Student: Khadija Raheem
Age: 24
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Center: Cleveland
Region: Chicago
Career Area: Carpentry
JC Date: 11/15/16 – 7/24/17
Employer: JLJI Enterprises, Inc.
Position: Union Carpenter

Local Clevelander, Khadija Raheem graduated from Shaw High School. She experienced hardship spending several months couch surfing with her 2-year-old daughter, and without a real place to call home. Struggling without a job, she started working with Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU), which exposed her to construction. While at YOU, a Job Corps staff member gave a presentation about the opportunities that Job Corps could offer. Learning that she could pursue a career in Carpentry at Cleveland Job Corps, she decided to enroll.

Khadija stated that the carpentry program encouraged her to pursue her dreams and inspired her to reach new levels. While at Cleveland Job Corps, Khadija earned her NCCER Core Curriculum, Green Building Awareness, Scaffold Safety, Forklift Operator, OSHA 10, Gastite Installer, and the UBC Pre-Apprentice Certificates. She was also recognized as a Construction Trade student of the month. Khadija helped to launch “ROSIE’S,” a Cleveland Job Corps club that promotes inclusion of women in the construction trade. She was involved in recreational activities and escorted visitors during the Center’s open house.

“Don’t do it for the money, do it because it’s a career that you want to do for the rest of your life,” advises Khadija. She takes pride in building things and looks forward to showing her daughter projects she has worked on. She is already planning to take her daughter to Safety Town in Lorain County, which was constructed by the Cleveland Job Corps’ Carpentry trade to educate youth on civil safety topics.

Initially, Khadija had plans to use her Carpentry skills to do interior design, repair and update furniture, but when she was presented with an opportunity to join the union, she jumped on it. Employed with JLJI Enterprises, Inc., as a Union Carpenter, Khadija is making $12.14 an hour plus benefits. Her five-year plan is to complete her apprenticeship, save money to eventually start her own business, buy a house, car, and nice things for her daughter. Khadija wants others to know that Job Corps made a difference in her life.