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| Diana Sanchez |
Diana Sanchez once worked more than 80 hours a week in two minimum-wage jobs, barely seeing her children and constantly living in survival mode. Today, the 32-year-old single mother from Los Angeles earns just over $30 an hour as a union ironworker almost double California’s minimum wage and works a manageable 40-hour week.
Her path to this transformation wasn’t easy. It required a leap of faith, months of unpaid training, and the willingness to enter a physically demanding, male-dominated industry. But for Sanchez, the reward has been life-changing: steady pay, union benefits, and, most importantly, time with her children.
“I have time for my kids now,” Sanchez said. “That’s something I never thought I’d be able to say when I was working two jobs.”
From Exhaustion to Opportunity
Before her career shift, Sanchez’s days were a relentless cycle: 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in a warehouse, then 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. washing dishes. She was drained, unmotivated, and unsure how she could ever get ahead.
In 2023, she learned about an apprenticeship opportunity through the Flintridge Center in Pasadena a nonprofit program dedicated to training formerly incarcerated and gang-affiliated individuals for skilled trade jobs. The 16-year-old initiative offers job readiness, trade certifications, and life skills training while helping participants rebuild their lives.
The impact is measurable: 90% of graduates do not return to prison, compared with Los Angeles County’s average recidivism rate of 53%. The cost to train one participant about $7,000 is a fraction of the $130,000 it costs California taxpayers annually to incarcerate someone.
For Sanchez, who had a DUI more than seven years ago, the program was more than job training it was a reset button.
“Starting Flintridge gave me a reason not to fall back into old patterns,” she said. “I started to believe, ‘I got this. Things can change and change for the better.’”
Ten Weeks That Changed Everything
The 10-week, 240-hour training program covered a range of skills, from trade union structures and OSHA safety standards to financial literacy and CPR certification. Participants selected three specializations to explore, received protective workwear, and earned a $800 bi-weekly stipend to help cover living expenses during training.
The transition wasn’t instant. After completing the program, Sanchez waited three more months before landing her first job. During that time, her family stepped in to help pay her rent and keep her afloat.
“I was in stress mode, panicking a little,” she said. “But I kept telling myself it would pay off.”
And it did. Sanchez is now a proud member of Local 416, an ironworkers’ union in Norwalk, California. She starts work at 6:30 a.m. and finishes by 2:30 p.m. a schedule that gives her evenings with her kids and weekends to rest. On average, union jobs pay about 11% more than non-union positions, according to the AFL-CIO, and come with stronger benefits.
Thriving in a Tough, Male-Dominated Industry
Ironwork isn’t easy. The job demands precision, teamwork, and the ability to handle heavy rebar in all weather conditions. Sanchez admits there are days she comes home exhausted, but she’s proud to be able to support her family without juggling multiple jobs.
As a woman in the trades, she is often one of the only females on-site.
“I’m sometimes the only girl out of 60 or 100 men,” Sanchez said. “But everyone’s been respectful. No one has made me feel bad or uncomfortable.”
Still, the physical demands are real.
“We carry heavy rebar on our shoulders every day,” she said. “In summer, the metal gets hot and burns our skin. It’s tough work, but it’s worth it.”
Her motivation goes beyond personal success she wants to set an example for her 14-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son.
“My son told me recently, ‘I want to be like you when I grow up.’ I tell them, stay in school, get a good career, so you don’t have to work like I do.”
Looking Toward Leadership
Now that she’s no longer in survival mode, Sanchez is planning for the future. She was recently chosen to represent her local union at the Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in Chicago her first trip to the city, fully funded by the union.
Her long-term goal: leadership.
“I see myself being a foreman, running work,” she said. “That keeps me motivated, even when I don’t pick things up quickly. I just keep going.”
For Sanchez, the journey from overworked dishwasher to skilled tradeswoman has been more than a career shift it’s been a transformation in how she sees herself and her future.
“Now I’m not just working to survive. I’m working to build something for me and my kids.”
