SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Those participating in the second class of Syracuse Build’s Pathways to Apprenticeship program have graduated and moved on in pursuit of apprenticeships and careers in a range of construction fields. Those interested in taking part in the next class in the apprenticeship program will be able to apply later this month. December […]
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Those participating in the second class of Syracuse Build’s Pathways to Apprenticeship program have graduated and moved on in pursuit of apprenticeships and careers in a range of construction fields.
Those interested in taking part in the next class in the apprenticeship program will be able to apply later this month.
December graduation
A total of 16 Syracuse residents took part in the paid 11-week program that prepared them for work in construction fields, per a CenterState CEO news release. The group members graduated in a Dec. 17 ceremony in City Hall Commons and join 15 others who graduated from the program’s first round in August.
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, CenterState CEO, and other community partners spoke at the ceremony to acknowledge the participants’ effort.
The apprenticeship-readiness training program focuses on preparing women, people of color, and veterans to help them secure spots in the Building Trades’ registered apprenticeship programs. Eleven of the graduates from the first cohort are in active apprenticeships with unions, and more are expected to join in March 2022 when additional unions accept new classes, per CenterState CEO.
“Congratulations to the graduates of the second cohort of Pathways to Apprenticeship program and for their commitment and success during this in-depth training period,” Chris Montgomery, director of Syracuse Build, said. “The graduates’ hard work and eagerness to join a local trade union speaks to the robust and inclusive workforce pipeline of Syracuse Build. I am grateful to Ebony Farrow, manager of the Pathways to Apprenticeship program, and all our partners who have been engaged and focused on ensuring this program is successful. I am excited to see the progress and opportunities that await these graduates as they begin the next stage of their careers in the construction industry.”
All graduates are now in the process of applying to apprenticeship programs or jobs in the construction field. Throughout the Pathways to Apprenticeship program, participants learned physical and technical skills needed to be competitive and successfully apply to a registered union apprenticeship.
Entering a union-sponsored registered apprenticeship can be “highly competitive,” CenterState CEO said. The program included exclusive networking opportunities for participants with local trade unions and coaching and preparation for the registered-apprenticeship application process.
“These graduates will join with those from the program’s first class and begin the next steps in their careers locally which will impact not only their lives but their families and communities as well,” Ebony Farrow, Pathways to Apprenticeship program manager at CenterState CEO, said. “I am incredibly proud of each of them for their work and dedication throughout this program. They are proof that high-quality talent exists in this community and highlight that we can connect often marginalized groups to opportunities if we intentionally provide the right training and resources.”
Syracuse Build is a community initiative that Syracuse Mayor Walsh launched to support local construction activity by connecting job seekers from Syracuse’s “historically marginalized” communities with career pathways in construction-related fields.
Syracuse Build’s goal is to align local government, unions, anchor institutions, and construction firms in a “coordinated network” of community, training and workforce partners. Work Train at CenterState CEO serves as an intermediary, bringing resources and partners to develop both the Syracuse Build initiative and the Pathways to Apprenticeship program, per the release.
Walsh said he’s “excited” to see another class complete the program, “taking the next step forward” toward careers in building and construction.
“This cohort demonstrates the strong interest our City of Syracuse residents have in these career pathways,” Walsh said. “I thank all of our community partners in workforce development and organized labor and congratulate all of the graduates. I’m especially grateful to Common Council President Helen Hudson whose vision and leadership has helped make Pathways to Apprenticeship a reality.”
Funding for the Pathways program comes from a number of community partners seeking to help prepare the local workforce. They include the City of Syracuse; Greater Syracuse HOPE; Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative; North America’s Building Trade Unions; Central New York Community Foundation; United Way of Central New York; and the Alliance for Economic Inclusion, CenterState CEO said.
Next class in January
The next class of the Pathways to Apprenticeship program will begin accepting applications in January.
Acceptance into the Pathways program is “competitive.” To meet the minimum requirements, applicants must be 18 years or older, live in the City of Syracuse, want a career in construction, be authorized to work in the U.S., have a high-school diploma or equivalent, are able to read, write, and speak in English for training and safety purposes, and be physically capable to do construction work, CenterState CEO said.