Cheyenne

# of Kids: 3 Previous Occupation: Unemployed Previous Wage: Unemployed Current Occupation: Driver, Duran Construction Current Wage: $3,466/month Tara completed Climb's Commercial Truck Driving (CDL) training.

“In my life before Climb, I worked in bars and lived on food stamps and assisted housing. I wasn’t able to get a good job that had regular hours, so my kids were never home, never got to sleep in their own room. I couldn’t buy them clothes. It was hard for them. Now their lives have changed dramatically. They don’t have to worry about how we’ll get things. My daughter says she feels better, more secure knowing that mom is taking care of us. My whole life, I’ve quit things that are too hard—but at Climb I wanted to show that I could do anything! Learning to drive a truck was crazy since I’m only 5’2”, but I love it. Now I say, ‘try new things because you never know—you may find out you can do it.’”

# of Kids: 1 Previous Occupation: Full-time Waitress Previous Wage: $13,195/year Current Occupation: Patient Financial Services with Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Current Wage: $29,120/year Michelle Climb's Cheyenne Health Information Technology training.

"The genuine support and interest that the Climb staff had helping me make a change in my life has stuck with me. As a single mom who needs assistance, you are looked at differently in the community. Climb doesn’t look down on you and they believe in you when no one has believed in you before. The biggest benefit to me sounds small – I pay all of my own bills! I have a savings account for myself and my son. I was unhappy having to go and get assistance and now I can support myself and start to do more. My son is in school now, and he sees me set goals and achieve them and provide for us – the same things I would hope for him when he grows up."

# of Kids: 2 Previous Occupation: Housekeeper Previous Wage: $15,706/year Current Occupation: Outpatient Therapy Coordinator/Life Care Center Current Wage: $28,080/year Christina completed Climb's Health Care Information Technology training.

“When I found Climb, I was working in housekeeping and ending a relationship. I was distraught and didn’t know how I could make it on my own. I was upset with my situation and thought it couldn’t hurt to try something new. At the Life Care Center, I’ve moved up and been promoted. I love being able to do stuff for my kids. My daughter went to science and art camps this year. She plays the violin. I’m able to provide all that and pave the way because I have a good job and can help her achieve her goals. CLIMB gives you tools to make you feel like an independent single person. The staff set me up with the Wyoming Family Home Ownership Program, and I have been working with them for over a year and am getting ready to buy a house. CLIMB is really a lifetime service—the impact on my life just keeps on going.”

# of Kids: 3 Previous Occupation: Food Service Previous Wage: $455/month Current Occupation: Ophthalmic Technician, Cheyenne Eye Clinic Current Wage: $2,253/month Christina completed Climb's Administrative Professionals training.

“Before Climb, we were living on food stamps. We had to share a bedroom, and my son was having a lot of behavioral issues. My kids were really proud of me for doing Climb and trying to provide better for them. My son would always say, ‘I’m proud of you, mommy.’ The training made me feel more confident in my abilities to work outside of the food industry. I brought my daughter to work with me recently and she said, ‘Wow mom, you’re really smart.’ It does make me feel really smart to be able to teach my kids new things. We’re now off benefits completely. We’re hoping to be able to start buying a house soon and a new car. We have money in the bank, and my son’s behavior has gotten a lot better now that we’re stable.”