Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

Milwaukee NNSnewsMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University


Language: English English Spanish Spanish

You are here: Home / News / Economic Development / ‘You can make a new start’: Job-training program offers those who’ve been incarcerated a lucrative new career

‘You can make a new start’: Job-training program offers those who’ve been incarcerated a lucrative new career

October 3, 2019 by Edgar Mendez 3 Comments

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the first name of Wilberto Velez.

As he stands in front of a Computer Numerical Control machine in a first-floor workshop at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Justin Ashford, 32, reflects on the multiple job offers he’s received.

“It’s not just about the money either. I want an opportunity to grow with the company,” said Justin Ashford, 32, who recently completed the Computer Numerical Control training program at MATC. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)

“It’s not just about the money either. I want an opportunity to grow with the company,”  said Ashford, who was days away from completing the school’s accelerated four-month CNC training program that was made available to inmates in 2018.  CNC machining is a process in which precision parts are produced through computer inputs. 

Ashford and seven other participants were in the classroom for eight hours a day, five days a week and even some weekends to complete the intensive course. They received training in how to read blueprints, metrology as well as other technical skills. He will walk out with a certificate in a high-demand field in hand — as a free man. 

It’s something that would have been hard to imagine a year ago, said Ashford. At the time, he had just begun serving an 18-month sentence at the Milwaukee County House of Correction in Franklin. As a condition of completing the program, all incarcerated participants are released from jail. 

“It’s a perfect opportunity to make a new beginning,” said Ashford, who hopes to become a tool and die maker.  

Ashford is a participant in the UMOS TechHire program, a federally funded initiative to provide accelerated training in technology fields and other skilled trades. The CNC component of the program was developed through partnerships with the South Side nonprofit UMOS, the Department of Children and Families, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and several local manufacturers, said Joni Theobald, director of the program. Ashford was a member of the third cohort of the CNC program. 

Filling a need

Theobald said manufacturers are struggling to find skilled workers so the program provides incarcerated individuals a career opportunity. 

“Unemployment is low and about 40 percent of the manufacturing workforce will be retiring within 20 years,” she said. Demand is so high for graduates of the CNC training program that starting pay averages between $16 and $22 per hour. 

“These companies are pitting against each other to hire these students,” she added. 

Bryan Obst, human resource manager for Trace-A-Matic, a Brookfield-based company that produces parts for aerospace, mining and other industries, said almost half of his company’s workforce will be entering retirement age within the next 10 years. 

In inmates, they’ve found eager students looking for a second chance and to keep learning, Obst said. Supervisors of companies, including Trace-A-Matic, Reich Tool & Design and Senior Flexonics, observe students in the classroom and conduct “pitch sessions” and tours at their respective companies. Eventually, they hire some participants as interns. 

“These guys are getting jobs even during their incarceration period. They have taken a sense of pride and ownership of their accomplishments because this program was difficult with high standards,”  said Jose Hernandez, assistant superintendent at the House of Correction.

In addition, the program allows participants the chance to view the correctional facility as a place where they can find opportunities to improve their lives, he said. 

Once participants go back home and begin their internships, the TechHire program continues to support them in obtaining their licenses, finding transportation to work and overcoming housing and other challenges that can increase the odds that they will be incarcerated again, Theobald said. 

‘Moving forward’ 

Wilberto Velez, 40, a military veteran who said he fell on hard times in recent years, is among the participants eager to launch a new career.

Wilberto Velez, 40, said he has received several job offers.  “No matter what happens in your life, you can still accomplish anything,” he says. (Photo by Edgar Mendez)

“I’m completing my sentence, doing what I’m supposed to do and moving forward,” Velez said. “No matter what happens in your life, you can still accomplish anything.” He said he’s already received several job offers. 

Another is Andrew Anderson, who became a father seven months ago. He grew up in Cudahy, a manufacturing heavy suburb, and took shop classes in high school. But, he said, he never applied those skills. 

Until now. 

“It was time to start using those skills and also learn new ones,” he said. “I did it because I want to have a good career and be a good father.”

Dale Howser Sr., who’s been an instructor at MATC for 25 years, said the students from the House of Correction actually do better in the course than traditional students, who also take the training. 

“They’re here every day and leave here with the skills and commitment to get a good job and career,” Howser said.

Ashford’s hope is that other inmates take advantage of that opportunity. 

“Things happen in life, but you can better yourself,” he said. “You can make a new start.” 

 

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Economic Development, Neighborhoods Tagged With: CNC, Department of Children and Families, Department of Corrections, Economic Development, inmate, job-training, Joni Theobald, justice system, matc, Milwaukee County House of Correction, recidivism, Trace-A-Matic, UMOS TechHire Program

About Edgar Mendez

Facebook |  Twitter | More stories from Edgar

Edgar is a senior staff reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Mendez is a proud graduate of UW-Milwaukee, where he double majored in Journalism and Sociology, and of Marquette University, where he earned a master’s degree in Communication. As an accomplished journalist, Edgar’s awards include a 2018 Regional Edward R. Murrow award, several press club awards and a Society of Professional Journalists’ regional award for columns dealing with issues such as poverty, homelessness and racism.

Comments

  1. Janet Kaye says

    October 3, 2019 at 9:46 am

    Bravo, just bravo!

    Reply
  2. Carol Voss says

    October 3, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    Great story! MATC is doing new things, innovating and opening up to more partnerships with industry and community organizations to create opportunities for neighborhood, nontraditional or untapped workforce development and education. MATC in underappreciated in its programs to upskill incumbant workers and educate middle skill program graduates in high demand fields now and in the future. I hope more people and businesses can consider making contributions to support MATC Promise, industry scholarships or apprenticeships, program scholarships, program innovation/partnerships or need-based scholarships. MATC is a Milwaukee gem and key solution in so many ways for this city.

    Reply
  3. Brenda Hartwig says

    October 4, 2019 at 9:49 am

    best program I have heard about in years!! Manufacturing is in desperate need of workers. This is a great opportunity and there is some good money to be made, not to mention benefits!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Recent News

UPDATE: Housing leaders say rental assistance funds are still available for Milwaukee County residents

5 things to know and do the weekend of Jan. 27

These students don’t have to miss school to see the doctor. They can just go down the hall.

Advertisement
Give today to support our mission. Donate to Milwaukee NNS.
Advertisement

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Milwaukee NNS Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494


Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in