Where is Tyrone Gregory Now?

Tyrone Gregory is a living witness that persistence pays. He came to Ezekiel HOPE after learning about the organization’s state-approved Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program through Employ Milwaukee. After completing Ezekiel’s online application he wrote, “I’m going to call you every day, until you let me in the program.”

His determination caught the attention of Vice President/Master Electrician Jim Gaillard who, after receiving regular phone calls from Gregory, met with him for an interview to see just how serious he was. Impressed, Gaillard gave him a chance and the rest is history! Recently Gregory received his certificate for completing 480 hours of Ezekiel HOPE’s training program. Now an official electrical pre-apprentice, Gregory is determined to earn his journeyman’s license.

“I was jobless for several months. I like (working on) home maintenance and remodeling projects. I tried to pick up some skills in that area here and there, but I was also willing to work any job until I could get into the skilled trades,” said Gregory.

Prior to being accepted into Ezekiel’s training program, Gregory had gone through Big Step’s Training program. That was his entrée into the trades and really whet his appetite to continue.

“When I finished training there, they had employers come in to meet with us, but there was only one person of color. To be honest, they didn’t treat me well. They made me feel as if the trades weren’t for me. Meeting Jim changed that. He came to a job fair on 21^st and North Avenue and was passing out flyers for people to sign up for his training program. After meeting him and learning that most of the trainees were Black, I felt that I fit in,” said Gregory.

“I plan to stay on track and become a journeyman electrician, then I want to go all the way to the top to become a master electrician. I highly recommend Ezekiel HOPE’s program, especially for people of color. It’s intense, but it is a comfortable and safe space to learn the trades,” said Gregory. 

Note: Currently Ezekiel HOPE has a waiting list of about 80 individuals who want to get into its state-certified Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The problem is that it takes more than $7000 for each trainee to matriculate through the 16-week program, since they are paid stipends while they learn. For more information or to donate, visit www.ezekielhope.org/donate.