June 29, 2025 6:45p
(WGTD)---A man responsible for putting hundreds of low-income Racine area residents to work in family supporting jobs was honored last week.
Ola Baiyewu founded the First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship Program in 2006. Since then, over 1,500 people have gone through the six-week training program and have been placed in either construction or manufacturing jobs.
At a ceremony last week, the non-profit’s training center—in an old fire station at 1437 Marquette St.—was named after Ola.
Racine County Executive Ralph Malicki spoke, as did representatives of the state Workforce Development Department and the Department of Transportation. Racine City Council President Maurice Horton summed it up. "Too often, we wait until people are gone to say the things they should have heard while they were with us," Horton said. "But not today. Today we say clearly and with full hearts, Ola, we see you and we appreciate you."
No one appreciates Ola more than the people whom he helped. Among them, Nate Erhardt, who in his 20s two decades ago found himself in jail on work release with not much hope for the future. At last week’s event, Nate told the crowd he heard about the program and contacted Ola, who in turn petitioned the Corrections Department to allow him to enroll. It led to a job in the construction trades. "That job allowed me to earn real money while still incarcerated, something I never imagined would be possible," he said. "I've stayed in touch with Ola. He's someone who just doesn't talk about change--he creates it. I've watched him help countless men and women, giving them chances when most others wouldn't."
Ola told the audience that the Pre-Apprenticeship Program is not about ensuring success but rather it’s about affording equal access to good-paying jobs. "Many in this community always thought it couldn't be done. It can be done. Trust me," he said.
The non-profit’s training center is also the headquarters in Racine for the Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps.
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