On-Screen Graphic: 10,000 Opportunities
Raven Scott: On this episode of 10, 000 Opportunities, we're going to be exploring construction and skilled trades.
On-Screen Graphic: 10,000 Opportunities
Detroit is seeing a boom in economic development, and that means there's a huge demand from employers for skilled trades workers. Today, we'll be taking a look at two programs designed to open the door to a career for Detroiters who want to play a part in literally rebuilding Detroit. So let's get started.
On-Screen Graphic: 10,000 Opportunities REBUILD DETROIT - EITI
Over the last few years, Detroit has seen over half its blighted properties either demolished, secured, or rehabbed. But there are still several thousand more to go, and that's going to take workers with construction and deconstruction skills. One of the most important things we do at Detroit at Work is to ensure that the industry training programs are employer led.
Detroit at Work has partnered with Emerging Industries Training Institute and Detroit Construction Companies. like Go Green and Guyanga to develop a training program that will provide Detroiters with the skills they need as well as a stipend while they train and with a guaranteed job when they finish.
Anthony Jackson ( Co-founder, EITI ): To the individual that's considering making a career change, this is an excellent opportunity. All you need to have is the willingness to work hard, to show up to work on time, and the willingness to be a
William Aaron (Vice President, EITI): team player. We can take it from there. So EITI is a state licensed vocational training school located in the city of Detroit.
And what we do is we provide vocational training, uh, options for residents so that they can get a leg up as it relates to earning, uh, industry recognized credentials, and also. Employment. Well, you have so many Detroit residents who are looking for employment or training options. Detroit at Work serves as a pipeline for those individuals to come and explore career pathways.
The recruitment, the organizing, uh, partnerships that Detroit at Work is able to gather in the community is very valuable. It's a very valuable resource.
Anthony Jackson ( Co-founder, EITI ): Coming out of this program, students will have employment. In most cases, students will interview for employment prior to being accepted into the program.
And once you do so, on average, the starting wages will be about 20 an hour on average.
Michael (Rebuild Detroit Participant): Just driving down the road saw a billboard, wanted to get into construction, skilled trade, but didn't know how. And I saw that Detroit at work had different vocational schools. The training was very helpful because some schools you get more technical.
Other schools you get more hands on. EITI is more of a hands on vocational school. Ten years from now, I'll see myself being a general contractor, having my master's degree, and having my own team, you know, and just rebuilding the city, keeping that energy going. To see people enter into
Anthony Jackson ( Co-founder, EITI ): our training program, in many cases, people come with no hope, but they leave with employment.
And that's the real reward for us. Proposal N can create an additional springboard for the citizens of Detroit. because it supports training. It will help rehabilitate homes. It will help rehabilitate the city's workforce. The beauty of it all is that the funds will actually stay here and you will see Detroiters on these work sites.
Michael (Rebuild Detroit Participant): I'm proud to be a member of Detroit and being able to rebuild the city, you know what I'm saying, rebuild the community. Because there's a lot of abandoned houses in the city of Detroit, you know, demolishing about 4, 000 homes. And I'm thinking to myself, man, those homes need to be rebuilt and they're going to need staff and workers.
So it's going to be perfect.
Leon Petty (Go Green): When it comes to residential construction in Detroit, I see a bright future. And as you see with the property behind us, there's a lot of demolition. So there's going to be a lot of new construction that's going to have to be built on these same sites that's being cleaned up right now.
We've been working now with EITI for selecting candidates. We help them do the interviewing process. What better way to do it than the contractors that's going to be looking to hire them.
Brian Mckinney (Gayanga): So the opportunity in construction in Detroit right now is exploding. And what's exciting about this opportunity is that the careers you get actually are living wage jobs that come with health care benefits, allow you to really grow your skill set.
