Work Week: Antonio’s Story
Antonio stood on the streets of Bellflower, cold and alone, with no job, no skills, and no hope for a better tomorrow. After serving time in prison, he had lost his family’s trust, leaving him homeless and scraping by with any odd job he could find. “I was just trying to survive, physically and mentally,” he shared with George, GSI’s Employment Development Case Manager. “The hardest part was being alone, with no real community to rely on.” But a spark of hope came through his brother-in-law, another previous GSI graduate, who pointed him to KCB’s GSI program. “What caught my attention was how much they focused on personal growth,” Antonio said. “I knew that was something I really needed.”
Before GSI, Antonio’s life lacked any real direction. He had no stable employment, no resume, and no clue how to navigate job applications or even emails with his phone. “I didn’t have any training or skills,” he admitted. Throughout the program, GSI changed that, and equipped him with practical tools like financial literacy, job readiness, and even how to spot email scams. Antonio also used KCB resources, like TAP cards for bus rides and connections to food banks, to help keep him afloat while he was still on the streets. The Community Center ended up being a huge help for him. He learned where to find food banks, daily support, and belonging. “They made sure I had what I needed to survive,” Antonio said.
The turning point came when Antonio landed a job at the Bellflower Recycling Center, a partner that now exclusively hires GSI graduates. Within a week, Antonio earned himself a promotion from cleaning equipment to operating can-crushing machines, and soon after, he moved to the electronics department, where he now disassembles TVs and learns to salvage components. “Having stable employment helped me keep my mind focused,” he said. “I’m too tired at the end of the day to stress over things that used to bother me.” This new stability opened his eyes to new possibilities, like budgeting and managing money, skills he learned from GSI’s financial literacy classes led by Jason.
But throughout Antonio’s time at GSI and staying connected to him even after, it became evident that the deepest impact was personal. The GSI community gave Antonio a place to belong, and a sense of family when he had none. “The word ‘belong’ means family now,” he said, a contrast to the loneliness he felt before. This sense of connection and dedication to getting back to work even helped him rebuild trust with his mother, who welcomed him back home after she saw some real change in him. “That was the moment I knew the program made a difference,” Antonio said. “It gave her hope that I was truly changing, and it started healing our relationship.” Recently, his sister’s trust in him grew too, and Antonio’s pride in his progress grew deeper when he received an e-bike, a symbol of his forward momentum.
Antonio’s journey taught him to be open, honest, and unafraid to accept help. “None of us can do it alone,” he said. “We were made for community, and I found that at GSI.” He wants others in similar struggles to hear him and seek support: “Come to KCB. It can truly make a difference if you try. There is help out there if you just reach out and ask for it.”
His goal now is to become a lead or supervisor at the recycling center, where he can continue to apply the lessons of responsibility and growth that GSI instilled in him. “This program builds confidence that stays with you for life,” he said, and he credits everyone at KCB for helping him become a better citizen and community member, each in different ways.
To the donors and partners who make GSI possible, Antonio says, “Never give up on programs like these. They build meaningful relationships that last a lifetime. Antonio’s story proves that KCB and GSI don’t just offer jobs and programs, they offer a second chance, a real shot at transformation, and a chance to really belong.
Join us in supporting neighbors like Antonio by donating at kcbellflower.org/give or calling 562-804-2189. Together, we can help more people find not just work and a paycheck, but a purpose, and a place to call home.
Until next time…