By //  by 

“My experience with StepUp has been a powerful one,” Sal shared with us in an email, just one month after he graduated from Jobs Week. Before he came to StepUp Wilmington, Sal spent 17 months in prison.  While in prison he earned his way to the work release program and worked diligently to gain the respect of his plant manager and the entire leadership team.  He says, “when it came close to my release date, the plant manager set up a meeting with a re-entry coordinator. He recommended that I get in touch with StepUp and go through Jobs Week.”

Throughout Jobs Week, Sal absorbed the curriculum and was very excited about the possibilities for the future.  He says, “I felt very optimistic!” On the last day of Jobs week, he met with Isabelle, StepUp Wilmington’s Career Development Coordinator, who asked if he was interested in taking a plumbing class at Cape Fear Community College.  Sal says he was reluctant at first and knew nothing about plumbing.  He was offered a scholarship and thought “Why not? It can’t hurt.”

For two weeks following Jobs Week, Sal attended CFCC’s Construction Institute. During that time, his Employment Counselor at StepUp, Bruce, checked in on him and made sure the classes were going ok.   At graduation, both Bruce and Isabelle were there to celebrate his achievement.  After graduation all the students had the unique opportunity to meet with owners of very established plumbing companies. Sal’s instructor introduced him to a local company and recommended him for a position. Sal had an interview with them the following Monday and the very next day they called him with a job offer!  Today, Sal is enjoying his new career and is excited about the future.