Angelique Nieves
Receiving a steady income and employee benefits for the first time in her life, Angelique can’t wait to continue her professional growth in the cannabis industry.
When the COVID-19 pandemic created employment and housing challenges for Demetrius, a former teacher and media producer from Chicago’s West Side, he recalls wondering, “What am I going to do next?” Then, a coworker told Demetrius about City Colleges of Chicago’s Future Ready initiative, which offers continuing education and college credit courses in high-demand fields at no cost to eligible students. Demetrius enrolled at Olive-Harvey College and earned his Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) this February.“Within two weeks, I was in Gary at Schneider in a training center. This is the most money I’ve ever made,” he said. Demetrius now works full time as a truck driver for Schneider National, a trucking and logistics company in Gary, Indiana. His advice to others looking for employment?
"Don’t be afraid to switch careers. Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself."