Several years ago, I suddenly became the
single parent of four young kids. I went to work, but I wasn't able to make
enough to made ends meet, so I applied for TANF benefits.
Through TANF, I was enrolled in a program
called Project Readiness. I only had an eighth grade education, so it wasn't
easy, but through this Project I got my G.E.D. After that, I tried working
again. I worked as a waitress, in a mailroom, and in a shoe shop. None of
these jobs paid enough to support my family and most of the time, even
working full time, I still needed help from TANF.
Then my ASPIRE caseworker told me about a
course for women to learn the construction trade. I was a little
apprehensive but I decided to sign up. The course, run by a group called
Women Unlimited, changed my life.
In 14 intense weeks, I studied everything
from sheet metaling to electronics to carpentry. The people in my class even
built a carport together! When I completed the course I had a certificate
and was ready for an apprenticeship. When all of us who had completed the
class got together 2 weeks after it ended to see if we could help each other
job search, one of the people had gotten a job at a local construction
company called Reed and Reed. She told me that there was an opening and she
encouraged me to apply.
Again, I was apprehensive; going into the
construction business was not something that I had ever envisioned for
myself. But I went, and I am happy to still be there, several years later.
My job is always changing and I do everything you can think of related to
construction: I pour concrete, I build forms, I finish buildings, I weld,
you name it.
And the best part is that ever since I
started working in construction I haven't needed any help from the state. My
job includes health insurance, a retirement plan, paid vacation, and other
benefits. Plus, my kids are so much more interested in going to school or
learning a trade now that they see how it changed our lives when I got this
training. Every one of them is going to further their education now. I'm so
glad I was offered this chance and I took it. It's made all the difference
for my family.
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