Build upon its successful local tradeswomen peer networking and mentorship programming to support the development of a national mentorship model and framework in a targeted and customized…

The Chicago Women In Trades (CWIT) was awarded a $9 million project grant from the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration under the Registered Apprenticeship program (CFDA 17.285) to deliver pre-apprenticeship programs and support services to increase women's participation in construction trades apprenticeships.

Over the four year period from July 2022 to June 2026, CWIT will operate a minimum of seven pre-apprenticeship programs serving approximately 360 aspiring tradeswomen. This includes a 280-hour general pre-apprenticeship program and new trade-specific programs in partnership with various labor unions. CWIT will also provide case management, placement assistance, support services, mentoring, and tutoring to promote retention and transition to apprenticeship programs. Sub-recipients will collaborate with CWIT in delivering pre-apprenticeship programming and supporting retention activities. The intended beneficiaries are low-income women of color from economically disadvantaged areas seeking careers in the construction trades.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to build upon its successful local tradeswomen peer networking and mentorship programming to support the development of a national mentorship model and framework in a targeted and customized collaboration with the bricklayers and ironworkers' international unions. Activities performed chicago women in trades (cwit) will operate a minimum of seven pre-apprenticeship programs providing a projected 28 classes during the period, including: 1)a 280-hour nabtu certified general pre-apprenticeship program serving a projected 120WOMEN with expanded involvement from raps and other industry stakeholders. 2) an annual all-female general carpentry pre-apprenticeship in partnership with the mid-america carpenters' regional council's apprentice and training program, serving an estimated 60 women during the grant period, with all successful graduates gaining entry into registered apprenticeship, 3)five new trade specific pre-apprenticeship programs in partnership with the ironworkers' district council, the painters' district councils #14 and #30, the mid-america carpenters' regional council and the millwrights' local #1693, and the illinois teamsters joint council no.25. Combined the programs will offer 16 classes during the period serving 360 aspiring tradeswomen. Cwit will also recruit and support participants with case management, placement assistance, wrap-around support services, mentorship, and tutoring to promote class retention and transition to apprenticeship. In addition to linking these services to planned pre-apprenticeship programs, cwit is proposing to build upon its successful local tradeswomen peer networking and mentorship programming to support the development of a national mentorship model and framework in a targeted and customized collaboration with the bricklayers and ironworkers' international unions. To achieve the second objective, cwit will provide participating raps and other stakeholders with customized one-on-one guidance, development of new outreach and marketing materials, targeted social media campaigns, anti-harassment and cultural competency training, interactive workshops, and learning institutes. Deliverables 3,000 women participating in grant funded career education events will gain increased awareness of construction apprenticeship programs, career opportunities and pre-apprenticeship pathways. As a result, a minimum total of 360 women will enroll in proposed pre-apprenticeship programs, including women build illinois and trade specific programs hosted and instructed by RA staff. Of the enrollees, a minimum of 276 are expected to complete training with an estimated 235 entering apprenticeship, of whom, 188 (80%) will remain in apprenticeship for one year or more. As most RA programs take three to five years to complete, only 50 of the participants accepted within the first two years of the performance period will have an opportunity to reach this benchmark during the timeframe of the grant. Intended beneficiary aspiring tradeswomen, primarily low-income women of color from economically disadvantaged areas. Subrecipient activities sub-recipients will collaborate with chicago women in trades in delivering pre-apprenticeship programming and supporting retention activities.