Cameron Bowling, Comprehensive Community Solutions

Meet Cameron, a recent graduate of the CCS YouthBuild Getting Ahead class.

Cameron moved to Rockford, already familiar with the YouthBuild program, but it took real courage to take that first step and show up every day, committed to improving his life. Through YouthBuild, he enrolled in Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ By World, where he began learning what it takes to build stability and move toward his goals. He recognized that the path he was on before wasn’t moving him forward, and the program helped him identify new skills, new ways of interacting with others, and new strategies for making progress. He shared that he once felt heavily dependent on others, but now has a growing sense of independence and direction.

One of Cameron’s biggest breakthroughs came from learning how to budget and save. Before Getting Ahead, he had never been taught many of the financial tools covered in class. Now, he feels confident managing his money in ways that support his goals. He is also working toward securing his own housing and creating a stronger foundation for his future.

Looking ahead, Cameron is excited about what comes next, starting with landing a job and continuing to work toward the goals he set for himself. His advice to future Getting Ahead students is simple: “Just take the steps and do the work.”

Thank you, Cameron, for sharing your story with us. We are proud of your hard work, your courage, and the future you are building!

Gianni Flores, Comprehensive Community Solutions

Meet Gianni Flores!

Gianni is part of the Comprehensive Community Solutions (CCS) YouthBuild program, and we are proud to partner with CCS to bring the Getting Ahead class to their students. After completing the Getting Ahead program, Gianni sat down with us to share his story and the growth he’s been working toward.

Gianni shared that he moved around a lot growing up, which meant he didn’t have the traditional high school experience and didn't have the stability to graduate. By the time he returned to Rockford, he found himself in a difficult place. He described that period as one in which he felt he had hit rock bottom. He wasn’t in school. He wasn’t working. He knew something needed to change, but he didn’t know where to start.

That turning point came when his mom told him about the CCS program his uncle had gone through. Gianni decided to give it a try, and that choice opened the door to a new chapter.

Through Getting Ahead, Gianni found something he didn’t expect: knowledge he didn’t know he needed and had never been taught. He said that was the part of the program that helped him the most. It allowed him to better understand himself, build confidence, and recognize the strengths he already had. He left the program feeling more motivated, more focused, and clearer about the direction he wants to go.

During the class, Gianni set a SMART goal to get a new job — and he did! He is now an infant swim instructor at the YMCA. He’s also working toward another goal: saving up for a new phone. Looking ahead, what excites him most is continuing his education to become a massage therapist.

When asked what he would tell someone thinking about joining Getting Ahead, Gianni said, “Pay attention in class, ask questions, and stick with it.”

Thank you, Gianni, for sharing your experience with us. We are so proud of your hard work. Your story is a powerful reminder of what can happen when someone chooses to take that first step forward.