From Construction Training Program to Construction Professional: Mimi’s Story
Mysheia Millings-Wiley, known as Mimi, to most, was a stay-at-home mom running a cleaning business, when she decided she wanted a change. She had long dreamed of renovating homes but needed to learn the skills to do so. She began looking for ways she could learn the basics of construction when she discovered Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati’s Construction Training Program (CTP). “I decided to enroll in the Construction Training Program when I was at a point in life where I was trying to figure out my identity, outside of being a wife and mom,” shares Mimi.
The Construction Training Program taught Mimi the basic skills she would need to be on a construction site, provided her with the certifications most employers require, and helped her build confidence as a construction professional. It also provided her with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on a construction site. “My favorite part of the construction training program had to have been working with our core volunteers. These guys are awesome,” says Mimi. “They’ve been working in the field for 30+ years and they’re here several days a week. They’re super inspiring guys and I’ve learned a lot from them. The basic knowledge the construction training program offers but getting on site with these guys you learn the tricks of the trade, stuff they’ve picked up over the years.”
Once Mimi graduated from the Construction Training Program, she completed a 10-month term working with Habitat through AmeriCorps, a government agency that provides individuals with the opportunity to work to create meaningful impact and transform lives. After she completed her AmeriCorps term, she still wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Habitat for Humanity. Mimi now works as an Assistant Site Supervisor for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati and is currently constructing homes in Hamilton, OH.
The Construction Training Program has been a great launching pad for Mimi, and many others in the community, who are looking for a fresh start or want to pivot careers. As reported by the Associated Builders and Contractors, the construction industry lacks over 300,000 laborers, and this number just keeps climbing. “It’s super important to have a program like the Construction Training Program because the construction field is suffering. We need laborers,” says Mimi. “CTP is the perfect introduction to bring in the next generation of laborers. Hopefully, it will help increase the numbers over the next several years.”
She encourages anyone to sign up for the program. “Don’t think about it, just do it,” Mimi advises. “I’ve met people from all walks of life doing this program, from ex-felons to stay-at-home moms, all with the same goal: To make a better life for themselves. Come, join the program. We need you.”
