When Cassandra David arrived at the Alaska Job Corps Center in 2019, she was looking for a way to make a stable income and set herself up for independence. Cassandra did not know she would soon end up as a leader in the Construction training program, a typically male-dominated industry. She never let being one […]
Brittany Vega
As the youngest daughter of a first-generation immigrant family, Brittany Vega was determined to make her family proud and create a new path for herself. After she graduated from high school in 2014, college didn’t seem like an option for her, so she started working in retail. Having never attended college themselves, her parents did […]
Sarina Benenati
“My advice to someone interested in Job Corps: Jump headfirst into it. Don’t look back. Once you start, hang on to this experience. It’s just a tiny part of your life, but it will follow you and help you from here on out.” Growing up in Montclair, N.J., Sarina Benenati struggled to fit in with […]
LaChan Russell
When LaChan Russell first signed up for Job Corps, she had no clue she was pregnant. She was ready to make a change in her life, she just didn’t realize how many changes would be coming her way. Though she admits that having her son at the time she was enrolling wasn’t what she thought […]
James Young
James Young began his journey at Job Corps over 10 years ago. He first arrived at the Edison Job Corps Center in New Jersey to study in the Security and Protective Services training area. Once James graduated from the basic training, he decided to further his education and headed to the Shriver Job Corps Center […]
Tiffany Middleton
Before arriving at the Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center, Tiffany Middleton had faced many hardships and she’d always had to push herself. But by the time she graduated from Job Corps, Tiffany was leaving with a lot more than a diploma. While in the Security training area at the Perkins Job Corps Center, Tiffany […]
Robert “Alec” Lopez
Alec Lopez always felt called to help people, but as a young adult he found himself struggling to find a job that was the right fit. He started off on the path of a certified nurse assistant (CNA), but soon decided it wasn’t for him. Throughout his life, he often dreamed of working in a […]
Ricky Gass
Ricky Gass had no clue that his time at Job Corps would come to an end due to a global pandemic, but he also didn’t know he would end up working at a top solar installation company in New Jersey, Solar Landscape, making $65 an hour. Before coming to Job Corps, Ricky was working at […]
Rashaad Smith
Originally from Natchez, Miss., Rashaad Smith stumbled upon Job Corps after searching the internet for job opportunities. He had never heard of Job Corps before but was intrigued by the program and the free training. After graduating from high school in 2013, Rashaad was doing temporary work. He worked at a Walmart distribution center and […]
Nicholas Hassel
“Just last year, I was sleeping on friends’ couches, and even worse I ended up homeless living in a homeless shelter. That’s when I realized I needed a career that would change my life.” Nicolas Hassel had become homeless in 2019 and was seeking a different future. He didn’t have many options but knew he […]