When Keith Tody began looking for employment at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic he attended a fair at Truman College on Chicago’s north side. There, he met Elliott Esparza from National Able Network (Able), who told Keith about IT…

Steven Scholtes had always dreamed of working in the information technology (IT) industry, but for years he worked in the retail and restaurant industries to get by. That didn’t last. “I had a job dishwashing and cooking in a restaurant,…

As an educator in her native Pakistan, Saira Mirza had a wonderful career where she helped children gain digital literacy skills. “Children would love coming to my computer class!” recalls Saira. In 2002, Saira moved from Pakistan to Garfield, Minnesota…

David Hilo began his professional career in the restaurant industry – a world he knew well since working at his family’s restaurant while young. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Culinary Arts Certificate from Le Cordon Bleu,…

Since high school, Susan Zhou had a natural talent for all things information technology. So much so that family and friends would count on her to help set up laptops, computers, and even complete basic troubleshooting whenever they ran into…

Marvin Harvey earned his bachelor’s degree in business in 2012, and worked in the accounting and finance field through 2017. However, that very same year, Marvin was laid off. This unexpected career hiccup didn’t faze Marvin one bit. He took…

Miguel Betancourt had a career in customer service and account management before being laid off in 2017. He wasted no time in getting his job search started! Miguel applied to and was accepted into National Able Network’s Employment Opportunities, Personalized…

Jason Scerena graduated from the Illinois Institute of Art with a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Art and Animation in 2008. Upon graduation, he quickly began an internship with a corporation that closed just as quickly because the economic recession was…

Lukasz “Luke” Majzner was in his mid-thirties and after many years of unstable employment and unemployment, was receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits just to make ends meet. He enrolled in the Employment Opportunities, Personalized Services, Individualized Training, Career…

Jeremiah Harris’ life is anything but traditional, but he has strong roots and even stronger ambitions in the city that he loves: Chicago.  Born and raised in Chicago, dad of three, Jeremiah finished college at the age of 27 in…