Building Strong Communities Celebrates 35 Graduates for Career in Trades
North Hennepin Community College hosted a graduation ceremony this week for a special group of graduates headed for a career in the trades. Thirty-five people graduated from a statewide apprenticeship program called Building Strong Communities. The purpose of the program is to prepare women, people of color and veterans for a career in the construction trades.
The participants have completed a 12-week program that gives them an understanding of the building and construction trades, including virtual classroom instruction and hands-on training at union construction training centers.
“Given this chance and this opportunity right here has kind of opened and broadened my eyes to a whole new experience and a whole new respect of life” says recent graduate Dwayne Douglas.
Dwayne Douglas, graduate
The program stresses that construction work frequently requires being outside in the elements, confined spaces and heights, with workdays beginning early in the morning and may include weekends. These realities make this field of work a physically demanding one that can be male dominated, which makes this program unique in connecting women to a career in the construction industry.
“This really boosted my confidence,” says recent graduate Isabelle Shultz. “Being [a woman] in the trades is always something I’ve always been nervous to do. But always something I wanted to do.”
Isabelle Schultz, graduate
To learn how to become a Building Strong Communities participant visit: BuildingStrong.org
See also : North Hennepin Plans for ‘Stages of Equity’ Festival April 28-30
