The Baltimore Times reviews Maryland State Senator Cory McCray’s new book: The Apprenticeship That Saved My Life: Guidebook to Navigating the Earn-While-You-Learn Opportunity of a Lifetime, calling it both a deeply personal reflection and a practical guide to opportunity.
McCray grew up in East Baltimore and found his path through an Apprenticeship with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 24 that opened the door to a career as a Licensed Electrician. That experience did more than provide him with a paycheck. It gave him stability, dignity – and a future.
In his book, McCray shares not only his story but also the tools, checklists, and advice that can help the next generation discover Apprenticeships as a real alternative to the traditional college route. What makes this book different is its balance of inspiration and practicality. McCray writes honestly about the obstacles many young people face when it comes to education and career choices – and he does not gloss over the challenges. But he makes the case that Apprenticeships can be a life-saving option for students, families, and career changers who want to build skills and enter the Middle Class without incurring crushing debt.
National AFL-CIO President Elizabeth Shuler praises McCray for showing “a path forward for young people in every ZIP code.” Congressman Kweisi Mfume, who also began his life in Baltimore with limited opportunities, calls it “a guidebook and a guidepost” that proves success is about how you finish, not how you start.
