helping dreams
take flight

Sitting in the El Sol Labor Hall in 2016, Jorge chatted with other workers waiting for work. While he enjoyed the community and conversations, like everyone else at El Sol, his eyes and ears were focused on the employer line. One morning, Jorge helped an employer lift and transport AC equipment. 

Impressed by Jorge’s work ethic and initiative, the employer asked Jorge to work for him 40 hours a week for him. Jorge says, “I had achieved consistent work. I never imagined I would work in air conditioning, but I wanted to learn the technical skills so the employer would explain concepts to me while I helped him do more sophisticated tasks”. 

His boss funded his enrollment in an apprentice program at Palm Beach State College and, after four years, Jorge obtained an AC Technician Certificate. “That AC textbook was my Bible”, Jorge jokes. “Every day, I would learn the mechanical words in the textbook first so I was ready to learn the application”.

Today, Jorge continues his work in the AC sector and is starting his own business. He says, “Thank you El Sol for this life changing opportunity. My advice to others: keep working hard and know that any day can be that first day of stable work!”