CSA’s Building Futures Graduate Now a Union Apprentice

You might not immediately notice Darryl Shields among the hard-hatted construction workers renovating the Laborers downtown headquarters. But the Community Services Agency’s Building Futures team saw right away that the parolee was seriously focused on building a construction career.  While in training with Building Futures (BF), Shields consistently demonstrated that he was ready to take on a new challenge in life and only two days after graduation, he was hired by a Cement Masons’ Local 891 contractor to work at the Laborers International (LiUNA) building renovation downtown.  “I can’t thank you enough," he said excitedly when BF Job Developer Andrea Thompson and Case Manager Jennifer Gajdosik visited him recently at the LiUNA worksite... click below to read more.

photo: (l-r): Jennifer Gajdosik, Darryl Shields and Andrea Thompson at the LiUNA building on 16th Street and Eye Street, NW; photo courtesy Jennifer Gajdosik

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"Building Futures has changed my life. I wish I knew about this program years back!” Shields was the first graduate from this summer’s BF class to be hired and is thrilled to now be a member of Local 891. “It's a 7-day job, but it's a great start,” said  Gajdosik.  “I met his foreman, Bob, who was remarking about how early Darryl reports for work." The former inmate "strived to meet Building Futures standards, integrated easily into a group of younger classmates and completed the 6-week Pre-Apprenticeship Program with great success!” Gajdosik added.

CSA’s Building Futures Program is funded by the United Planning Organization, the DC Workforce Investment Council Workforce Intermediary Program, the Marpat Foundation, The City Fund, the Community Foundation’s Anonymous Donor, SHARE and Joshua Community Funds, and the Berger Marks Foundation.