The Difficult Thing is Not to Reach the Top, but to Never Stop Climbing

Flint - Jose Lopez came to GST Michigan Works! via the PATH program to overcome several barriers, most of which he thought he would not be able to get past. The core of his work experience was in the food service and restaurant industry. Though he worked hard, he was never scheduled enough hours to sustain his family. Jose was attempting to juggle both work and the load of being a single father of two. Both roles require a lot of his time and attention.

Jose knew overcoming his barriers would be a challenge, but he was up for the task, committed to being a great employee and most importantly a great Dad! With the help of Career Coach Chevon Miller, Jose created a plan to remove his immediate barriers. This started with his commitment to successfully complete the AEP process. In addition to barrier removal, he was able to complete both CASAS testing and develop a polished resume.

Jose was determined to do whatever was necessary to move his family forward, so he was enrolled in the Workplace Excellence Training provided by GST Michigan Works! to enhance his job readiness skills. Following the completion of Workplace Excellence Training, Jose felt even more equipped to land the right job.

Jose, Chevon, and the PATH team worked together to find a suitable and promising subsidized employment opportunity. His skills were an excellent match for a position at the LatinX Technology & Community Center in Flint. During his employment experience, GSTMW! was able to assist Jose with supportive services such as work attire and transportation assistance throughout his paid work experience. Feeling confident, Jose took on another big endeavor by deciding to go back and obtain his GED!

As his work experience was coming to an end, Jose expressed some concerns about the future. He continued to do his best, and on the very last day of his employment assignment Jose was offered a full-time position with LatinX Technology & Community Center. Today, Jose is utilizing his bilingual skills and recent work experience to assist customers faced with language barriers. He continues to work toward the completion of his GED while employed full-time.