When Casey joined Association House's NextJob program, he had not imagined he would wind up working for the House itself-- but his confidence and eagerness to learn caught the attention of our workforce training staff. Just a few months after graduating with his NextJob cohort, he joined our team in the Technology Center, instructing our Digital Skills 4 Life course on computer basics!
Casey came to Association House after a frustrating job search that left him searching for skills that were more in-demand. As he bonded with the rest of his cohort and instructors, he found himself drawn to Association House and its mission.
"Through the class, I learned the atmosphere and energy here, so as soon as I saw that a position was available I knew I'd love the work. And I do! I've been pinching myself since I started working here in September," Casey says.
Before Association House, Casey graduated with an MBA in Theater from the University of Louisville, moving on to teach at charter schools in Chicago. Despite pursuing his passion for teaching high school students, he found himself looking for something different. Now, as Digital Navigator in our Tech#Ready program, he enjoys working with adult learners.
"Sometimes, when you're younger, that's not the time that you want to listen and focus. This job offered me the opportunity to engage with people who are actively seeking and hungry to learn," Casey shared. "Being able to take the class was a huge advantage for me, and now I feel like I can give back."
Casey's talent for teaching shows in his unique approach to tech education at Association House, making room for students of all skill levels. Although technology is a big part of many of our lives, access to it is still far from equal, and Casey is determined to make his classes personal for each student-- hopefully to boost their ability to work in computer-heavy spaces.
"A lot of people have used computers and smartphones, but in each of my classes, a few people have been completely terrified of technology-- scared to even touch the mouse!" Casey explained. "And I don't think it's totally unreasonable to be a little afraid! But without technology skills, you're locked out of a huge part of our world. I want my class to give people real skills they can take with them-- not just interviewing or networking skills, but putting them in a better mindset for the job search."
Now a few months into his time at the House, Casey is preparing to take on a new challenge: leading our Google AI Essentials class, the newest in our Tech#Ready lineup. The class will teach students how to harness artificial intelligence tools to cut back on repetitive computer tasks and take back their valuable time. Casey is excited to keep our participants on the cutting edge.
When he's not at the House leading our tech students to success, you can find Casey at theaters around the city like the Steppenwolf or the Improv Olympic-- but he's looking forward to spending more time with us.
"With this new class, I'll be teaching 2 classes every other day. I hate not being at work-- I hate not having a reason to be. This work is so rewarding. I'm doing my best to eat a whale one bite at a time-- and I like whales!" he says with a smile.
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