Joseph
Joseph | Photo Credit - Beth Lowery Photography
"StepUp Durham is real serious about helping people. They are about what they say, which is why I still respect StepUp Durham."
When Joseph transitioned home in 2021, he was given a social security card with his grandfather's social security number on it and documents that listed his brother's name. He heard about StepUp Durham through a friend. Though Joseph received a number of job offers, he had no identification to accept employment. After completing Step1, Joseph secured a BUILD apprenticeship, and StepUp paid him in gift cards while working with him to get his identification challenges addressed. StepUp Durham worked with members of The Summit Church, one of our faith partners, to literally walk with him and, sometimes, communicate on his behalf, to get him the identification he needed. Empowered with the identification needed for employment, Joseph's apprenticeship employer was able to put him on their payroll, and he still works there today, almost four years later.
Joseph | Photo Credit - Beth Lowery Photography
Living with his sister and making ends meet with a variety of part-time jobs, Joseph is still looking for full-time employment and StepUp Durham continues to walk with him. His background is a persistent barrier to employment. "If it wasn't for my sister and StepUp Durham, I would be back in prison. StepUp Durham helped me when everyone else failed. When I need help, I come to StepUp Durham. They are like family to me."
Joseph, who loves painting and doing flooring, is still working on thriving, which to him looks like focusing on his dreams and what he wants to do in life. "I am an honest person who wants to work for what I want in life. I get up and I thank God every morning. I just want to be [treated like] a citizen."
We’re excited to launch our 2024 Fall Campaign! Generous donors Phil Spiro and Linda Raftery will match up to $35,000 in new, increased, or renewed donations, PLUS one year’s worth of any new, recurring monthly gifts. For example, if a donor signed up to give $100/month, $1,200 would count toward the match!
