Sharifa has a new car and the license to drive it, thanks to the support of her friends and community in her new Wisconsin...
When he came to FSET, Steven had a clear idea of what he wanted: To maintain his sobriety and continue recovery, and A part-time...
Financial struggles can bring the weight of the world down on a parent. Audrey knows about that firsthand. Nonetheless, she still advises to “Just...
When Emily asked Bret if she could write a story about his most recent success, he laughed, asking “Am I a success?” But we...
When it comes to achieving a dream, a good plan is essential. Without a goal to strive toward, however, I’m reminded of the exchange...
“I have been blessed by God throughout my life with good things happening to me when I am in need,” writes Paul. He’s a...
That sweet baby girl means everything to Carrie, who joined Wisconsin Works shortly after her daughter was born. Today, Carrie knows her baby is...
A personal touch can go a long way. When Michael found a job through our FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET) program in 2020, he...
Sometimes parents need a light to guide them through life’s storms. As an unemployed single mom, Lacy was not sure how to support her...
Sometimes it’s easy to feel caught between two places in life—where you are and where you want to be. Bridging this gap can be...
The pandemic has had far reaching effects and not just on employment. Education and training have had more than their share of new obstacles,...
Initial success isn't the only thing worth acknowledging: ongoing commitment is hard work and deserves recognition. Today we're congratulating Ruffus. He is celebrating six years...
Join us in celebrating Irene's success, as she enjoys new full-time employment in a position that offers her a complete benefits package! A few years...
Today we celebrate Lah, who has found his way to self-sufficiency through the Road to Livelihood program. In 2020, Lah and his family came to...
Today we celebrate the success of Willie, who has recently accepted a new job offer. He is now managing his finances, covering housing and...
Nuclear Density Technician – that's a cool job title and one that Donna is proud to call her own. Just last year, she was...
When Ray came to FSET in April, his dream was to get back to truck driving. He had been out of work for a...
Kakola came to the United States as a Refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo in July of 2020. Kakola’s wife, Furaha, came here...
Adriana wanted to be a professional – somebody knowledgeable, respectable, and helpful. The thing is, her only real experience was working in cleaning jobs....
As the single father of a four-year-old boy, Nick wants his son to have the same kind of security that he had growing up....
Congratulations to Vanessa, who recently started her new job! After five years as a stay-at-home mom, getting back into the workplace was like entering...
Congratulations, Renee! She’s recently secured a clerical position with the State of Michigan. 😊 Before we met her, Renee had been working as an administrative...
Meet Brianna – a woman on the move. She came to FSC because she wanted new opportunities to become the best version of herself...
When health issues took Donya out of the workforce, she joined Wisconsin Works to support her family while applying for disability benefits – only...
Dawn was a busy mom who was moving up – she had a good job, and she was finishing her bachelor’s degree. Then suddenly,...
A little over a year ago, Yadira moved her four children from the southern U.S. to Wisconsin. She was hoping to find a home...
When Sirenia graduated from TrANS, we thought she'd jump right into a new construction career, but that didn't happen. "After chatting, Sirenia explained that...
Chelsea came from the big city, where she did well as a cellist. It was exciting work, but not always steady. After moving, however,...
“I am a single mother and did not want to depend on the system to support my family,” says April. Two years ago, she...
When Latoyia learned that she was about to become a mom, she went straight into prep mode. She had a job that barely paid...
Shortly after having her second child, Yeralyz discovered that she needed surgery. She’d planned to join Wisconsin Works (W-2) for support during maternity leave,...
We’re proud to announce that Destiny, a junior in our Upward Bound program at Madison East High School, has been awarded a 2021 NCWIT...
Imagine yourself sitting down at a local diner. There’s a light chatter of guests and wait staff bustling around. We’re mid-pandemic, but truckers still...
Brandon advises anyone interested in construction to remember that “Your reputation begins in the classroom!” Construction is a small world, meaning that names get...
Amy is starting 2021 with renewed hopes, as she recently jump-started her life — and the car that was causing her so much trouble...
Sometimes the success that comes from working with TrANS can take a while to set in. Take Rashaun for example. He came to the...
This time last year, Shannon never would have expected to see herself enjoying a job in manufacturing. She’d always been in health care, so...
Shawna had just gotten a teaching job in a local daycare when the pandemic struck. Working with others who loved youngsters was a dream...
Sarah is a creative and talented woman, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Just check out a few pages from...
When Amanda’s employer went under, she decided to turn unemployment into an opportunity to retool her career. She’d often hoped for an office position,...
Vakia moved to Wisconsin to make a better life for her daughters — when she learned about FSC, she realized there was no better...
Margaret seemed to be doing everything right to get ahead— training, showcasing her talent, and earning certificates. Nonetheless, she recalls having “a 3-ring binder...
“I never thought my life would turn out this way, but I’m sure glad it did,” says Tracie. Last year, she was homeless, jobless,...
One year ago, Jenna was wondering how to finish her nursing degree, when baby number four was due...
Congratulations to Amanda, who recently started her new job at Americollect! We know she's going to do great work, because we've seen her...
Congratulations to Nick, who's passion for cars has gotten him on the fast-track to his dreams! Although he's fresh out of college, auto has...
“I came from a colorful history and managed to create a beautiful painting with it,” says Dennis. He used to deal with pain in...
When Amber tells people she's in construction, they're always surprised to hear that she's got one of the dirtier jobs. She drives a tack...
After being in prison for 30 years, Randy never expected to be where he is today: “Independent, making money at a job – a...
