Jacolby’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Jacolby Lewis was in a difficult place, both in his work and his personal life. He was unhappy at his current book factory job, “…it wasn’t the best, but it was good for just graduating high school…it was kind of like a dark cloud when you walked through those doors.” Jacolby had also suffered a recent tragedy with the passing of his two-week-old son. “It was like everything went downhill from there; it felt like everything was just crumbling down, and I wasn’t satisfied with life. I just gave up, I lost a lot of motivation and the drive to do anything.”

Seeking a new start, Jacolby kept seeing the Missouri Works Initiative on his social media, “I was seeing it as a sign to give it a try.” After a conversation with Mid-Missouri Construction Coordinator Russ Unger, Jacolby was sold on the program, ”I signed up because the way he explained the program, it seemed almost perfect. I could get a great career, I’d always be learning something new, and I could pass it on.”

Jacolby appreciated the hands-on nature of his classes, “I liked the program because it wasn’t just sitting in a classroom listening to an instructor the whole time, it was a lot of hands-on and going on job sites. When we did sit in the class, it was very informative and we did a lot of group work.”

 As Jacolby progressed through the Apprenticeship Ready Construction Program, he learned real-life, hands-on skills like, “bricklaying, some heavy equipment operations, mudding walls, I also built a toolbox with the Sheet Metal Workers, and a lot more.” Beyond on-the-job skills, Jacolby learned soft skills and life lessons that would help him land a great career: “never have a fixed mindset, always be willing to learn, and if you’re on time, you’re late!”

After completing the program and graduating with a new set of skills and a renewed motivation, Jacolby Lewis found a sustainable career as a Laborer with LiUNA Local 662 doing heavy highway construction for contractor Millstone Weber. His new career has been more than a source of income, it’s been a new start and a motivator to continue to succeed. “My life has changed in a good way since I’ve started. I’m more motivated to get up and get to it instead of dreading my days away.” 

We are so proud of Jacolby and the progress he has made in both his career and his personal life, and he expressed his gratitude to the Missouri Works Initiative team that helped him find a new path, “I’d like to shoutout everybody that in the Missouri Works Initiative program who took the time out to be able to make this happen for me and others.” 

Jacolby’s advice to others out there who are struggling with hardship and need a new start? “Life has its ups and downs, but nobody’s holding you back. It’s really you vs you so get up and get to it!”

Start your journey here.