in one of his messages to OAI: ‘I have achieved what I wouldn't have thought possible when I started. I met my wonderful classmates and friends I will never forget. I am a maintenance technician with an above-market pay rate now. I am so grateful for this opportunity to thrive in this career path.'

Bobby came to The Workforce Connection after being laid off from Chrysler in March 2023. He qualified to receive training due to being a previous auto industry worker. Although Bobby had a choice to retire, he still wanted to work, and at the time of his appointment with his Career Planner, he was unsure what he wanted to do for training or future employment. Bobby had been working at Chrysler for 27 years. Bobby spoke to his Career Planner about different options, and after some consideration, he decided to attend truck driver training. Bobby completed his training and obtained a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), which he now has ready for his new career in truck driving.

Congratulations Bobby! We are happy to be able to work with you on your decision to make truck driving your new career. We wish you the absolute best with your future employment!

Community partners traveled to West Michigan to identify best practices for apprenticeship expansion and local collaboration. Employers and community organizations discussed DEIA strategies; the community college shared public-private partnerships involvement in economic development and a trusted training provider; and the local workforce board provided insight into industry councils and apprenticeship expansion. Illinois partners included representatives from the local workforce board, local government, community college, and other stakeholders.

After learning about local apprenticeship expansion efforts, Kraft Heinz identified the Champaign facility as a pilot location for Kraft Heinz's registered apprenticeship for industrial maintenance technicians. The program, sponsored by Parkland College and Kraft Heinz, will be nationally registered by Jobs for the Future after the pilot phase. Extensive discussions and reviews with local and corporate teams have culminated in accepting the work process schedule and training instruction. The goal is to have students enrolled by the Spring semester of 2024, with the latest target being the Fall semester of the same year.

Amelia Altom is a Student Intern at School Safety Peoria High School! Under the mentorship of Officer Matthew Shirley, Amelia has gained skills in detecting potential conflicts during lunchtime observations. Officer Shirley said she is an outstanding student worker and has recommended her for an internship at Illinois Central College Security when she attends school in the fall. With the completion of Stop the Bleed training and her role in ensuring safety at evening school events, Amelia is an excellent example of the effectiveness of the internship program in providing practical, hands-on training for students. She is a prime example of how such experiences prepare individuals like her for future career pathways.

Kierra Hodges started as a student at the Hope Center Foundation in our Job Training and Economic Development program. When she entered the program, Kierra felt far from where she wanted to be in her career. She was still discovering the career pathway she wanted to explore. As a young woman with passions in dance, leadership, and caring for others, Kierra wanted to explore a path to get her closer to her lifelong dream of becoming a traveling nurse. The Hope Center Foundation invested in her career goals by placing her in a training program at the Chicago Instruction Center For Career Development in the Roseland community. After going through an 8-week intensive class, Kierra completed the training program and passed the National Phlebotomy Association exam -- officially receiving her state recognition as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician. Despite self-doubt, Kierra took leaps of faith to pursue her dreams and work passionately to get closer to her desired future. She applied to Chicago State University to begin her studies and make steps towards getting her nursing degree. After being accepted in August 2023, Kierra started her first day of college in September 2023 with a Global Diversity course. While embarking on a new journey as a college student, Kierra began her work-study as a Physical Therapist Assistant for the Chicago State University athletic department. The Hope Center Foundation was able to compensate Kierra for entering the healthcare field and compensate her for her work-based learning experiences. While closing out her semester, Kierra worked with Jessica Clark, the JTED Program Administrator, to work on her resume, apply for alternative job opportunities that would pull on her phlebotomy experience, and prepare for interviews. Moving into the second semester of her first year, Kierra accepted a full-time phlebotomist position at CSL Plasma that will allow her to pursue her nursing degree and progress in her career. It's been amazing to see her grow throughout her time at the Hope Center Foundation. Not only has her self-doubt decreased, but through her leadership roles in her extracurricular activities at her college, I've seen her organization, communication, and reliability skills grow.

Darmeze Fenderson is an Out-of-School youth who completed the 160 Driving Academy to gain his commercial driver's license (CDL) and is now employed with the St. Clair County Highway Department. Darmeze’s Career Specialist felt it was only suitable to allow Darmeze to tell his story through his lenses.

“I signed up for 160 Driving Academy and was looking forward to how things would go. The first week, I took a class portion of the academy and studied daily for the computer test. I passed on my first round and was very proud of myself; I knew it could only improve from that point. For another three weeks, I trained in the yard, and I have to say, the yard was a challenge! I started lost and worried, hoping that I could learn to drive 18-wheelers and beat what I felt was a challenge. As every week went by, I only got better and better, but by the time testing came, I had failed the road test. I felt defeated because something I trained so hard for, I couldn’t even pass. Luckily, that wasn’t my last chance. I trained again for another week and tested again. By the end of that week, I passed my CDL Class A Drivers Test. I was so proud of myself for overcoming the odds when I didn’t have a big support system. All of that alone makes me feel unstoppable. If I can do this on my own, I can do anything, I felt. After I got my CDL, I got a great job thanks to the help of my wonderful career specialist, Sandy, who had been with me the whole way, and I could keep thanking her more than I already had. Now I’m on the road to success, LITERALLY.”