Castrejón and his brothers—an electrician and a carpenter—gutted the kitchen and bathroom, renovated the first floor, repaired the cracked concrete steps, updated all the light fixtures with low-voltage light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and updated the power outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters to prevent electric shocks.

As the three brothers worked, Castrejón started to see a new career path.

“Electricians have a broad understanding of many different aspects of construction,” said Castrejón. “Plus, with the rise of smart homes, electric vehicle chargers, generators, and solar panels, electric is the future.”

With this spark of inspiration, Castrejón joined the HIRE360 program, a Chicago-based workforce initiative that promotes access to trade careers among underrepresented groups. HIRE360 paired Castrejón with a case manager who helped him prepare for assessments, connect with industry mentors, and land an apprenticeship with the Illinois chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). The program also provided Castrejón a stipend to help cover expenses during the first 11 weeks of his electrician apprenticeship, which was otherwise unpaid.