Jashaun walked through the office doors of AACF in June after learning about the organization from Progressive Trucking School where he is currently working towards earning his Class A CDL. After being referred by Progressive to AACF’s Youth Workforce Development Program he called AACF and made an appointment to visit the office in Oak Park.
Lining up financial aid was quite a process. Through AACF Jashaun secured a position as a clerk in a C.H. Robertson warehouse where he worked for one and half months before beginning his training program at Progressive. During this time AACF assisted Jashaun with funding for gas for transportation for his 45 minute commute to the warehouse in Des Plaines.
AACF is a great program. I would recommend it to people who are interested. They help out a lot. They support you and want to see you succeed in life.
- Jashaun
Jashaun grew up in Englewood, on Chicago’s South Side, and attended an all boys charter school in the Chicago Public School system. He was in his second year at Northern Illinois University as a Business Administration and Corporate Communications major when the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year, and he had to drop out. Having just turned 21 Jashaun already has some employment history behind him, working his way up to manager of the dining hall at Northern Illinois University and later working as a security guard and in an Amazon warehouse.
After earning his CDL, securing a job as a truck driver and becoming financially stable, Jashaun plans to return to college and complete his Business Administration degree, perhaps enrolling in online courses to fit into his work schedule. Jashaun has high praise for his case manager at AACF stating:“She is always keeping in contact with me and asking me how I’m doing. She was a big help throughout this process, always keeping me on top of my game with schooling and work.”
He also worked with Evelyn Mensah, Executive Director of AACF, and is grateful that Ms. Mensah let him know that AACF would help him to go to trucking school or to go back to college. Jashaun has since recommended the AACF program to his friends to receive job training and education. We are proud of your achievements Jashaun, keep spreading the word!
We are grateful for the funding received from generous donors and theIllinois Department of Human Services enabling us to provide education and job training to young people like Jashaun and others.
[AACF] gives you the tools to achieve success and helps you take the steps to get to where you want to go.
- Jashaun
Learn more and reach out to us for assistance. Make a contribution to AACF funding for job training and education for low income youth.