Adrian is second from right.
After turning thirty, Adrian was looking for a different quality of life and decided he wanted a career. After being a server for 4 years, he stared thinking about health care and retirement benefits, something his job as a server was not providing him. “When I was younger, I didn’t really think about how important health care and retirement benefits were,” Adrian said.
He had heard about a program that introduces people to the building and construction trades called Building Strong Communities, a multi-trade apprenticeship readiness program, and decided to give it a try. “I didn’t know I wanted to be a carpenter until I joined Building Strong Communities. Being a union carpentry apprentice is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
For Adrian, stepping on a jobsite is life changing. “The minute you are on the site, you start earning for your retirement and you get health care while you are learning the trade in the field. We start at over $21.00 an hour, and I’ve been able to buy a new car with my earnings.”
Adrian’s family is very proud of his career choice, and Adrian can feel a change in himself as well. “I get up before work and go for a run with my dog. My family has seen the change in me. I’m so proud of what I do.”