When Abdoulaye applied for the ChangingGears Automotive Technician Training Program, he had no idea the new career would lead to a 33% pay increase and immeasurable impact to his personal life.

“I am a living example of their mission to empower people who are working toward prosperity,” Guy shared with the audience at ChangingGears Grand Opening in April 2022. Guy, who received a car from ChangingGears five years ago, came back to inspire others with his story. 

“God doesn’t just give things to us, he uses people to help,” Marnie Bokelman shared with the audience at the ChangingGears Grand Opening on April 7, 2022. “We are so grateful to all of our clients, volunteers, staff members, donors and business partners for sacrificing their time, sharing their resources, and donating money and vehicles to help fuel ChangingGears.”

“The ChangingGears Automotive Technician Training was really impactful for me in starting my career,” Aaron shared. “Getting to do so much hands-on learning is great, because that’s how I prefer to learn.

“There are always going to be barriers. You’ll always get discouraged because it’s human of us to be discouraged. But don’t give up,” Rebecca says as she tells her story.

“I was at the lowest point in my life when I came to ChangingGears; it saved me.” Cathi tears up as she recalls the difficult years she experienced following the loss of her job.

Fifteen hours. That’s the amount of additional free time Gerald now has each week because, “I got the car I wanted,” he says with a huge smile on his face.

Two years ago Guy and his wife were working, raising their family, and driving two cars. He was 20 years into a career in private policing and working on a master’s degree when he lost his job and couldn’t find another.

Je’Miah was raising her younger sister in 2013 when she lost her job and her home. However, she didn’t lose hope or her determination to get herself on the path to a better future. She moved in with her brother and took two jobs, working half days at a call center and nights...

“My family spent 17 years in a refugee camp in Nepal before we arrived in Chicago when I was 18.” That’s how Narayan, who was born in Bhutan, explains his childhood. For the next five years the family lived with relatives, worked and relied on Chicago’s public transit system.