Rail Apprentice Spotlight: Ja’Kiya Brown, A Trailblazer

by Pauline Mae Allera
Communications Division

Rail Apprentice Spotlight: Ja’Kiya Brown, A Trailblazer  

A Salisbury native stepped into the team of the first four rail apprentices. As our youngest apprentice, 21-year-old Ja’Kiya Brown enters the fray of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and is ecstatic to tackle challenges that will come her way. 

Coming from a technical background, Brown detailed her beginnings. 

“I used to do a lot of warehouse work, stuff like that,” Brown said. “So, that's how I even got into, like, the heavy-duty work and machinery. Then one day I needed a job and ended up getting into plumbing.” 

Proceeding with plumbing expertise, Brown delved into construction, encountering her future teacher at one of the work sites. 

“I ended up meeting my teacher at one of his one of the sites, because he was building a house,” Brown said. “He asked, ‘How did I get here?’ When I told him he said, ‘Well, you should apply for my construction class.’” 

After applying for and completing the class, Brown attained her certifications. Guided by her teacher, she was equipped with resources necessary for a suitable role. 

"My mentor pretty much said, ‘We can even get give you a job or help you get into an apprenticeship,’” Brown said. “From there, I ended up choosing the apprenticeship program.” 

Brown’s journey is one we can all take for better opportunities. She attended numerous events with CATS to plant her foot in the door. One day, she received an email from a different mentor at the time, detailing an important event. 

“I needed to go and showed up being my best self,” Brown said. 

When asked about her progress, the apprentice informed them of the steps she took. Emphasizing her interest, she remarked on the discussion at hand.  

“They gave me the opportunity to be accepted right then and there,” Brown said. “It wasn't like for the other apprentices. They had to go through steps, apply and get accepted.” 

With her foot in the door, Brown noted her what excited her the most.   

“I've always loved working with tools, building stuff and taking stuff apart,” Brown said. “That's how the mechanic role even came about for me. When I had the opportunity to have the rail maintenance, I was like, ‘Well, it's not cars, but you still make steel,’ something that I've truly dreamed of doing.”  

Prior to the apprenticeship, Brown graduated high school in 2021 but was never interested in college and pivoted away from joining the military. She cited the program’s abundance of information and lack of experience in higher education as challenges for her. 

“I haven't even been out that long, and I'm still intimidated,” Brown said. “This information is on a higher level. Second, I've never had any interest in going to school or college or anything. Even for me this is new.” 

Besides being the youngest of the group, Brown is the only one in her family to do it all.  

“I don't have nobody in my family who even took this far of a step into college or even simply getting their degree in high school,” Brown said. “So, you know, I’m the first one to do it in my entire family. That alone is a lot of pressure. I depend on myself for them, so they can rely on me to make changes for my generation, generations to come and in my family.” 

Being the only one in her family to attend opportunities past high school, she shares her perspective on her role. 

“I'm the youngest one out the group,” Brown said. “That alone can be something else that’s challenging because I don't have the necessary experience that they have, just being an older adult and understanding them or facing more mature problems. Don't get me wrong – I still fix the problems that I do, but I know definitely not as much as they do in general. They have more life experience than I do.” 

Even then, Brown praised her newfound role in a team with individuals who have extensive experiences. 

“Leaning on them, coming to them or being able to simply talk to them when I have a problem, that right there is amazing,” Brown said. “It's able to touch your heart, because as a group there's only four of us, you know?” 

In a group interview with the apprentices, Brown recounts the words of another apprentice, Aiasha McGlothen. 

“I'm grateful to have them by my side, to be here with this opportunity,” Brown said. “It's like Aiasha said – There will come a lot of times where it's not going to be easy.” 

Marching forward, Brown spoke of the impacts and the advice she desires to leave behind. 

“I already know that we're going to do it, but I definitely feel we're starting the group,” Brown said. “I want to leave a good impression. That way when the next group does come, we'll be here and we'll be the ones standing in front of the class letting them know, ‘Hey, man, telling y'all now, it's not going to be easy, but it can be done.’” 

“I can say that from somebody who's coming from a town that's not so big, don't limit yourself to that city,” Brown said. “It’s OK to venture off and do different things. Coming to Charlotte or somewhere, simply 30 minutes away, that's going to change your life forever. Don't be scared to make that next step.” 

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