Growing up between Colorado and California, Corey was one of 13 siblings raised by a single father. Life wasn’t easy, but his childhood was filled with lessons about resilience and responsibility.
“My dad taught me how to be a father and I’ll always be grateful for that,” Corey says. “My dad showed me the right things to do through his actions and he was always there.”
Now, at 35 and a father of four, Corey is thinking of the man who held their big family together as he channels those lessons into a brighter future for his own children. “I’ve never been afraid of hard work,” says Corey. “That’s how my dad took care of his kids.”
Corey began earning a paycheck at 15, taking fast food and construction jobs until he dropped out of school and started following a gang. Eventually, his choices led him to prison, but while he was there he took every opportunity to grow. He earned his GED, learned the barber trade, and took classes to expand his skills. After seven years behind bars, Corey walked out of prison determined to rewrite his story.
Two days after coming home, Corey landed a construction job in Colorado Springs and quickly earned a certification in asbestos removal. Then he passed his CDL permit exam – which was a part of his long-term goals – all while working full-time.
But Corey knew he wanted more. He learned about the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Colorado Springs from his parole officer and joined a transitional work crew to earn an income while beautifying the city.
“I told my job coach that I had already passed my CDL permit and now wanted to go to trucking school,” says Corey. “At the time, there was no funding for tuition, so I just kept working on the transition crew.”
Then a friend called Corey on his way to work one morning and referred him to a homebuilding job. When his CEO site supervisor overheard Corey talking about it, he turned the van around to make sure Corey could get to his car and seize the opportunity.
For two months, Corey worked hard in home construction doing whatever he could to be an asset. But it wasn’t long before CEO called Corey with the good news: he was approved for trucking school and could start immediately.
Corey didn’t hesitate.
“It was two intense weeks,” Corey says. “We practiced driving maneuvers, shifting on highways, and did safety inspections.” CEO covered the costs, reimbursed him for his permit, and even provided a stipend so he could focus fully on training.
Two weeks after earning his Class A Commercial Driver’s License, Corey accepted a job transporting heavy equipment for a cabling company, averaging $37.50 an hour. He was getting driving experience while earning a nice paycheck, and he was hopeful for his future for the first time in a long time.
“The best thing I got from CEO was the encouragement to never give up,” Corey says. “They are a family, not a program. CEO really cares about your success.”
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