Aaron
Aaron personifies what can happen when you seize opportunity, work hard and follow your dream. A resident of Chicago Heights, a high-poverty area in the Chicago South Suburbs, Aaron formerly worked part-time at a local retailer stocking shelves, sweeping floors/trash, and cleaning bathrooms. He had limited, low-level work experience prior to entering the Manufacturing Career Internship Program (MCIP), funded through WIOA and the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership’s Opportunity Works initiative.
A recent graduate of Rich Township High School, Aaron had no clear career path but harnessed his gumption and desire to achieve an opportunity that would shift his career pathway for the best. He learned about MCIP through an acquaintance and participant, and immediately enrolled. MCIP provided exposure to entry-level tasks in a manufacturing and TDL (transportation, distribution and logistics), and helped to develop the basic foundational skills he needed.
Aaron recognized opportunity. While attending the MCIP boot camp, Aaron received safety training and earned his OSHA-certified safety card. He completed forklift training and certification, received instruction in shop math, and toured local manufacturers. During these tours, Aaron learned about a variety of manufacturing options such as automotive, packaging and food production. He learned that manufacturing can include fabrication, processing or preparation of products from raw materials, and how these products fit into the economy.
He also participated in work ethic training using the “Bring Your ‘A’ Game to Work” curriculum which emphasizes the basic work skills so many of us take for granted: attendance, attitude, appearance, ambition, acceptance, accountability and appreciation. Building valuable career traits that are critical to his success. During the paid work phase of the program, Aaron began an internship as a general laborer assisting with machining in the warehouse at Donson Machine Co., a manufacturing company in Alsip. The skills training helped Aaron achieve top grades, with an excellent rating on his final evaluation.
Gina Torcasio, Donson’s office manager said of Aaron, “He always displays a good attitude and work ethic. His attention to quality always meets customer requirements.” Her advice: “Keep up the good work ethic, attitude and willingness to learn. Continue to focus on quality and your productivity/efficiency will show significant improvement in a short period of time.”
Aaron’s attendance, attitude, appearance, ambition, acceptance, accountability and appreciation for all MCIP offered him, landed him recognition for excellence in performance and a job with Donson Machine Company.