In the Spotlight
People Working Together

Sacramento, CA – CWDB’s Pathway to Sustainability High Road Construction Careers (HRCC) project provides pre-apprenticeship readiness training for entry into the construction trades. The project’s partners, People Working Together (PWT) and the Sacramento-Sierra’s Building and Construction Trades Council (SSBCTC), work together to ensure participants get the training they need to be successful. CWDB’s funding gives PWT the resources to address the real-time needs of participants by providing transportation, rental, and utility assistance, stipends, mentorship, counseling, and more.

Alexis Hernandez
Pre-apprenticeship Construction Trades graduate, PWT

When Alexis Hernandez joined PWT in October 2024, he wasn’t sure what the future held. Before starting the MC3 apprenticeship readiness program funded by HRCC’s Pathway to Sustainability, he was stuck in a non-union scaffolding job that offered no benefits, no retirement plan, and no opportunities for advancement. Like many others in the construction industry, he was showing up every day to a job that didn’t feel like a career.

“It felt like a dead-end,” Alexis shared. “The money you make, that’s it. No retirement, no real benefits. I needed to turn things around—not just for me, but for my mom. She raised us by herself, and I wanted to help her.”

Alexis’s breakthrough came when his colleague had completed the PWT program and spoke highly of its impact. Inspired by his friend’s dedication and drive, Alexis applied and was accepted.

At PWT, Alexis experienced something new: structure, discipline, and preparation for the real construction world. “Mr. Brown ran the program like a real job site. If you’re late, you’re not working. It taught us how to be reliable, and that’s what unions and contractors are looking for.”

The program offered training that allowed Alexis to obtain certifications in critical skills like OSHA 30 safety training, CPR, Forklift, Flagging, and Traffic Control. These gave him a leg up when applying to the Ironworkers Union. “Because I had earned these certifications, I was able to skip to the front of the line. I didn’t have to start at the very bottom.”

Now a proud member of Iron Workers Local 118, Alexis sees the stark difference between union and non-union work.

“In the union, they care about your safety. They care about you.”

That’s something I never felt before. After I was hired, PWT helped pay for the tools I needed and paid my union dues so I could get started without falling behind in my bills.”

Today, Alexis is not just working—he’s building a career, a future, and a legacy. His story is a testament to what’s possible when opportunity meets preparation.

Watch Alexis’s interview: https://youtu.be/tBMGvspIFmY