Sara Jo Loudin arrived in Morgantown with a suitcase full of clothes and no clear plan. Today, she’s an apprentice carpenter working bridge construction.
Her path wasn’t straightforward. Before joining West Virginia Women Work’s Step Up for Women Construction Pre-apprenticeship, Sara Jo was navigating pending felony charges and living in sober living housing. Job offers kept falling through once employers ran her background. She wanted to become a peer recovery support specialist, but didn’t yet have enough time in sobriety to pursue that certification.
Sara Jo’s caseworker at Jobs and Hope pointed her toward Step Up for Women. She applied, interviewed with Training Coordinator Carole Howard, and was accepted into the program.
“I had some barriers to overcome during my first couple of weeks of class, but Carol Phillips, the executive director, helped me with everything,” Sara Jo said. “She was, and still is, fantastic.”
A visit from Mike Jenkins of Carpenters Local 436 sealed it. After Jenkins spoke to the class, Sara Jo said everyone wanted to join the union. She reached out to WVWW for help applying, and not long after, she was hired and sent to work on a bridge.
Life in the Field
Sara Jo’s day starts at 4:30 AM. After a 45-minute commute from Morgantown to Salem, she arrives before 6:30 for the morning safety talk. Her foreman lays out the day’s work, the crew loads up, and they head to the job site.
Right now, that means bridge construction — concrete forms, rebar, beams. The work is physical and technical, and Sara Jo says her crew has made all the difference.
“The guys at work are really helpful. They’ve shown me a lot of old school construction tips, and I get to show them some of the stuff I learned in Step Up.”
She’s been upfront with her foreman about her legal history. “He’s been understanding, which is nice.”
What She’d Tell Someone Considering the Trades
“Use all your resources from the beginning. Figure out who’s who and which direction you need to go. When you find something that interests you, just go for it.”
She also has a reminder for the hard days: “Even on bad days, you’re still kicking ass.”
On whether the trades are a good fit for people in recovery or with justice involvement, Sara Jo is honest: it depends.
“I was three months into my recovery when I started. I think it’s something that can keep you on the path of recovery if you allow it to. However, it could be overwhelming for others. It depends on their drive and goals. Every personality is different, but I do advocate for trades for anyone who feels it is right for them.”
Sara Jo completed West Virginia Women Work’s Step Up for Women construction pre-apprenticeship program. Learn more at https://westvirginiawomenwork.org/step-up-construction/
Interview conducted by Marlynda Arnett, Program Innovation Leader for West Virginia Women Work.