For much of his life, Pearcy Neely, had worked hard, manual labor jobs. Often, these jobs were by contract and very unstable, therefore, making it difficult to keep up with bill payments. After his move to Minnesota, Pearcy was employed through Union Labor for 10 years, working on many different projects, including the dome on the Convention Center.

He experienced first hand the instability in employment through Union Labor. He would often go into work, only to find that there was no work for him that day. As a result of the inconsistent work, there were several instances in which he was close to having his water turned off or losing his home.

Pearcy was eager to utilize the free resources available to him to gain more training in the field. After hearing about PSP's Facilities Training Program (FTP) from an employment counselor, he contacted FTP manager Craig Gregory and set up an interview.

The FTP consists of a 12 week, hands-on learning course in which the students develop their skills in the maintenance and housekeeping fields, learning such skills as: plumbing, electrical, and general maintenance. The program is limited to a maximum of 10 students per session in order to allow for more one-on-one instruction. Since the program began in January of 2007, 15 students have graduated from the course. After completing the training, graduates will have learned an understanding of the field and the essential abilities in order to gain employment.

Pearcy entered the program with a lot of enthusiasm, hoping to learn the trade, something more to offer a potential employer, as well as certification. During his three months in the program, he appreciated the cheerful environment and benefits he received. He enjoyed attending his training sessions and working with different people - helping each other out to learn to fully benefit from the program.

Pearcy agrees that he felt motivated to learn and succeed in the program. FTP manager Craig Gregory remembers Pearcy as, "a character, although I never had to worry about him. He was low maintenance. He came into the program focused and he stayed focused." Gregory believes that, "if a student comes into the program expecting hard work and stays dedicated, they will come out well." This was obviously the case for Pearcy. He successfully graduated from the program in November 2007.

Now 47 years old, Pearcy gives credit to PSP's Facilities Training program for helping him gain the skills and knowledge necessary for a stable job in maintenance. Going into the program, he was not confident about his knowledge of electrical maintenance. Now, he has gained that confidence and in the process, also learned about many tools he did not know about. Having that knowledge and experience has shown to be more appealing to potential employers and his hard work has paid off.

One and a half months after graduation from the program, Pearcy was offered a job at the new and prestigious 5-star Hotel IVY in downtown Minneapolis as a maintenance worker. He recalls going through many difficult times, but he assures that as long as a person "keeps their nose to the grindstone," they can succeed and benefit from all of the resources available to adults in his situation. Pearcy serves as a wonderful role model for how to effectively utilize all of the resources that are available. By taking advantage of this free education, he has worked his way up and continues to educate himself by taking advantage of free training programs.

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One of the goals at People Serving People (PSP) is to help guests and its students feel they can lead self-sufficient lives. One of the programs offered through PSP to aid in achieving this goal is the Culinary Arts Training Program. In the case of Faduma Hashi, it allowed her to ultimately achieve the "American Dream."

A native of Somalia, Faduma's success did not come without struggle. "When I left Somalia, the civil war had just begun. People were killing each other. It was horrible. I never dreamed in a few years I would be doing this. When I arrived in the United States I heard about the 'American Dream.' I believed it and I decided I would own my own company," said Faduma.

When Faduma decided it was food she wanted to work with, she was directed towards PSP. She was desperately looking for a training program in the culinary arts that she could afford. Through a source at Goodwill/Easter Seals she was told about the Culinary Arts Training Program at PSP.

As many of us learn in life, we must start at the bottom and work our way up. Faduma was no exception. Upon beginning the Training Program, she was anxious to learn anything and everything about the food service industry. "It was so satisfying and gave me so much joy to feed people, to know that they had clean, well-prepared food, I was even joyful fixing onions," said Faduma.

Now, as a graduate of the program Faduma has opened her own cafe. In affinity with the star she has become, the cafe is appropriately named, Starlight Cafe. Faduma features a full menu that captures tastes from around the world. Most notably are her pastries that are mouth-wateringly delicious.

With her success, Faduma has not forgotten her ties to PSP. "I love the kitchen crew and PSP managers; they are the kindest people on earth," said Faduma. She credits her success to all her hours of training, dedication and support. Faduma also advises those who may be just starting off, "The opportunities are vast here and everyone should take advantage of them."

If you are interested in tasting some of Faduma's decadent desserts you can visit her at the Starlight Cafe, located in the Midtown Global Market, downtown Minneapolis.

You can also call orders in ahead of time for special occasions at: 612.871.STAR (7827).

To lear more about People Serving People’s Job Training Programs call the Employment Coordinator at 612.277.0208.

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