Ismaila Traore
Age: 25
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Center: Cleveland
Career Area: Carpentry
Region: Chicago
Employer: The Company
Position: Carpenter Apprentice

“All the obstacles that you overcome will make you into a better person,” explained Ismaila Traore. “There is beauty in the struggle.” Cleveland Heights High School graduate, Ismaila Traore, was working at Domino’s Pizza when his mother recommended he consider The Job Corps Program. She knew the program would help her son obtain a sustainable career and gain independence.

Wanting to start a new career path, Ismaila altered his work schedule so that he could begin classes at the Cleveland Job Corps Center on May 15, 2017. Ismaila earned his Carpentry, National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Curriculum, Gastite Installer, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA 10), Scaffolding Safety, Green Awareness, and United Brotherhood of Carpenter (UBC) Pre-Apprentice Certifications. “If students focus on the program and embrace what they are being taught, their experience will be life-changing,” explains Ismaila.

On January 16, 2018, Ismaila completed the Cleveland Job Corps Carpentry program, and is now a Carpenter Apprentice at The Company making $14.95 an hour. He is grouting and setting tile walls and floor work at the One University Circle Project. Ismaila aspires to start his own construction flooring company after he becomes a journeyman.