Graduate carpentry student, twenty-two year old Nate Ford, was selected to testify along with Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis before the Committee on Education and Workforce to the U.S. House of Representatives on March 21st.  During the testimony, Secretary Solis spoke of various advantages of the Job Corps program and also mentioned Nate’s storey, graduating from Flint Genesee Job Corps in Michigan and working through the center’s carpentry training area.  Through the Work-Based Learning program, Nate worked with a local insulation company, Retrofoam, where he applied his training skills on a daily basis.  Once graduating he received an internshi8p through AmeriCorps as a youth construction supervisor with Habitat for Humanity – responsibility for teaching youth volunteers about construction basics for approx 3 months.  Because his work was exceptional, he was hired full time.  He now interviews and instructs new members for different Habitat for Humanity projects.    

When asked what he would say to those back in Mid-Michigan who are still jobless, Ford responded, “I’d say give Job Corps an honest chance. It’s a really good program. I wouldn’t change going there for anything.”

“Nate here is exactly what keeps us excited about this. These people focus, get their life on target, and become really wonderful members of their community,” said Joan Oates of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Ford is now working with Habitat for Humanity through another program — Americorps.  He’s helping to build homes for the needy in Flint.

News has been on ABC News in Washington DC,  ABC News in Flint, Michigan  and the DOL Newspaper