‘This has literally been life changing': 15 UWDI Participants Graduate in Louisville

Fifteen individuals are turning the page to the next chapter in their construction careers upon graduating from the Urban Workforce Development Initiative (UWDI) in Louisville. This is the first implementation of UWDI in the region in partnership with Norton Healthcare and Louisville Urban League.  

“There are some really good people that just don't have guidance. UWDI is an opportunity for us to be the change by providing guidance to good, hardworking people," said Economic Inclusion Manager Stanley Warrenhuffman.

The graduation ceremony was held at the Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center, just minutes from the Norton West Louisville Hospital project that UWDI graduates assisted in building. When the project wraps up in November, it will be the city’s first hospital to open west of 9th Street in over 150 years.

Participant Markitta Ford described the impact that the UWDI initiative has had on her:  

“This has literally been life changing. It’s given me purpose, a reason to get up and get going,” Ford said. “This program made sure that I had every necessary resource to effectively make it to the finish line and the goals I set for myself.” 

Despite taxing life circumstances that Ford faced during the initiative, she persevered.  

“There have been challenges on this journey, such as me getting into a bad car accident after I just started working. It did damage to my face and body, but that didn’t stop me,” Ford said. “I rode my mountain bike to work every day; rain, sleet, snow, dry, hot and cold weather—I was determined to make it.” 

Fellow UWDI graduate Yaldale McGinnis became interested in the construction industry after deciding to no longer continue his education at the University of Louisville. After talking to his friends about this decision, he reached out to Louisville Urban League, which later helped McGinnis enroll into UWDI.  

Yaldale hopes to continue in the construction industry with Haase Machine Company to become a journeyman and eventually own his own business.  

JaFayre Covington, senior project manager, shared how the project is much more than just a new hospital. 

“This hospital is more than just a project—it will affect life trajectories for many within this community and the city. It’s long overdue, but it starts now, and it is in thanks to all within this team,” Covington said.