Women Breaking Barriers: Auto mechanic classes help women shift gears
A partnership with local organizations is cranking out results for women staying at Birmingham鈥檚 Lovelady Center.
Some of the women living there and going through the rehabilitation programs are attending classes at an auto mechanic's garage learning important skills that could help them and their families.
Life has thrown a few wrenches in the plans for all of the women.
鈥淚鈥檝e been freed from addiction. I am now a counselor. And I'm just completely changed from where I was," said Samantha Davenport.
Now knowing how to handle a wrench may just be one of the keys to starting over for Davenport and other women taking the classes.
鈥淚t's been amazing. I love it,鈥� said Davenport. 鈥淛ust remembering the smell of the oil and working with my dad. And I love it. I enjoy it. I enjoy working with these women. And I just enjoy working on the car.鈥�
Davenport is one of several women from the taking auto mechanic classes on site through Tune Up, a part of Common Thread Ministries in Titusville.
The Lovelady Center is a faith-based program helping previously incarcerated women rebuild their lives. The weekly classes are possible through a partnership with Tune Up, and a grant provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
鈥淚'm not planning on going into the field working but some of these other women want to,鈥� Davenport said.
April Sanders is one of the women who would like to someday get a job as a mechanic.
鈥淲hen I was growing up, I was raised with my uncles as my brothers. And I was always with them you know,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I just carried on doing that when I got older.鈥�
The mother of two just reconnected with her daughters after eight months.
鈥淚t's fun for me," she said. 鈥淚'm going to get a job when I get out and maybe get my own shop or something like that.鈥�
But this is a little more rigorous than just tinkering under the hood with relatives
鈥淩emembering all the components and everything and the names,鈥� Sanders said. 鈥淣ames are what's hard for me.鈥�
Sarah Goss said the brakes lesson was a bit difficult for her.
鈥淭hese drum brakes right here. Very complicated,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 good knowledge. And it's something you can carry for a lifetime.鈥�
鈥淓verything else has been, not simple, but just hanon,鈥� Davenport said.
And even if it doesn鈥檛 lead to a new career, most of the women said the skills they are learning are useful and could help them save money eventually.
鈥淚鈥檓 not one of those that likes to get greasy and dirty and all that. It helps as we get older to save money and things like that,鈥� Goss said. 鈥淚t's just basic fundamentals everybody should know. It's been a great experience.鈥�
鈥淲e need to be more knowledgeable. So that we don't get duped, we don't get overpriced and we know exactly what we need to know to be able to work on the vehicle,鈥� Davenport said. 鈥淪o that we can help and empower ourselves.鈥�
