Jessie Castaneda was born in Chicago, and raised in the city during the 1960s and 1970s. After dropping out of high school, Jessie enlisted in the U.S. Army where he found structure and drive. It was in the Army that he completed high school and earned college credits. Upon being honorably discharged, Jessie moved back to Chicago, bought his first home and began his civilian life. Jessie worked in many career pathways at several organizations including Amtrack and the Office of Emergency Management, however his true passion was always technology. Throughout his 30 years in IT at the Department of Veterans Affairs, he became so skilled at fixing the unfixable (especially printers!) that he was affectionally known as “The Printer Master”. Jessie retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs, however a few years into retirement, Jessie faced a medical scare that left him hospitalized.
Jessie was bedridden for almost 2 years and his doctors predicted he would never walk again, but Jessie fought hard and was determined to get better. He not only walked again, but he began to volunteer and become very active in his community. Jessie’s thirst for knowledge and growth remained high, so he pursued ways to continue his IT skills. Jessie applied to National Able Network and IT Career Lab’s program, The Chicago Cook Tech Academy. This program, created specifically for veterans, provided IT training, certifications, and even a personal laptop. “I thought it was too good to be true!” says Jessie. But he was quickly accepted into the program and after his first day in class, he knew he had embarked on an amazing opportunity. In a classroom of fellow veterans, Jessie and his peers learned new technology skills, and exchanged knowledge and experiences.
Upon completion of the program, Jesse says, “It encouraged me to go into the public sector. I felt mentally healthy again and refreshed. I did get a job inquiry from the State of Illinois, so yes, if another job comes I’ll take it!” In the meantime, Jessie is staying active by volunteering as much as possible, especially by helping new arrivals study and prepare for the citizenship exam. Reflecting on his journey, Jessie says, “A few years ago I was bedridden. Today, I took out my own trash and later I’m going grocery shopping.” National Able Network and IT Career Lab’s program has not only helped reboot Jessie’s IT career, but it has helped reboot Jessie’s drive for an active life.
