When Kanye joined Starbridge’s Project ESTEEM in August 2024, he was ready to work.
A recent high school graduate, Kanye had completed skills training at BOCES and earned his OSHA certification. He knew he wanted a job, especially something hands-on, possibly in construction, but he needed the right support to get there.
In his first meetings with his Workforce Navigator, it was clear that traditional settings were challenging for him. Sitting still and focusing during long meetings wasn’t easy. But Kanye did something powerful, he helped his Workforce Navigator understand how to communicate with him in ways that worked best. That partnership became the foundation for his success.
Through 1:1 pre-employment training and career exploration, Kanye began building not just job skills, but confidence. With support from Project ESTEEM workforce funds, he was connected to a paid internship in a basic construction program. There, Kanye learned technical skills, practiced professionalism, and discovered what it means to be part of a team, all while earning his own paycheck.
Day by day, his confidence grew.
After earning his Basic Construction Certificate, his Workforce Navigator partnered with ACCES-VR to help Kanye take the next step toward permanent employment. In October 2025, he began an internship at a local grocery chain. Soon after, he was offered his first permanent job working in carts and stocking.
Project ESTEEM funds helped provide his safety uniform, and ACCES-VR supplied a job coach and counselor to ensure he had the right supports in place.
Today, Kanye’s outlook is brighter than ever. His family beams with pride, and the smile he carries now is one his Workforce Navigator says she hadn’t seen when they first met.
Kanye didn’t just find a job, he found direction, confidence, and a new sense of possibility.
Congratulations, Kanye. Your journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see the goals you set, and achieve, next.
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