Born and raised in New Orleans, Charbaney comes from a place that knows firsthand what it means to rebuild from the ground up. Today, the 39-year-old mother of four is now doing that herself – rebuilding her life.
Growing up in poverty with a single mother who had a substance use disorder and with no father in the home, Charbaney lacked a traditional family setting, but made up for it with fierce determination.
After years working in retail and driving positions to support her family, Charbaney faced a turning point when a brief jail stay in 2023 interrupted her life. “I was in a toxic relationship and I defended myself,” Charbaney says. “When I got out, I needed a real restart, and I needed help.”
That restart came through the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in New Orleans, a national nonprofit that helps individuals returning from incarceration reenter the workforce.
At CEO, Charbaney joined a transitional work crew, performing landscaping and maintenance that benefited local neighborhoods. Weekly job coaching, wraparound support, and a steady paycheck helped her regain confidence, and even when Charbaney had to leave temporarily for personal reasons, the door remained open. When she returned, Charbaney and CEO’s staff formulated a plan to turn transitional work into a career pathway.
“I’m so blessed because CEO helps so many people, and I saw it in action,” Charbaney says. “They helped me get my flagger, OSHA, and heavy equipment certifications. Then they paid for me to take my Commercial Drivers License (CDL) permit and for eight weeks in trucking school.”
Charbaney had incredible tenacity, and was willing to sacrifice for her future. After the organization paid her tuition for an advanced training pathway in commercial driving, she received a weekly stipend to cover food, gas, utilities, and other essentials while she was in school and unable to work. Charbaney earned four endorsements on her license that positioned her to increase her earning potential in the future.
It’s this willingness to give up something now for a greater return later that separates Charbaney from most people. “I refuse to lose. I will never, ever stop trying to get what I want out of life for me and my kids,” she says. “No matter what gets in my way or tries to slow me down, I will not stop. I can’t.”
Today, Charbaney delivers hot meals for a local food bank while preparing for her next career move in commercial driving. But she still struggles. As a single mother and recipient of SNAP benefits, she appreciates the extra money, but says it doesn’t go far enough with a family of five.
“I’m fortunate though and I am grateful for all of the assistance I receive. I’m a better person because of CEO,” Charbaney says. “They gave me hope and made me look at things differently. The staff motivated me to work hard – and I wanted it.”
Despite obstacles over the years she’s been home, Charbaney has earned a High School Diploma, a commercial drivers licence, a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card, and multiple endorsements for hazmat, tankers, and even school buses. She is now poised to find an entry level trucking company that will give her a chance to drive 18-wheelers.
“All I need is for one company to say yes, and my life will never be the same,” says Charbaney. “I take nothing for granted…I’ll work harder than anyone, I just need that little chance to start.”
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