When Kahlil Parker first heard about Lumity, his only goal was to earn his GED. His family had moved to Elgin, to Rockford, and back to Maywood, and he had dropped out of high school. As Kahlil describes it, “I wasn’t doing much back then … just staying in my room. But then I saw an ad for Lumity’s YouthBuild program, which said they could help me get my GED, so I decided to sign up.”
On Kahlil’s first day, he learned there was more to YouthBuild than he had realized. In addition to pursuing his GED, he’d also earn certifications such as OSHA 10 and NCCER, which could qualify him for jobs in construction. As he started learning how to use tools during his classes, he thought, “Yeah, this is for me. I really like working with my hands.”
His new interest was soon put to the test in the real world. Kahlil and his YouthBuild classmates were invited to help with the buildout of Lumity’s STEMWorks Training Center in Maywood. They went to work on the building, where they assisted with metal framing, drywalling, and painting. One day, Lumity’s executive director, Kara Kennedy, suggested that Kahlil shadow the electricians who were coming to wire the building. IBEW electrician Ed Mosquera was the first person Kahlil met on that crew.
“Ed started showing me how to bend pipes and use his tools, but I was having trouble stripping wires,” said Kahlil. “Ed gave me his extra pair of wire strippers and told me I should practice. I took those home and practiced every day until I got the hang of it. I came back a week later and said, ‘Ed, I can do it now! I want to be an electrician.'” Ed quickly became Kahlil’s mentor and has been advising, guiding, and encouraging Kahlil as he builds his skill set and prepares for a career as a union electrician.
When IBEW electrician Ed Mosquera handed Kahlil a pair of wire strippers, he also gave him a future. That spark of mentorship lit the way forward.
Since enrolling in YouthBuild, Kahlil has achieved an impressive number of successes. He passed his final GED exam on what he calls “the best day of my life.” He graduated from YouthBuild as his cohort’s valedictorian. He spoke at Lumity’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Maywood building to talk about how his life has changed since the day he saw that ad.
“This program has given me more than just skills. It’s helped me learn how to talk to people. The environment at Lumity is 100% great. It’s given me direction and confidence that will be with me for the rest of my life.”
Kahlil has also completed a semester at Triton College, where he earned an A in math, previously his toughest subject. He’s doing so well with his coursework that he wants to earn his associate’s degree while also applying for an apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IBEW 134. Congratulations on all you’ve accomplished, Kahlil! You’ve got a very bright future ahead of you!
Help Us Build More Success Stories Like Kahlil’s. Sponsor Lumity’s Training Programs. DONATE
