For Jaton Mitchell, WRTP | BIG STEP’s Pave Your Path program was the fresh start that he needed for the next chapter of his life.
“I first heard about WRTP | BIG STEP while I was incarcerated in the Dane County Jail,” Jaton says. “At that time in my life, I knew I needed direction and a second chance, and this program stood out as something real and practical.”
In 2025, the first cohort of WRTP | BIG STEP’s Pave Your Path program began their training, marking a major milestone in our formal partnership with the Dane County Office of Justice Reform. Pave Your Path is designed to expose justice-involved individuals to career opportunities in construction and develop their job-readiness for jobs in construction. The program serves all justice-involved individuals, including those currently in Dane County diversion and/or incarceration and those who have recently re-entered the community.
Jaton was part of the first in-custody cohort of Pave Your Path in February 2025. “Tired of going in circles,” Jaton welcomed the structure, discipline, and long-term opportunities offered by the construction trades. After his release, he enrolled in our Entry-Level Construction Skills training and quickly started working toward his new life.
“The instructors treated us like we had potential,” Jaton says. “They didn’t just teach skills – they built confidence. They gave us hands-on training, real expectations, and guidance on how to enter the trades the right way.”
After passing the Accuplacer test and graduating from Entry-Level Construction Skills training, Jaton received his letter of introduction with the plumbers union. Dave Jones Plumbing, HVAC, Fire Protection, Electrical in Madison hired Jaton as a plumbing pre-apprentice prior to his graduation, and he started full-time at the company making $18 per hour.
After gaining experience on the job as a plumber, Jaton decided to try a different skilled trade and focused his sights on carpentry. JP Cullen hired him, and he’s part of Carpenters Local 314.
“WRTP | BIG STEP completely changed the direction of my life,” Jaton says. “Because of the training and support I received, I was able to join Local 314 as a carpenter and start building a lifelong career. I now have stability, purpose, and a future I’m working toward every day. The programs helped me break a cycle and step into something productive and meaningful.”
