Kanrod McLeod grew up in Kingston, Jamaica in a community where crime and violence were the norm.  Always wanting to make his mom proud, he did well in school until the escalating violence kept him from attending and obtaining his high school diploma. 

When he was 20 years of age, his father brought him and his brother to the United States in search of a brighter future.  Kanrod states, “Our second day here in America my father took me and my brother out for a drive and told us education is key in this country; that the more education you got the better your life would be.”

Remembering that talk, Kanrod and his brother enrolled into the Hartford Job Corps Academy in July of 2014 with a plan and commitment to take advantage of everything it has to offer.  At HJCA, Kanrod completed the Advanced Manufacturing trade, earned his High School Diploma, and obtained his State of CT Driver’s Permit.  Upon graduating in August of 2015 he began his job as a Production Operative at Har-Conn Chrome, Company a high technology electroplating and coating firm that produces metal parts for the aerospace, medical, automotive and electronics industries.  

“I chose manufacturing as my trade and acquired skills such as Manual & CNC Machining, Safety Compliance and Computer Proficiency”, said Kanrod. “I appreciate everything that Hartford Job Corps has done for me. By opening their doors to me they took something that was broken mended it back together so I can become something great and wonderful. I will carry what I’ve learned wherever life takes me.”