Dear Friend,

After graduating from our Commercial Driver's License (CDL) course, Brooklyn resident, Emanuel Echeverria, is excited for a new and prosperous start. “I've had a long journey of jobs from warehouses to retail. I reached a point in my life where I got tired of working a job to job, and it was time for me to look for a career and longevity,”

For years we have offered a free Transportation Training course, where participants can earn their CDL Class C Driver's License, after passing the exam. During the course, participants are also offered resources to help them secure a union job with companies such as Access-A-Ride and the MTA. 

Since Emanuel's first day in class, he felt supported by his our instructors Danielle Caviness and Stephanie Aviles. "My first day was a little nerve-wracking because I'm 46 years old and haven't been in school in so long, but the instructors were so great at breaking the textbook material down and making us feel confident that we could pass the CDL exam,” Throughout the course, Emanuel learned about vehicle controls, vehicle safety, road emergencies, and more content found on the exam. He along with his classmates also took practice exams and used a study apps to prepare for the test. "We would receive raffle tickets as an incentive for getting an perfect score on our practice exam or showing up to class early” Emanuel said and added, "We challenged and motivated each other which made me feel supported.” The overall class environment played a huge role in Emanuel's experience.

In addition to the course, Emanuel was offered resources and services to further assist his path to securing a career and longevity. “I thought I just came here to get a CDL certificate, but I was offered so much more! I was introduced to people who helped me build my credit, update my resume, and work towards homeownership,” Emanuel also appreciates that the program as well as these resources were free, considering how expensive a CDL course alone costs. "I've seen some courses that are around $1,500 so I'm glad I was able to participate in this course” 

On his graduation day, Emanuel left with a certificate of completion, knowledge and confidence for his upcoming exam, a raffle prize (thanks to the tickets he accumulated over the course), and a network of people rooting for his success in the future. Emanuel wants even more people to join this program and so do we.

To learn more please visit www.cypresshills.org

Thank you for your generosity and wishing you a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year