Guest Blogger: How I got back to work

DeAngelo Simpkins Greater Detroit Centers for Working Families Client

A year ago, I was at a low point in my life. I had been working one temporary position after another with the hopes that someone would hire me. I had saved up enough money for a car and found a good deal in Chicago. So, I decided to hop on the MegaBus to pick it up. 

It was on the bus that I met Judith (Judy) Brantley, who works at Focus: Hope. We struck up a conversation and I told her what was happening in my life. She asked me what I wanted to do.

"I just need work," I told her. 

I explained that I had made some bad decisions in the past, and they were preventing me from moving forward. She encouraged me to give her a call a few days later so that we could talk more.

It took a bit longer than a few days, but when I did decide to call her, she invited me to visit her at Focus: HOPE. She started off by helping me build my resume and shortly thereafter, I was introduced to the Center’s for Working Families, where I learned about financial literacy. 

Judy then set me up on two interview opportunities that she arranged through the CWF. The second one, which I ended up getting, was with the Greening of Detroit. The job, though seasonal, would provide me with more leadership experience in a hands-on environment.

The only glitch was that the job didn't start for two months, and I needed to work NOW. My family depends on me, and at the time, I wasn't receiving unemployment benefits. Money was tight. Judy encouraged me to be patient, and then she helped me get a scholarship worth $4,500 to attend a four-week job training program. This training provided me with OSHA and First Aid/CPR certifications, as well as job readiness and computer skills. I realized that this could only increase my opportunities for better employment, so I made the sacrifice and enrolled. 

I started the greening position upon graduation and before I finished that job, I was hired by O’Brien Construction as a general laborer. This opened up the door for so many opportunities for me and my family -- many more than I even imagined would be available. I now have a steady income, and it has allowed me to think about and plan for my future. I realize now that I am not my past; I can chart my own future.