CFCC and StepUp Wilmington Expand Opportunities Together

A growing partnership between Cape Fear Community College and StepUp Wilmington is helping more people access education, workforce training, and the resources they need to pursue their goals.

A Record Year for StepUp

StepUp Wilmington helps individuals reach their potential and lead stable lives through satisfying work. The past year marked a significant milestone for StepUp.

“We just finished our first full year of moving some of our classes over to CFCC,” said Emily Mitchell, StepUp’s Chief Development Officer. “As a result, we saw our numbers really skyrocket. We were able to have more people in our classes at one time and offer them more consistently, and that exposure helped. We just had a record-breaking year, serving more people than ever before.”

The partnership has also expanded to include StepUp’s youth programs.

“It’s exciting because they’re getting exposed not only to the workforce, but also to a college campus,” said Mitchell.

A One-On-One Connection

StepUp participants are introduced to CFCC programs at the end of Jobs Week, the organization’s signature week-long program. From there, participants can explore career training opportunities and access scholarships. StepUp also provides a continued education fund that can help participants pursue additional training.

The partnership also gives participants access to the broader resources of a college campus, including CFCC’s library, computers, and study space.

For Mitchell, those resources matter because the barriers people face when entering or re-entering the workforce can extend well beyond finding a job. Participants may be navigating transportation, childcare, food, or housing insecurity, recovery, and other challenges.

StepUp pairs participants with Talent Managers who work with them individually on their goals, pace, and plans. Mitchell said that one-on-one connection is an important part of what StepUp provides, and she sees a similar approach in the way CFCC works with students.

“Individuals are helping you, and the individuals are encouraging you, and I think that that is pretty awesome that you have two organizations that want to know you as a human and want your individual success,” Mitchell said. “I think that’s really special.”

Ralph McKinley Takes the Next Step

Ralph McKinley is one example of what that partnership can look like.

McKinley learned about StepUp through LINC, a Wilmington nonprofit that provides transitional living, reentry support, job training, and employment assistance. After attending StepUp’s Jobs Week this spring, he learned about CFCC’s construction programs and immediately saw an opportunity to build on his 30 years of experience in the industry.

“The people at StepUp were very adamant about people finding something they love, and for me, that was construction. I’ve been doing it for 30 years, so I figured I’d do something I was good at.”

He enrolled in CFCC’s Construction Bootcamp, a free program made possible through generous funders like CarolinasAGC Foundation and Lennar Foundation.

After successfully completing the boot camp, he enrolled in CFCC’s Heavy Equipment Operator course, which he is currently taking. He plans to continue his education with CFCC’s General Contracting course.

For McKinley, continuing his education also meant learning something about himself.

“I learned to stop denying people’s help. There’s a lot of help in the world,” McKinley said. “I’ve always been the type of person who depends on myself. I raised myself from the time I was 14 years old, and I raised all my siblings and cousins and stuff like that.”

For McKinley, accepting help has changed the way he sees the people around him.

“The world may seem corrupt, but it’s not as corrupt as you think it is,” McKinley said. “Good people do exist.”