Pre-Apprentice Graduates Look Forward to a Career in the Trades
The Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council working with the Hudson Valley Workforce Development Institute graduated the first class of the Pre-Apprentices in the Hudson Valley Build-N-Beyond program last month. The seven graduates completed the 8-week, 160-hours program that included academic classroom and hands-on training with instructors from Laborers Local 17 and visits to various trade union training centers before selecting which trade they wanted to join.
Raymond Russell, 30, from Newburgh says the pre-apprentice program is a life changing experience and explains why he slected Laborers Local 17.
Caroline Krzeminski, 20, graduated from Valley Central and planned to get a job as an electrician but couldn’t find any jobs. After doing one-on-one work with kids she got into the pre-apprenticeship program and choose Operating Engineers Local 825. Her friends and family are surprised but supportive of her decison.
Javier Bravo, 18, graduated from Pine Bush and is now in the Laborers Local 17 apprentice program. He says this is the right choice for his future.
Funding for the program came from a $200,000 grant secured by State Sen. James Skoufis.
The Pre-Apprenticeship Program allows for direct entry into local unions affiliated with the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council.
“The funding secured for this program gives minorities and women the opportunity to enter a trade of their choice and begin a career in the construction industry. These are good jobs with good benefits and will allow these individuals to work in the community they live,” said Todd Diorio, President of the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council.
