2023 - Flipbook - Page 8
EMPLOYMENT
Married couple Joe and Chasity Carr relocated from West Virginia, hoping to start a new
life in Colorado. Joe, a former U.S. Marine, and Chastity admit that they were making poor
decisions while struggling with substance use disorders that resulted in Joe pleading guilty
to felony drug charges. They arrived in Bennett, CO to be farm hands with promises of room
and board, to find themselves in a fifth wheel trailer with no running water or electricity.
After working for more than two weeks without compensation, Joe and Chastity came to
Denver. They were living in their car, with no family or support until they found Second
Chance Center. Staff connected them both with the Pre-apprenticeship Readiness Program.
Joe had extensive experience operating heavy equipment from his time in the military;
he had taught Chasity how to operate a few pieces of equipment as well. In addition to
offering training, SCC provided housing assistance allowing the couple to secure their own
apartment. Joe and Chastity have both been placed with the Local 9 Heavy Equipment
Operators Union. Joe is a journeyman and Chastity is an apprentice. They’ve earned their
commercial driver’s licenses and are working full-time with an hourly wage exceeding $32.
At graduation from the pre-apprenticeship training, the Carrs expressed that SCC changed
their lives in ways that they didn’t believe were possible.
Impact 100 members discuss training information with Candice Sporhase-White (right). The Impact 100 Employment
Opportunity Lab was opened in the spring of 2022.
T
he dislocation of the post-pandemic economy has
caused significant shortages of skilled labor in highpaying trades. In partnership with the North American
Building Trades Union (NABTU), the Colorado Building and
Construction Trades Council, the Denver Office of Economic
Development (DEDO), and more than 65 supportive union
and non-union employers, our client partners are taking up
paid apprenticeships in industries offering career growth
with mortgage paying salaries. We serve a population that is
typically turned away from opportunity, now today we have
employers coming to us.
6
Sidney Griggs came to SCC several years ago
after serving more than two decades in prison. While
inside, he became adept at Computer-Aided Design
(CAD). In fact, he was so talented, while still inside,
he was invited to work on several projects including
the Fitzsimmons campus in Aurora. When Sidney was
released, he brought in some of the work that he had
done while in prison to share with the staff. Sidney’s
goal was to continue his work on CAD and architecture,
but to be on the safe side, he completed his forklift
certification and got a job at a local warehouse. At this
time, ShopWorks had just begun working with SCC
on the design of our permanent supportive housing
project, and staff shared Sidney’s portfolio with the
firm. After meeting with Sidney, and seeing his passion,
ShopWorks offered him a free 4-day training. Not long
after, they offered him a fulltime position. Sidney is still
with ShopWorks. He continues to share his story with
fellow SCC participants and has not stopped chasing his
goals since coming home.
Just the love I felt when I would go to Second Chance Center helped with my
anxiety coming home. I’ve said in the past, and I say again, that when I walk
out my door every day I represent The Second Chance Center and everyone
there from staff to my brothers and sisters who are just looking for a
chance to prove themselves and make a better life for themselves
Sidney Griggs
and a difference in the community.