And so we work intimately with Detroit at Work and also EITI and Go Green to ensure that our program Prepares Detroiters for day one on the job to be effective in their career
Leon Petty (Go Green): to be able to have access to them to give us that talent it makes our life a lot easier and allows us to get more of this work done.
Brian Mckinney (Gayanga): So right now in the trade market, there's not enough talent to fill the job requirements that are needed. We're working very hard to make sure that Detroiters are aware that these careers are here and that they'll be able to take care of family and live a sustainable life.
On-Screen Graphic: 10,000 Opportunities – FORD FAST TRACK – Michigan Central Station
Raven Scott: When Ford announced it was going to purchase and restore the Michigan Central Station, one of their goals was to make sure that the restoration process included opportunities for Detroiters. Detroit at Work is the lead public partner with Ford, and has worked with the Access for All program and many others to develop the Ford Fast Track program.
Fast Track is a paid four month program that gives participants the opportunity to work on an iconic construction project alongside skilled trades journeyman and build up the real world hands on experience that construction employers look for.
Rich Bardelli (Ford Construction Manager): Michigan Central Station really is A symbol of Detroit, but it's a symbol of Corktown in this community and its surrounding communities.
We looked at, well, what was missing? The piece that was missing was on the job training. We developed this fast track program that allowed us to go out into the community and ask individuals to register at Detroit at Work, work with our workforce development teams, and work with our contracting teams to bring them in and have some on the job training.
to bring this building back.
Derek (Ford Fast Track Participant) : I was laid off from work, and I decided, why just sit around the house and do nothing? Why not give it a shot and see if this is something that I could really like or make a career out of.
Cheryl Sanford (Workforce Development Institute): The Michigan Central Train Station Project is critical in this area and for our students, it's an opportunity to get that hands on work experience and really be part of a once in a lifetime project.
Joyelle (Ford Fast Track Participant): Being a part of the Ford Fast Track program was actually better than what I expected. If you are wondering whether you should sign up for Detroit at Work or become a part of this Fast Track program, I would definitely say try it. Anybody would be wowed and be excited about coming to work every day.
Rich Bardelli (Ford Construction Manager): Construction jobs are are unbelievable careers and great. great ways to make a living. We feel like now with the Fast Track program, we're giving those individuals the opportunity to come here and develop long term careers that they may not have even understood prior to this.
Cheryl Sanford (Workforce Development Institute): Because of our relationship with the building trades, it's been a really good partnership and we've been able to prepare individuals to go into careers in the construction industry.
Derek (Ford Fast Track Participant) : Working at the Michigan Central Train Station is a very special moment for me because it gives me a chance to have a career. Something I've never really had. I've had jobs here and there, but this is something I can take on. I can be proud of something. My son can be part of that's something that I want for him to be able to say.
My dad was something I want to leave him a legacy that makes it more of a special moment for me.
Joyelle (Ford Fast Track Participant): The future for Joelle Knox is to become a carpenter. And I do feel like the access for all program and even this Ford fast track program will help me in ways that I may not have been able to accomplish what I was looking for without it.
Raven Scott: Great stories with great jobs for Detroiters. These are just two of the many ways Detroit at Work is partnering to build career pathways for Detroit residents. So if you're interested in learning more about construction or skilled trades, it's easy. All you have to do is go to Detroitatwork. com or you can give us a call at 313 962 WORK to set up an appointment to meet with one of our career coaches.
On-Screen Graphic: 10,000 Opportunities – DetroitAtWork.com - (313) 962-9675 (WORK)
Detroit, just so you know, our career centers are still open and we want to serve you. Whether you're Northwest, Southwest, East or West, we want you to know that we're open. If you need to know where to go or you need to set up an appointment, it's easy. Give us a call at 313 962 WORK. Thank you, Detroit, for tuning in to this episode of 10, 000 Opportunities.
On-Screen Graphic: 10,000 Opportunities – DetroitAtWork.com - (313) 962-9675 (WORK)
As always, we appreciate you and we can't wait to work with you.