Just outside Baltimore’s Little Italy, tucked between warehouses and narrow side streets, is a place where people go to rebuild their lives through work. The National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA) Vocational Training Center is not flashy or loud, but what happens inside its classrooms is quietly transforming Baltimore’s workforce.

Since opening in 2017, the center has helped more than two thousand people gain industry-recognized certifications in HVAC-R, automotive repair, and commercial driving. The programs are completely free to participants, offering not only technical instruction but also coaching, career placement, and personal support. More than three-quarters of participants complete their training, with 65 percent securing employment soon after graduation. The average starting wage for graduates now exceeds twenty-one dollars an hour, creating more than five million dollars in annual economic value for every hundred students served.

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Behind those statistics are stories of grit and determination—people who refused to be defined by their pasts and used opportunity to build something new. Two of those stories belong to Shay Brown and Malik Lee, who came to NCIA from very different places but found a shared sense of purpose through the center’s training and support.

When Shay Brown enrolled in the HVAC program earlier this year, she was looking for a new direction. Life had presented more than its share of challenges, and she wanted to find something steady, something that would help her grow. Over 17 weeks, Shay learned the fundamentals of electricity, refrigeration, and safety, earning certifications in Basic Electricity, OSHA 10, EPA standards, and Maryland Apprenticeship licensing.

The training went beyond the classroom. Through trauma-informed services, personal coaching, and wraparound support, Shay gained confidence and stability. “That experience gave me more than technical skills,” she said. “It gave me a foundation to grow as a person.”

After earning her certifications, Shay was hired by Each Teach, one of NCIA’s workforce partners founded by Terri Holley. Each Teach blends workforce training with mindfulness and emotional intelligence, helping people not only get jobs but also learn how to navigate stress, communicate, and lead. Shay now facilitates soft-skill and mindfulness sessions for others who are working to rebuild their lives and careers.

As a woman entering a male-dominated field, Shay’s story carries special meaning. “It’s possible to succeed even if you feel the odds are stacked against you,” she said. “The trades may feel intimidating because you don’t see many women in them, but the VTC provides both the technical training and the personal support you need to break through those barriers. If I can do it, they can too.”

Malik Lee’s path to the VTC started after a period of incarceration that could have easily closed doors for him. Instead, he made a deliberate decision to invest in himself. He enrolled in the HVAC program and threw himself into the work, determined to turn his second chance into a lifelong career.

“NCIA changed my life literally,” Malik said. “Before joining NCIA, I was lost and confused career-wise. They helped me clear the vision for the trade that I plan on retiring from. I’m thankful and grateful that I found a trade that I love and enjoy doing through NCIA.”

After completing his training, Malik was hired by Sessa Sheet Metal Contractors, where he continues to grow as a professional tradesman. His success is a reflection of what the VTC stands for: structure, belief, and the power of opportunity to redefine a person’s story.

Walter Billips, Executive Director of the Vocational Training Centers, says that graduates like Shay and Malik are the heart of the program’s mission. “Every trainee who walks through our doors brings potential, and it is our privilege to provide them with the tools, training, and confidence to turn that potential into success. We are not just training workers. We are building futures and creating opportunity for generations to come.”

Now celebrating its eighth year, NCIA’s Vocational Training Center continues to serve returning citizens, veterans, high school graduates, and individuals in recovery or facing homelessness. In addition to classroom instruction, participants receive life-skills coaching, resume support, and employment placement, with follow-up assistance through their first year on the job.

The results are visible in neighborhoods across Baltimore. Graduates are earning steady incomes, supporting their families, and contributing to a more skilled and resilient local workforce. For Shay Brown, the journey continues as she mentors other women who are considering careers in the trades. For Malik Lee, the classroom lessons have become a lifelong vocation. Both stories are proof that with the right training and the right support, people can turn hope into reality.

Founded in 1977, NCIA has long been dedicated to creating opportunities for people who face the deepest barriers to employment and inclusion. In addition to vocational training, the organization provides youth education and comprehensive services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Across all its programs, the mission remains the same: to help individuals gain independence, financial stability, and a sense of purpose.

Through its Vocational Training Center, NCIA is showing what can happen when a community invests in people who are ready to work and willing to change. For Shay and Malik, that investment has already paid off. For Baltimore, their success represents something even greater: a blueprint for renewal built on skill, compassion, and second chances.

To learn more about NCIA and its Vocational Training Center, visitwww.ncianet.org.