Growing up in Buffalo’s public housing, Cameron remembers a mix of good times and hard lessons. His early childhood was filled with sports like football and basketball, supported by both parents at home. But there was also plenty of in-house drama, and the neighborhood around him was plagued by violence and drugs.
Like many kids in his community, Cameron dreamed of making it to the NFL or NBA. His father worked in construction and tried to involve him, but Cameron wasn’t interested at the time. It’s ironic now that he earns his living in carpentry, a union trade that offers stability, benefits, and a strong income.
Friends have always described Cameron as funny and easygoing, but also determined. “If I set my mind on something, I get it done,” he says. That determination was critical when his life took a sharp turn. After being sentenced to three and a half years in prison on gun charges, Cameron returned home determined to change his future.
Within his first week home, he paid for OSHA 10 training out of pocket from the $200 gate money, unaware that the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) could have provided it at no cost. Soon after, his probation officer referred him to CEO Buffalo, where staff told him about the union pre-apprenticeship program. He decided to give it a shot.
The program, which included Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) classes at CEO and visits to different union halls, opened his eyes to new possibilities. He explored carpentry, welding, and plastering, ultimately choosing carpentry—a decision that put him on track for a high-demand, high-paying career.
Graduating from the program and receiving his union card was a turning point. “That’s when it felt real. I thought, okay, I did it,” Cameron says. He reached every goal he set: finishing the eight-week training, joining the union, and saving $2,500 for a car, which would be matched up to $2,500 by the program after 60 days of working a construction job to support transportation needs for work. With support from his job coach, Clarissa Williams, he landed a solar panel installation job, earning around $1,700 weekly after taxes.
“It's different when you can make an honest living,” Cameron says. “This career lets me provide for my two daughters, buy a car, and start working toward my own home.”
Cameron sees carpentry as more than a job; it’s a lifelong career with stability, growth, and financial independence. He believes programs like these are life-changing, opening doors many participants never knew existed, and says it is critical to keep them available so others can benefit from the same opportunity.
His advice to others coming home: “Don’t give up. You’re more than capable of doing whatever you set your mind to. Stay on track, keep God first, and push through the hard days. I’m living proof.”
Today, Cameron’s life looks nothing like the one he left behind. Thanks to the union pre-apprenticeship program, he is building a stable future for himself and his family—one beam, one floor, and one goal at a time.
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