For Detroit native Knoah Pollard, the path to a fulfilling career was a straightforward one. Growing up, his family’s focus was on academics and sports, a way for him, his brother and sister, to navigate beyond the “street culture.” After attending Michigan State University and struggling to pinpoint a major, Knoah found himself working at Home Depot during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. His days at the Depot ended abruptly when he decided to enlist in the National Guard.
Four years later, Knoah says, “I continue serve and I thoroughly enjoy it.” Seeking to balance service with completing his degree, the National Guard offered the ideal solution. As a signal support specialist, he maintained radio equipment and ensured communication across his Michigan battalion, as well as during overseas deployments to the Middle East. During his time in service, he earned IT certifications that would later prove invaluable.
Upon returning home, the search for a meaningful career began. “I was staying with my parents,” he explains, “And I didn’t have any job prospect at that point in time.” Itching to get out of the house and start his career, he came across job listing at Peckham, a non-profit organization focused on vocational training and employment for individuals with disabilities and other barriers, including veterans.
His military experience and IT certifications made him a strong candidate. His work primarily consists of helping people over the phone. “Basically, I help people with navigating the website and setting appointments,” he says. The work includes basic troubleshooting methods to make sure that the customer can use the website properly.
Early on, Knoah discovered that the job required more than technical skills. It demanded soft skills, particularly in customer service — skills that Peckham helped him master. At the same time, Peckham provided him with the flexibility he needed to balance work with his ongoing studies at MSU. “Peckham was really flexible with my schedule. Whether I had a class that interfered with my work schedule or whether (the class) was at an awkward time of the day,” Peckham allowed him the opportunity to pursue his degree while earning a living.
A significant aspect of his experience at Peckham was the veteran group. “The veteran group at Peckham is… a group of veterans that that come together and talk about their experiences in the military and talk about their personal lives and their day-to-day experiences.” He described it as a “group therapy session” — a place to share both challenges and successes, which helped to foster camaraderie and mutual understanding. The group offered both in-person and virtual meetings, strengthening bonds through shared experiences and humor.
After graduating with a communications degree focusing on data analytics, Noah leveraged his newfound skills and experience to secure a system administration position at the Detroit Passport Agency. He describes his new position as “the IT for the IT department.”
Just days before he left Peckham, he spoke highly of Peckham’s inclusive environment. “Peckham is a great organization where you can come in, any race, gender, ethnicity, and you’ll be greeted with open arms. They will take care of you no matter what.” He also praised the organization’s dedication to veterans, highlighting the opportunities for growth and the supportive work atmosphere. His journey, from school and sports in Detroit to military service to Peckham and beyond, exemplifies the transformative power, along with upward and outward career opportunities offered by Peckham.