Kyle Patterson is the regional manager for the Local 323 of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters. The union is made up of members representing 12 states west of Colorado with a little over 90,000 members. He’s a proud husband and father, but there was a time where he couldn’t see this future.
Patterson was born and raised in the South LA, on 97th and Vermont, in between Hoover and Vermont.
“I pretty much grew up right there,” said Patterson.
Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Patterson shared that he attended several different schools.
“I went to Gompers and Manchester Elementary, Locke, Gardena, Washington, Manual Arts High Schools and the last school that I ended up at was Dorsey High School,” said Patterson.
He’s one of nine children and grew up in a two-bedroom apartment. Patterson describes a rough a childhood, one of separation, bad mentors and not a lot of hope.
“We kind of got separated and went to the foster system for a minute,” said Patterson. “If you’re a young man, growing up, trying to find himself in those kinds of situations, getting split up, I didn’t have no supervision.
“The people I was staying with, it was like, ‘Yall can’t tell me what to do. I’m gone.’ That was just really an introduction more so to the streets. It was a time where I didn’t think I was going make it past 16 or 18.
“It was kind of tough for me growing up with my mentors that I had. I was a young impressionable kid trying to just find his way. I ended up bumping my head a few times during those travels.”
Related Stories:
https://lasentinel.net/l-a-sentinel-visits-western-states-carpenters-south-l-a-training-center.html
Unfortunately, life choices ended up having hard consequences and costing Patterson his freedom.
“I lost six years and three months of my freedom,” said Patterson. “I got charged as an adult back in ’94.
“I was 17 going to Dorsey so, 10th grade—that was the last time I was home.”
Patterson remembers being in a 30-month shoe program and having a conversation that changed his life.
“I hit my lowest of the low,” said Patterson.
“I looked on the wall and I saw this little ant crawling up the wall. I was like, Lord I wish I was that ant.
“If you give me another opportunity to get back home, I’m going to give my life to you. I know we’re not supposed to make deals and stuff like that, but that’s what I said that day, where I dropped to my knees and I just surrendered.
“My first day home, that first Sunday, I went to the church right there on the 106th and Hoover and gave my life to God. I’ve just been trying to walk the straight and narrow ever since.”
Patterson returned home and found that much hadn’t changed there or in the streets. Those same mentors were ever present and home life wasn’t the best inspiration but, he was determined to make something of his life now.
“I already had a plan, I knew I wasn’t going back to hanging out where I grew up,” said Patterson.
“I found a program, at the parole office, there was this flyer on the bulletin board that said introduction into the construction industry and it was through a company called Century Freeway Program.”
He went through eight weeks of training and found a sponsor to get into a union. He received a set of tools for his trade and a check for $1,345.00.
“The company that sponsored me was a company out of San Francisco area called Frederick Meiswinkel Inc., FMI, and they do drywall and framing interior,” said Patterson. “Once you start getting higher in stages, they started letting you work with your tools a little more.”
His first job site was at the USC dorms working as a clean-up guy, bringing material and cleaning up the building.
“I still wasn’t sure if this was for me,” said Patterson. “It was one of those things where I was just trying to show the parole folks that I was doing good because I had to check in like every week.”
He started paying attention to the conversations men were having about vacation checks, retirement, talking about pensions, buying houses and more.
“That’s when it clicked in my brain that this was more than just a job, it was a career and that’s when I really started taking it serious,” said Patterson. “These new mentors were people that were from different backgrounds—Hispanic brothers, White brothers and they were actually telling me how to survive in the trade.
“I took a lot of that stuff and started raising my own family with these set of mentors that I had—you’re hearing them talking about going on vacation to the lake with their families and all these different things and stuff that I didn’t have growing up.
“So, about second stage, maybe about six months into it, I started working with my tools. I’ve just been so fortunate and thank God to where I’ve been working steady ever since.
“I’m telling you, favor and blessings.”
Patterson shared what he likes most about being a union carpenter is helping others. His career has given him a heart for the community and he enjoys giving back to it. He also loves helping his members flourish in the trade.
“Representing our members, creating work opportunities, community wealth—building that community wealth in South L.A.,” said Patterson. “That’s been an experience for me right there just continuing to understand my community more.”
He continued, “And that member that you get a job for, they come back, you probably forgot about them and four years later they come back and say, ‘Hey you remember me? I’m a journeyman now.’
‘“Thank you man, you gave me my first job.’”
Patterson encourages any youth who’s uncertain about their future to consider becoming a carpenter.
“It’s a decent, livable trade. I would and have encouraged my own children to be a part of it,” said Patterson. “One of them has become a carpenter since then.”
“I would say that we all have a purpose and when you find out your purpose, you do your best at helping others and creating work opportunities for them too.
“Pass it along, giving back to the next generation.”
