Success Story

Living the American Dream in Kentucky

Andres came to the United States to work.

In Toluca, Mexico, where he lived, people returning from the United States had described the “American dream” to him, and Andres wanted to follow that dream. He and his wife Maria set off on their journey to Kentucky, where a distant relative lived. Neither could speak any English, and Maria was pregnant. “It was a very difficult trip but not impossible,” he says.

Their lives were not easy at first. They rented a tiny room and slept on the floor. But from that humble home, Andres began to build a new life for himself and his family.

As he began searching for work at several temporary employment agencies in the area, other Hispanics he met recommended he try a particular agency, GTS Staffing – a subsidiary of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky.

He found what he describes as a “comfortable atmosphere” at GTS Staffing. The agency employs a bilingual staff that translates documents for employers, and trains people of Hispanic origin onsite at their jobs. GTS Lexington also provides employment documents and applications in English and Spanish.

There he met a GTS Employer/Employee Specialist, who helped him find temporary positions at Keeneland, a horse racing facility, and then at G. F. Vaughan Tobacco.

As his GTS Specialist followed his job progress, she was impressed with his determination and strong work ethic. When a part-time job providing security for funeral services and groundskeeping at Lexington Cemetery opened up, she recommended him for it, and after four months on the job, he was offered a full-time position. The job gives him full-time worker benefits, including health insurance for his family.

“You have to start at ground level and work your way up,” explains Andres. “The people at Lexington Cemetery have given me a lot of trust and I try to prove myself and keep earning their trust.”

With regular paychecks, the family was able to move into a larger apartment. “Now that I have a steady income, I have more opportunities to change my environment,” he says.

Andres is currently working hard to increase his English language skills. And Maria also found employment through the services of GTS Staffing. Today, they both still hold the American dream close to their hearts, and look forward to a future that includes college for their children, including new baby daughter, Wendy.

Source: Working! Winter 2004