“I did everything Angie said, and I got the job!” Dawanna announced to us the minute she was hired at Spectrum. As soon as she...
Last week was even busier than normal for Capri. She typically attends several appointments a week for her son, who has special needs. She's...
Please join us in congratulating Julia, a young mother who won't let anything stop her from giving her newborn the best start possible. This...
“I am fortunate to be working and appreciate my job more than ever,” says Debra, a 2017 TrANS graduate. She just wrote in to...
A man was walking in the woods when he fell into a deep, dark hole. He shouted until a friend came by. Instead of...
Today we want to introduce Reilley, an Upward Bound student with big plans for her future. Navigating high school and the journey into adulthood is...
Ebonie moved to Wisconsin a few years ago, after her children’s father was shot and killed, looking for a safe place to raise her...
Carmen has been following a long and winding road these last few years. She moved to Wisconsin after a hurricane wiped out her community down...
Say hello to Whitney, a single mom who’s proving that lifelong learning and a great attitude are key to overcoming anything – even the...
Bethany is a survivor who escaped an abusive relationship, and in doing so, was forced to quit her job. She began business classes and...
After a health issue forced Jeremy from the manufacturing floor, he didn’t how to get his life back on track. At first he came...
Today, we want to introduce you to a brave young woman named Tyiquite. Knowing that she wanted a better life for herself and her...
When Gregory enrolled in TrANS, he soon found himself juggling classes, homework, and his second shift job—it was hard for him to even find...
For Kathleen, TrANS opened up more than a career path. It opened the doors to becoming part of American history. “I always had a fascination...
Tina had a stable career as a dental assistant for 15 years, while her husband watched their three children at home. Then her world...
“I came to TrANS with nothing but hope and ambition,” says Precious, “and I’ve been soaring ever since.” The moment she started her career...
As a full-time single dad, Jason would do anything to be a good role model for his son. For a while though, he wasn’t...
Crystal joined Wisconsin Works and FSET to support for her family during unemployment. It didn’t take long before she was amazed to find herself...
Tyson's upbeat personality and drive to learn were a beacon of hope to his classmates throughout the TrANS program. Now that he's graduated, Tyson's...
As the mother of seven children, Rosa has been a full-time chef, nurse, coach, driver, personal secretary, teacher, and supervisor. When she decided to...
Putting together a sentence has always been tricky for Odessa, so when she got the keys to her new apartment, she sent us a...
Sa couldn't bring much with him when he fled from the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, but he did carry with him a wealth of...
Everyone who's seen the giant tag on a hairdryer knows that if you drop it in water, you're going to get zapped. As a...
Mikayla’s winning smile here at the Office Professionals graduation only tells part of her story. This is one of the most determined young women...
Angel landed 52 interviews in three months, only to be rejected each time because of a past mistake. "I was chasing any sales job...
Rhonda is a wonderful mom who puts her heart into everything she does. As the devoted assistant manager of a local thrift store, she...
Ashley is a textbook example of professionalism. A few months ago, however, she decided that she wanted a new profession. She came to FSC...
Kristen is a pretty handy person to have around - that's one of many reasons we love her! She was known as a jack-of-all-trades,...
As a waitress, Alyssa used to take odd shifts all the time. She needed to pay the bills, but as a mom, she also...
We’ve been blown away by the scholarships our Upward Bound class of 2019 has received this year! Today, let’s give a round of applause...
Because Jena's positive vibes are pretty much contagious, we thought we'd share her great news to make your day, too! She just accepted a...
With a list of accomplishments that gets longer each year, Angelica's been living her college dream. She's currently on the premedical track at the...
Katlyn recently wrote a powerful letter to thank our staff for their support after she gave birth to her son. They not only helped...
Failure is not the alternative to success,” says Shanteria. “It’s something to be avoided, but it’s only a temporary setback on a bigger, more...
Nicky's achieved a lot in a short time. When her second child was born, she needed reliable support. Wisconsin Works was just the ticket....
Harmony knows that a strong support system is key to thriving as a parent, particularly one who's going for her degree. Her family has...
"I’m working my way up from the bottom," says Karen. After losing her office job in 2016, she had to give up almost everything...
After leaving the Navy, Ryan's life was one transition after another, as he searched for his place in civilian life. Homeless, he enrolled in...
To get through her nursing program, Laci learned how to do her homework with babies snuggling on her lap. With a baby, a toddler,...
One quick tumble changed everything for Melissa. Her doctor told her she couldn't go back to work for a while, and she wasn't entirely...
Tyler made an instant connection with Bob and Marley when he started volunteering at the Grant County Humane Society. The brothers were untrained rescued...
Today, Thomas is more driven than ever before, not just because of his motivated personality, but because he’s earned his dream job at YRC...
With three young boys to love, Danima had no time to lose. She came to FSC to jump out of unemployment and get her...
Ranard describes Eugene with two words: "simply amazing." At 58 years old, he is the oldest male to graduate TrANS, and he's not only...
Suli enrolled in Wisconsin Works because she plans on welcoming her second child to a strong family. After a series of setbacks left her...
Allisha is opening up a new chapter in her life as a small business owner, with a boost from FSC! Other people might call it...
"Pawahna lights up the room with her enthusiasm," says Meghan, a counselor with the FSET program. Even though Pawahna has been a U.S. citizen...
"It means a lot to me to have a good job with a great company!" exclaims Jacole. After a back injury left her out...
Imagine studying for your finals with one youngster at home and another on the way. That would be enough to make anyone gulp, but...
"Only you can hold you back," says DeShawn. He just graduated from the TrANS construction program, and with hard work and teachers who believe...