Aaron’s Story: Right On Track in a Job He Enjoys

Aaron, a single father of four young children, had one goal: to get a job he could retire from. He was working two jobs – one as a janitor, one at Canadian Pacific Railway – when he came to Interfaith hoping to improve his job prospects.

He worked with the IOCP Employment Services team to update his resume, practice interview skills and find a job that fit his lifestyle – and his goals.

Eventually, Aaron applied for a position for the Minneapolis light rail. “I had some [railroad] experience already, but this is electric. Totally different…We had to learn about current and things like that.” The certification testing was difficult for Aaron, but IOCP staff encouraged him along the way.

Aaron now works as a track inspector and recently celebrated 11 years of steady employment. It’s a full-time job that comes with a lot of responsibility, ongoing training, and opportunities for overtime. “We just had CPR training. We also have equipment training. I can operate a sweeper, a vacuum truck, a Cat loader” and more.

Along the way, Aaron and his kids – who have since graduated from Wayzata High School – participated in IOCP’s Neighborhood Program. This onsite program located at Aaron’s townhome community provides access to youth programs, community connection activities, and Interfaith’s stability services.

The formula for Aaron’s stability? Hard work and a steady paycheck, combined with IOCP helping him find a property with fixed rent.

“If I hadn’t had a place and didn’t meet Interfaith to guide me…I don’t know where I would be,” Aaron reflects. “…It’s really different when you got your own place so that you carry on and keep going.”

When asked why donors and community members should support Interfaith and its mission, Aaron replies without hesitation: “Because it works. It’s an entity like no other. It’s the values that the people have, it’s the camaraderie you guys have…I don’t know where that came from, but I’m glad I met it.”