At 35 years old, Cameron has already lived many lives – survivor of childhood trauma, street kid, father, prisoner, and now, electrician. Cameron's story isn’t one of overnight success (his transformation was anything but easy), but with the help of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and a union mentor, Cameron found more than just a job – he found a career with purpose.
Growing up in Pasadena, CA, Cameron’s life was shaped early by loss. “My sister passed away when I was nine years old. My grandma died when I was twelve, and my dad when I was thirteen,” Cameron says.
Raised by a single, loving mother who was doing her best under immense pressure, Cameron remembers brushing his teeth in a park fountain before school and sleeping in shelters.
“My mom did the best she could for me and my sister, but the hardship of being unhoused caused me to act out when I was a teen, and I started to hang around the wrong crowd,” says Cameron. “By the time I was in middle school, I was getting in trouble with the law and was sent to juvenile detention.”
After getting out of custody, Cameron graduated high school and attended Pasadena Community College. When his daughter was born, the twenty-year-old was happy and found stability for the first time in his life. But then he was arrested, and it all came crashing down again. Shame. Lost Time. Regret.
Broken, yet still holding onto hope because of his newborn daughter, Cameron decided once and for all to stop the cycle of pain that kept hurting him and the people he loved.
“I told myself that it was time to stop being selfish and time to put my family first,” Cameron says. “I lost so many family members while in prison. That’s when the light switch went off. I knew that I had to do better for my child.”
After his release in January 2024, Cameron’s life was unstable and his future unpredictable. He was taking risks that could have landed him right back behind bars. He worked security and did odd jobs to survive, staying in hotels and committing petty crimes, but as the months went on, Cameron couldn’t find a good job and was close to going back inside.
Then, in August 2024, Cameron walked through the doors of the Center for Employment Opportunity (CEO) in Los Angeles, and all of that changed.
“CEO gave me work clothes, boots, PPE, bus passes, even a helmet,” Cameron says. “I had nothing, and they knew what I needed.”
More than material support, CEO gave Cameron and others before him structure and hope. He joined a transitional work crew beautifying highways for CalTrans, and in his free time, obtained certifications – OSHA 10, CPR, forklift operations, flagger, and construction safety.
“I didn’t just want a job,” says Cameron. “I told my development coach every week that I wanted a career.” So CEO didn’t just put him to work, they doubled down on the goal to find a quality job so he could take care of his family.
CEO’s staff told Cameron they would give him a monetary stipend if he wanted to attend school full-time, ensuring the young father received an education. Cameron chose to pursue Multi-Craft Core Curriculum training, a field with many trade opportunities.
After completing two months of advanced certification courses, such as Asbestos and Lead Safety, OSHA 30, and Fall Protection, Cameron graduated in May 2025. He continued to work with his job coach at CEO and attended a life-skills group facilitated by an Electrical Superintendent from the local union.
In August, under mentorship from said superintendent, Cameron was hired by his local electrical union as a construction wireman. He is now logging hours toward an apprenticeship that could one day make him a journeyman electrician.
“Discipline is key,” Cameron said. “A personal trait that allowed me to succeed is perseverance – believing in what you feel like you deserve.”
Now, Cameron gives back, offering support to others just beginning their reentry journey. “If you’re new to CEO, whatever you want, go for it. No other program could have done what the staff in L.A. did for me.”
Cameron’s story isn’t just a success story – it’s a story of resilience, growth, and the power of real support. The Center for Employment Opportunities didn’t just help Cameron find work – they helped him find his future.
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