Arthur discovered JVS through his cousin, who works with IEWorks, a close JVS partner in California’s Inland Empire. Seeking a career change, Arthur enrolled in the Water/Wastewater Pre-Apprenticeship training program, recognizing its potential for career growth and financial stability.
“I’ve always had a technical mindset… so I decided to go ahead and go and go forward with it,” Arthur shared. “There’s a lot of opportunity here and honestly, I didn’t know that the pay went so high.”
Soon after, Arthur enrolled in the pre-apprenticeship program while he was still working as a cashier at a gas station near his home. Despite working 16 hour days–balancing the program with his gas station job–Arthur remained committed. “It was just about what I wanted to prioritize, and I wanted to prioritize the program,” Arthur says. “I knew it was going to be something that would move me out of that place, because I was really itching to get out of that gas station.”
During the IEWorks training, Arthur connected with people at the Inland Empire Black Worker Center (IEBWC), who provided skills workshops on topics like interviewing, resumes, and networking. His cohort toured the West Valley Water District (WVWD), where participants were able to see a working water/wastewater facility and ask questions of current staff. Arthur seized the opportunity and asked as many questions as possible out of his interest for the career path and workplace. His curiosity paid off, because when it came time to interview apprentices at the end of the IEWorks program, the WVWD hiring team remembered Arthur from the tour and offered him the position in July 2024.
“The internship was really good, because we went through a lot of operations: we did water quality, water treatment, maintenance, and meters. Then they posted an assistant position, and I got an interview for that one. And after maybe two months, they called me and left me a voicemail telling me that I got the position.”
Now that Arthur has begun his first permanent position in the water industry, he’s inspired others around him, including his younger brother and cousin, to pursue careers in the skilled trades. In addition to his family, Arthur’s friends who previously worked in the water industry have expressed interest in joining the next IEWorks cohort to sharpen their skills and open new doors in their careers.
“They saw that I was going through the program, and they were just waiting to see what was on the other side of it,” Arthur explains. “They’re interested in the benefits and the opportunity that it provided for me, and they’re kind of just seeing the opportunity that can come from working in utilities or something that’s unionized. So it’s just been a ripple effect, like I started doing something, and other people noticed, and they also want the same opportunities that I have.”
Since completing the IEWorks program and internship, Arthur received his D2 Drinking Water Operator Certification, and he continues working toward other certifications that will help him move up the career path in the water industry.
“The thing I’m most excited about is just seeing how fast I can grow,” Arthur says. “I know that the experience I’m getting is going to translate into whatever next step I’m going to take.”
Arthur’s story first appeared in our 2024 Impact Report. Go to impact2024.jvs.org to read the report and learn more about our work.
