SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY: Aaron Woodard
- CDC-PHP Media Communications
- 19 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 minutes ago
Aaron, age 24 - “I believe the reason I was hired to the line and selected to go to China is that I told them I had taken 4 years of Spanish. That I was diligent at practicing my Spanish when I was at DePaul and with the CDC. While with the CDC, I practiced it to bridge the gap with our Latino community. I also told them I’m trying to learn Chinese.”
Aaron came to Hopkins Park in the 4th grade, to Lorenzo R. Smith school, where he was taught by Ms. Magee, Ms. Troupe, Ms. Foley, and Ms. Cole-Kweli. Although he graduated as the 8th-grade Valedictorian, his math skills were not as strong when he entered St. Anne High School. He had to work especially hard to reach the highest level of math, eventually earning a spot in Pre-Calculus. Despite the academic challenges, Aaron stayed actively involved in extracurricular activities, including theatre, marching band, jazz band, soccer, and Future Farmers of America.
His academic dedication and active involvement earned him a scholarship to DePaul University. Aaron began his studies there, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, his plans were disrupted. After completing just one semester, he made the difficult decision to return home and pursue a different path in the workforce.
He was hired at Cranky Mike’s Popcorn Store in Momence, where he worked for a couple of years. Afterward, he joined Joe & Cora Woods at A More Excellent Way Ministries, contributing through landscaping and food delivery while also helping to establish a successful community garden. Toward the end of his time there, the organization partnered with the Stewarts at Run-Away-Buckers, where Aaron served as a counselor.
Later, Aaron returned to DePaul University—not as a student, but as a food service worker. He held this position for two to three years.
Ready to return home, Aaron accepted the Pembroke Scholar in Residence (PSR) position with the Community Development Corporation of Pembroke-Hopkins Park (CDC-PHP), serving as a Community Engagement Organizer. In this role, he built relationships with local organizations, secured sponsorships for CDC’s volunteer programs, collaborated with conservation partners, and supervised the YES! Program.
During his residency, Aaron had opportunities to three leadership summits hosted by Volunteers of America in Houston and Van Drunen Farms in Momence before his internship ended. These experiences and skills gained positioned him to explore other career paths.
In January 2026, Aaron secured a new opportunity through the Calumet Area Industrial Commission (CAIC) at an employment job fair held at Lorenzo R. Smith School. The position began with a pre-qualifying five-week training program involving 50–60 new hires, designed to determine who would be selected for the production line at Gotion, a Chinese-owned manufacturing company. Located in Manteno, Illinois, Gotion specializes in assembling electric vehicle batteries and developing energy storage systems for markets across the nation.
After completing his crash course in lean manufacturing, Aaron underwent a series of interviews to determine whether he was a strong fit for Gotion. Not only did he successfully pass the interview process, but he was also selected as one of just 20 candidates to travel to China for advanced training! The training took place at the company’s headquarters in Hefei, located in Anhui Province, China.
Aaron offered this observation,
“I believe the reason I was hired to the line and selected to go to China is that I told them I had taken 4 years of Spanish. I was diligent in practicing my Spanish while at DePaul and with the CDC. While with the CDC, I practiced it to bridge the gap with the Latino community. I also told them I’m trying to learn Chinese.”
“That is an astute observation and very strategic of you to market yourself the way you did. Our young people ought to take notes from you on that,” I replied.
Aaron will spend four to six weeks in training before returning to the United States to begin work as a production associate. While the company initially focuses on assembling electric vehicle batteries, it also plans to expand into full-scale battery manufacturing.
When asked if this career path had been part of his long-term goals, Aaron responded honestly:
“No. I didn’t think I wanted to go into manufacturing. I was just reviewing my work history and realized I hadn’t explored the teaching or manufacturing industries.”
Aaron has traveled outside the continental United States once before—visiting Puerto Rico for his father’s birthday—and he now looks forward to this new international experience.
Looking ahead, he aspires to advance quickly within the company, with hopes of earning a promotion into a logistics or supervisory role. He also plans to return to school to pursue an associate degree in engineering or materials science.
Aaron is scheduled to depart on April 15th.
Hats off to you, Aaron, for embracing new challenges, taking chances, and seeking out new opportunities. Bon voyage—and continue making your community proud!
Author: Louise Campbell-Anthony
Edited: Johari Cole-Kweli