My name is Justin Hirsch. I’m 31 years old and a father of three beautiful children. I enjoy spending time with family, fishing, boating, and camping. In my early teenage years, I struggled on and off with drug addiction; this led to me being a felon in my early twenties, which made it hard to find employment and support my family. I thought I would spend the rest of my life living paycheck to paycheck because of the mistakes I made.
I heard about WRTP | BIG STEP from a counselor while I was a participant in the Living Free program at the Kenosha County Detention Center. When I was released from prison, I started working in the fast-food industry. I could barely afford to pay my bills. I felt trapped and as if I would never get ahead. I knew I had to do something, and I remembered my counselor discussing WRTP | BIG STEP with me—and explaining how they help you get a union job. That was when I called to enroll.
I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the WRTP | BIG STEP program. The leaders genuinely cared about every participant’s success. They motivated us and encouraged participation every day. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel alone. They showed us all the different unions and answered all of our questions.
I was a part of the Entry-Level Construction Skills Training class, where I received OSHA, First Aid, CPR, flagger, financial literacy, NABTU, and BMCM training certifications. My classes were very informative and hands-on. The teachers made sure we understood the materials, and they made it as fun as they could—the time seemed to fly by.
There were times I experienced challenges and self-doubt throughout the course because I would wonder about the what-ifs: What if I don’t make it? What if they don’t hire me? What if this is all for nothing? I pushed through it with the motivation of my family and teachers.
WRTP | BIG STEP without a doubt changed my life. After I graduated, I was offered a union flagger job that I got right away, and the opportunities have multiplied from there. With all of the certifications I received, the union calls me often about contractors that are looking for a laborer with the certifications I now have. I was finally able to get a car loan and buy a new car; my credit has climbed over 100 points. I now take pride in being able to financially provide for my family. I am so appreciative of what WRTP | BIG STEP has done for me.
Currently, I am a journeyman laborer doing heavy highway and bridge asphalt. I was laid off for the winter, and the union called me to work on a solar project until the end of winter. After winter, I am hoping to return to doing the same kind of work.
This program should be spoken about more. I came in at rock bottom, and not even a year later I am at the highest point I’ve ever been. I think people should know how helpful it is. It is designed for you, to help you achieve your goals. If I could advise people in a position similar to what I was in, I would say to keep your head in the game. Don’t give up. This is a great program that can and will change your life. Where there is a will there is a way,
My name is Justin Hirsch. I’m 31 years old and a father of three beautiful children. I enjoy spending time with family, fishing, boating, and camping. In my early teenage years, I struggled on and off with drug addiction; this led to me being a felon in my early twenties, which made it hard to find employment and support my family. I thought I would spend the rest of my life living paycheck to paycheck because of the mistakes I made.
I heard about WRTP | BIG STEP from a counselor while I was a participant in the Living Free program at the Kenosha County Detention Center. When I was released from prison, I started working in the fast-food industry. I could barely afford to pay my bills. I felt trapped and as if I would never get ahead. I knew I had to do something, and I remembered my counselor discussing WRTP | BIG STEP with me—and explaining how they help you get a union job. That was when I called to enroll.
I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the WRTP | BIG STEP program. The leaders genuinely cared about every participant’s success. They motivated us and encouraged participation every day. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel alone. They showed us all the different unions and answered all of our questions.
I was a part of the Entry-Level Construction Skills Training class, where I received OSHA, First Aid, CPR, flagger, financial literacy, NABTU, and BMCM training certifications. My classes were very informative and hands-on. The teachers made sure we understood the materials, and they made it as fun as they could—the time seemed to fly by.
There were times I experienced challenges and self-doubt throughout the course because I would wonder about the what-ifs: What if I don’t make it? What if they don’t hire me? What if this is all for nothing? I pushed through it with the motivation of my family and teachers.
WRTP | BIG STEP without a doubt changed my life. After I graduated, I was offered a union flagger job that I got right away, and the opportunities have multiplied from there. With all of the certifications I received, the union calls me often about contractors that are looking for a laborer with the certifications I now have. I was finally able to get a car loan and buy a new car; my credit has climbed over 100 points. I now take pride in being able to financially provide for my family. I am so appreciative of what WRTP | BIG STEP has done for me.
Currently, I am a journeyman laborer doing heavy highway and bridge asphalt. I was laid off for the winter, and the union called me to work on a solar project until the end of winter. After winter, I am hoping to return to doing the same kind of work.
This program should be spoken about more. I came in at rock bottom, and not even a year later I am at the highest point I’ve ever been. I think people should know how helpful it is. It is designed for you, to help you achieve your goals. If I could advise people in a position similar to what I was in, I would say to keep your head in the game. Don’t give up. This is a great program that can and will change your life. Where there is a will there is a way,
My name is Justin Hirsch. I’m 31 years old and a father of three beautiful children. I enjoy spending time with family, fishing, boating, and camping. In my early teenage years, I struggled on and off with drug addiction; this led to me being a felon in my early twenties, which made it hard to find employment and support my family. I thought I would spend the rest of my life living paycheck to paycheck because of the mistakes I made.
I heard about WRTP | BIG STEP from a counselor while I was a participant in the Living Free program at the Kenosha County Detention Center. When I was released from prison, I started working in the fast-food industry. I could barely afford to pay my bills. I felt trapped and as if I would never get ahead. I knew I had to do something, and I remembered my counselor discussing WRTP | BIG STEP with me—and explaining how they help you get a union job. That was when I called to enroll.
I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the WRTP | BIG STEP program. The leaders genuinely cared about every participant’s success. They motivated us and encouraged participation every day. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel alone. They showed us all the different unions and answered all of our questions.
I was a part of the Entry-Level Construction Skills Training class, where I received OSHA, First Aid, CPR, flagger, financial literacy, NABTU, and BMCM training certifications. My classes were very informative and hands-on. The teachers made sure we understood the materials, and they made it as fun as they could—the time seemed to fly by. There were times I experienced challenges and self-doubt throughout the course because I would wonder about the what-ifs: What if I don’t make it? What if they don’t hire me? What if this is all for nothing? I pushed through it with the motivation of my family and teachers.
WRTP | BIG STEP without a doubt changed my life. After I graduated, I was offered a union flagger job that I got right away, and the opportunities have multiplied from there. With all of the certifications I received, the union calls me often about contractors that are looking for a laborer with the certifications I now have. I was finally able to get a car loan and buy a new car; my credit has climbed over 100 points. I now take pride in being able to financially provide for my family. I am so appreciative of what WRTP | BIG STEP has done for me.
Currently, I am a journeyman laborer doing heavy highway and bridge asphalt. I was laid off for the winter, and the union called me to work on a solar project until the end of winter. After winter, I am hoping to return to doing the same kind of work. This program should be spoken about more. I came in at rock bottom, and not even a year later I am at the highest point I’ve ever been. I think people should know how helpful it is. It is designed for you, to help you achieve your goals. If I could advise people in a position similar to what I was in, I would say to keep your head in the game. Don’t give up. This is a great program that can and will change your life. Where there is a will there is a way,