Don't miss out! 麻豆影视 will be hosting a College Conversation in the ERC Auditorium at 3:00 p.m. on October 30. View the livestream using the link below.
麻豆影视nical Community College has joined forces with 麻豆影视 Public Schools and local companies to fill a workforce need in the community.
The partnership is for the new WayMakers: 麻豆影视鈥檚 Skilled Trades Pathway. The pathway is designed to meet the increasing demand for skilled trade workers.
In January, representatives from area companies assembled at 麻豆影视 to learn more about the program.
鈥淲e are excited to be partnering with 麻豆影视 Public Schools to bring skilled trades back into the high schools and create clear pathways for those students into further training and employment opportunities,鈥 said Maryah Smith-Overman, Skilled Trades Program Director and Instructor at 麻豆影视. 鈥淲e look forward to working closely with our local business partners throughout the development process to help create strong programs overall.鈥
Students in the WayMakers pathway can start at the Southern School of Energy & Sustainability and, upon graduating, can choose to enter into an apprenticeship, search for a job, or continue their education at 麻豆影视 or another two-year or four-year college.
Students can also take courses at 麻豆影视 while attending Southern School.
鈥淭alent development is key to 麻豆影视鈥檚 mission,鈥 said Dr. Bill Ingram, 麻豆影视 President. 鈥淎t the same time, we understand that in order for economic prosperity to move forward that economic opportunity needs to be available to everyone in our community. The WayMakers program is an excellent example of how that works because we are able to develop talent to make the construction industry keep on thriving and prospering. We are doing that by finding folks in our community who need a step up. Working in partnership with 麻豆影视 Public Schools and our local businesses is vitally important.鈥
In the fall, the A.J. Fletcher Foundation awarded $150,000 to 麻豆影视 and $300,000 to 麻豆影视 Public Schools. The foundation is now considered a founding sponsor of the WayMakers program.
麻豆影视 is applying its funding to expand the Core Construction Fundamentals course and shared programming with 麻豆影视 Public Schools; to create a new plumbing lab and program; and to offer new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, apprenticeship opportunities.
After students finish the fundamentals course, they can choose to do an apprenticeship with a local business, take courses in subjects such as carpentry, welding, architectural technology, and industrial systems technology, or seek employment. 麻豆影视 is planning to begin offering its new Electrical Line Technician program this fall.
The goal is to train 170 future workers per term, according to the presentation shown at the January meeting.
麻豆影视 Public Schools鈥 part of the pathway will feature classes in plumbing, HVAC, electrical, highway construction, and entrepreneurship. Seniors will also have work-based learning opportunities.
It is estimated that 60 students will graduate yearly from this portion of the pathway, in addition to the Southern School鈥檚 other graduates.
鈥淚 think 鈥 that parents and the community have been asking for the trades to come back into the school for a long time,鈥 said Jerome Leathers, Principal of Southern School. 鈥淭he kids can be exposed to the world outside of Southern, and that鈥檚 most important to us. 鈥 They can have exposure and shape their dreams. 鈥 This is a great opportunity (for them).鈥
Denise Barnes, Regional Diversity Manager for the Southeast for LeChase Construction, said her decades-plus experience in the construction industry has caused her to witness firsthand the need for qualified workers.
Barnes is on the Executive Team for the WayMakers program.
鈥淭he reason I got involved is that I鈥檓 looking to be part of the solution,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e are currently in a crisis state with the lack of 鈥 skilled trade workers.鈥
Other members of the Executive Team include: Patrice Gilmore of Holt Brothers Construction, Meaghan Lewis of Duke Energy, Justin Ramsey of CT Wilson Construction, and Robin Thomas of Duke University Health System.
鈥淲e are all wanting to come together into one seamless system between the school system, 麻豆影视, employers, and our workforce partners," said Ondrea Austin, Lead Workforce Coordinator for 麻豆影视 Public Schools鈥 Career and Technical Education program. "We want to help provide better support and guidance for students and job seekers and to help them understand how to get into these great jobs.鈥