“In that moment of my life, I desperately needed a place like Job Corps.” Abiona Jones was a new mother experiencing homelessness. Her late father’s family reached out to Abiona offering to help raise her child and put a roof over their heads. After four months of living with family, Abiona found herself in a […]
New York
Kasandra Miranda
Kasandra Miranda was no stranger to setting high expectations for herself when she first arrived at Cassadaga Job Corps Center in March 2020. Before she even set foot on campus, she had taken bold steps to improve her life by getting sober at 23. She wouldn’t get to begin her program in earnest until September […]
Joselin Sanchez Guarneros
Nurses like Joselin Sanchez Guarneros help save lives every day. But before she got to where she is today, she was the one who needed help. “I was going down a bad path that involved alcohol and just not caring about my well-being,” Joselin said. “Job Corps saved me from me.” She first heard about […]
Meron Cash
Before coming to the United States, Meron Cash spent most of her childhood in orphanages in Ethiopia. She was the oldest of her siblings and learned early in life to be disciplined and responsible for her family. At the orphanage, Meron would help other girls with their hair, uniforms and day-to-day responsibilities. Even before she […]
Cristian Aquino
When Cristian Aquino arrived at the Iroquois Job Corps Center in November 2019, he didn’t know what the next year had in store for the world. All the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic—including having to finish his career training from home—wouldn’t stop him from completing the program, though. Cristian enrolled in the Carpentry training area […]
Keion Chance
Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Keion Chance graduated from high school in 2017 and was working at John F. Kennedy International Airport. One of his friends referred him to Job Corps, and Keion was enticed by doing a trade and liked the idea that the training program was free. In October 2019, he decided to join […]
Shameka Batchelor
Shameka Batchelor is on the front lines fighting COVID-19 in O’Fallon, Ill., where she has been since April 2020. She is making an impact every day in her patients’ lives, supporting and caring for them, while she’s hundreds of miles away from her family. Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Shameka heard about Job Corps through […]
Ricky Tracy
Ricky Tracy had never flown on a plane or even left the state of Kentucky before Job Corps. His time with Job Corps would not only prepare him for his future career but would provide memorable experiences that he says he’ll always appreciate. Originally from Mount Sterling, Ky., Ricky has always been a go-getter and […]
Manuel Lopez (Manny)
When Manny Lopez was 18, higher education wasn’t an ideal path for him. So, after completing high school, he decided to pursue job training through Job Corps. While at the Cassadaga center, Manny trained in the Electrical and the Security and Protective Services programs, and became a student residential advisor. He also served as a […]
Brielle Adams
A few years ago, Brielle Adams was in a tough place in her life. After talking with a friend about how Job Corps could be a pathway out of her situation, she decided to look into the program. She did her research, and she decided Job Corps was the right decision for her and applied. […]