News/Events // Success Stories
Just wanted to let you know I was offered a job on Monday (October 24th) from Oak Park Hospital which I accepted.
I would just like to say thank you very much for all your help. I have learned so much since March 2011 when I first came to AACF. I will forever have these teaching tools available to me that you taught. You have been a great Job Development Manager. Since coming to AACF with your help I have learned a great many skills which includes; resume writing, cover letters, how to conduct myself in an interview, how to use a job script for myself, how to do a 30-second elevator speech which means introducing yourself and telling your job skills in 30 seconds. Also the workshops that you gave were very helpful also, and covered a lot of helpful resources.
Also by using the OPAC program I was able to keep abreast of my skills and to challenge myself more. I would also like to thank AACF for helping me in getting to and from my interviews, which included bus passes when needed. This organization was very helpful in my job search and I couldn't have done it without AACF.
Also Adrienne I would like to say thank you for the many prayers and the faith you had in me, it really helped build my confidence. I remember once telling you I didn't want to tell my family about any more job interviews because I thought I might jinx myself and you said that's not true, that I just had to have faith I will never forget that, to me that was something very powerful. Again thanks so much for everything and I hope to keep in touch and let you know how things are going. Keep up the good work that you do.
My name is Vidal Lozada and I am here to tell you how the AACF has changed my life. I am 50 years old and my last job was 2 1/2 years ago at Yellow Transportation. In July of 2010 I met a young lady by the name of Charise Peterson. Charisse is the case manager at AACF. I asked Charisse what I would have to do to go about furthering my education so that I can obtain a job. Charisse and I met with each other to discuss my options and come up with a plan. First, I took a placement test. I was unsure of how good my score would be due to my age, but Charisse reassured me that I would be fine and that I should just do my best and we would go from there. That made me feel good about myself and I had confidence that I would do well. Charisse and I met again when my test results came in to talk about what options would be best for me. After discussing a couple of options, we decided that the best thing for me to do in a short amount of time was to obtain a CDL license. I go approved to start the process on August 9th, and August 10th I met with a recruiter from Schneider. The gentleman's name was Darrell G. Comer Darrell and I both worked at Yellow Freight Transportation as a dock manager. He explained to me that once I passed and go my CDL license we could then discuss me gaining employment with Schneider. I got my license on October 14th, 2010. I called Mr. Conner to tell him my good news. We are now discussing a start date for me. I am very thankful for the difference Charisse Peterson and the staff at AACF have made in my life. Thank you. Vidal Lozada
"I am an ex-offender who encountered extreme complications in finding employment due to the circumstances of my back-ground. On far too many occasions, I had nearly given up hope of ever finding employment, though, never for a second, had I given up hope on my own abilities. Suddenly, just when there appeared no light at the end of the tunnel, Ms. Tami Yarbrough requested that I attend a job fair. I did and through it discovered a company that hired ex-felons. I have been working with this company ever since. Thank you very much Ms. Yarbrough and staff for your assistance and guidance." Sincerely, Herron L.
"I was out of work and away from home for over 18 years. Most of that time I was in prison and the only home that I had was Chicago. My family couldn’t really help me, however; they did what they could. Every thing changed when I met up with a friend who took me down to AACF, which changed my life around. They gave me the opportunity to find housing, a good job and I learned how to create a better resume. Today, I can say that because of AACF I have my own place, car, and a dog. I really want to thank AACF for all its help. I couldn’t have made it this far without you." Sincerely, Verdell D.
Harry W. is a past AACF client. He graduated from our computer classes, and successfully landed a full-time, responsible position locally with help from AACF Job Specialist, Tami Yarbrough, after a long job search. Harry is a friendly, middle-aged man with a wonderful sense of humor who had been searching for an employer for some time before he came to AACF. He had been operating his own handyman service meanwhile and having a hard time finding employment as a Maintenance Engineer. He encountered several barriers, such as being an older worker, lack of computer skills and being out of the workface for an excessive length of time. Harry now has successfully worked through his 90-day probation period working full-time as Maintenance Engineer #2 for a beautiful, large, 300 room hotel in Lombard. He is extremely happy with his position and with his co-workers and superiors.
“I became unemployed on February 10, 2005,” and went immediately to the Maywood IETC office for job search assistance. Unfortunately, after three months of searching on my own I was still unemployed and had had no assistance from other employment search sources. In April, I enrolled in the computer classes offered by AACF in Oak Park and noted that “they seemed to be on top of things.” “Since I was desperate, I requested that AACF staff assist me with my job search efforts. AACF offered to help me, even though they did not have to help me. “Their job developer assisted me with my resume, in setting up an email account, and then followed through with a list of job opportunities, both by email and by phone. The job developer’s prompt and efficient service helped me to get a job offer right away, and I began working on August 2nd. AACF is a very impressive organization.” - Thank you, Maureen C.-B.