Isaac began his participation in Community Action’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program in 2011 in a Tourism apprenticeship program which provided him the skills to get a regular seasonal job in tourism. WIA also helped prepare him for college by providing him with college preparation classes. 
Upon graduation from Dodgeville High School in 2012, Isaac enrolled at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College (SWTC) for the Business Management Associate Program. He paid for this program for two years with his own finances, scholarships, and grants. However, his abilities and limited funds only allowed him to be a part-time student. As a former employer once said of him, “He has trouble seeing things through because he gets bored with the task and wants to hurry it along to start something else”.
With this knowledge of himself, Isaac reached out to WIA in 2014 so he could get his degree moving. With the additional training grants and transportation dollars, Isaac was able to afford a full course load and graduated in December 2015. In the last semester of school, he secured a job as a Manager on Duty at a grocery store in Darlington. During the summer of 2015, Isaac participated in the Youth Leadership Conference, which offered challenging courses on both low and high ropes. He also participated in the programs trip to Navy Pier in Chicago, featuring cultural awareness and a lesson in history.
“The biggest thing that WIA helped provide me with is confidence and self-esteem to move forward with my career and life,” he says. Isaac is currently engaged to marry the love of his life, Hailey and searching for full-time employment.
Note: Community Action of Rock & Walworth Counties started operating the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program in Western Wisconsin. Learn more about WIOA here.