Workforce System Success Stories - Workforce Development and Adult Learning

MEET BETHECIA...

Bethecia Poston has a mantra: trust the process. This simple philosophy has helped her persevere through numerous personal challenges and gave her the strength to pursue and achieve her career goal to become a welder. Her professional journey began with her enrollment in a welder training program offered through the Jane Addams Resource Center (JARC), located in Baltimore City. JARC is a nonprofit organization that provides high quality skills training and support services to help lower-income and unemployed workers achieve self-sufficiency.

The training was rigorous and sometimes challenging for Bethecia. Learning about the fundamentals of manufacturing, mastering accurate shop measurements and operation of the micrometer took time and effort. Like most adult students, she needed to find ways to balance her training time with the demands of family responsibilities. But her determination and persistence paid off. After only four months at JARC, Bethecia earned a leadership role as shop foreman, and completed the welding training program. She now works in a welder and fabricator role at Strum, Inc., where she is making $18.00 per hour. Once her probationary period is complete, benefits will be added to her compensation package.

Access to JARC’s wraparound services was an important factor in Bethecia’s success. In addition to occupational training, JARC partner, the Maryland Cash Campaign supplied Bethecia with a financial coach, who taught her about budgeting, credit building and improving her credit score. The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service helped her resolve debt issues. With the guidance of her financial coach, Bethecia increased her credit score by 60 points! An employment coach helped her prepare a professional resume, sharpen her interviewing skills and conduct an effective job search. Success In Style, a nonprofit that provides JARC participants with free fashion consultations, professional attire, and training on interviewing, allowed Bethecia to put her best foot forward with prospective employers. The JARC team connected her with the Maryland Foodbank to address food insecurity issues, Maryland Wellness provided her with mental health support, and the St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center helped her and her wife Kendra locate a good place to live.

Trusting the process continues to work for Bethecia. She is excited to be a welder, and says her co-workers are wonderful about showing her the ropes. In her future, Bethecia envisions becoming a homeowner, purchasing a car, and continuing to grow in her career. Her words of wisdom to current trainees are “Take your time, be patient, take one day at a time and at your own pace,” and of course “trust the process.”