Douglas County program sees success helping youth build careers

OMAHA, Neb. —

The Skill Up, Step Forward program, a collaboration between Metropolitan Community College and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, is providing Omaha youth with career training and opportunities, and participants are already seeing success.

For Luis Ochoa, boxing has always been a passion, but now, thanks to the program, he’s pursuing a potential career as a mechanic.

“I wanted to start in automotive, but I didn’t know where. I like cars, but I didn’t know how they work,” Ochoa said.

Ochoa said he realized it was time to make a change in his life.

“Always doing something I’m not supposed to,” Ochoa said. “Switching from that and actually getting my stuff together, and I met God, and that’s where my life kind of changed. I stopped doing the things that I shouldn’t be doing, and I started getting my stuff straight.”

While at the gym, Ochoa noticed a poster for the program.

“I called the number, and I got in touch with Alexcia, and that’s where I started,” he said.

Alexcia King, a youth and family engagement specialist, said Ochoa participated in the Automotive Express class, which is one of the program’s most popular offerings.

“He did the Automotive Express class, and he waited for that class to start a little bit because that one is very popular,” King said.

The program targets individuals aged 17 to 24, and King said demand has grown quickly.

“We’ve received between 100 and 140 referrals. That’s a lot of referrals coming in,” King said.

The program trains participants through classes at Metropolitan Community College and places them in careers that match their skills and interests. King said her current caseload is 64 participants.

“We’ve had 26 finish, and 21 of them are employed right now. And we have a few who are in the queue getting ready to start. Classes are in session right now. So the biggest highlight is that people are buying into the program,” King said.

For Ochoa, the lessons he’s learned in the boxing ring, from his mentor, and through the program are helping him stay on a better path.

“If you’re not disciplined, you cannot come, and they’re going to work on you know? So you have to stay disciplined and consistent,” Ochoa said.

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