What’s the best way to get high school students interested in and excited about opportunities in the skilled trades? If you are struggling to answer this question, just look at what the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland is doing with their ‘Trades Day’ event.
The ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland is a not-for-profit organization that helps to prepare high school students for careers in architecture, engineering, and construction. Through mentoring by industry professionals, the mission is to engage and enlighten high school students as well as support their continued advancement in the industry.
One of the ways the organization fulfills this mission is “Trades Day.” This year’s Trades Day was held on March 1 at Cuyahoga Community College’s Advanced Technology and Training Center on Woodland Ave. Approximately 44 students from seven area schools were invited to receive an up-close, hands-on experience of what it’s like to work in the trades.
“This is a good opportunity for them to see what’s offered and to set them up for the rest of their lives,” said Cindy Leitson, Vice President Capital, Construction, and Facilities Cuyahoga Community College and chairperson of ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland Career Pathway Committee, as she welcomed everyone.
Trade Day consisted of rotations, by groups, through the four lab activities: carpentry, finishing, masonry/bricklaying and plumbing. Students spent about 40 minutes in each session with a midday break for lunch where they heard about more opportunities available with organizations such as Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).
Each student also received a bag that included safety items such as a vest, gloves, glasses, and hard hat as well as tape measures and other small tools used in the trades.
In the masonry lab, the students learned how to scoop mortar, spread mortar and place bricks. They were told that bricklaying apprentices spend a whole week just learning to spread mortar because it’s just that critical to the process.
Matt McCluster, a 23-year tradesman representing Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Local 23, said it was their first time participating in the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland’s Trade Day and they were there because it’s vital to let young people know a career in the trades is an option.
“It’s important for it to be hands-on,” he added, “showing them what to do, what they can do, giving them the opportunity to get experience as opposed to being told about it.”
McCluster spoke about the industry’s labor shortage. He said this program is a good opportunity to help get more people interested and a great way to bridge the gap, something they’ve haven’t done much of in the past.
Qui’don Russell, an 11th grader at Cleveland Central Catholic, said he actually liked the experience - being introduced to bricklaying. He realized he's been good with his hand since being a young child. He knows he wants a trade under his belt but still isn’t sure if it’ll be his “main source of income.”
“I do feel like [this day] is making a difference,” he said. “It’s giving us a better opportunity to learn the life skills we need.”
In the Plumbers Local 55 experiential workshop, third-year apprentice Faith McGhee taught ACE students how to cut, measure and fit copper pipe while sharing her journey to the trades.
“I used to be a banker,” said the single mother of two, a five year old and a 16 month year old. At one point, she worked three jobs with no health care but the trades offer that in addition to the ability to spend time with her children.
“They want to see you succeed,” she told students
The Finishing Trades Institute used Augmented Reality (AR) to demonstrate the work they do. “We are the last trade to go in and we make everything look good,” said window glazer and instructor George Boots.
During their demonstration, Boots talked a lot about the soft skills needed to survive in the industry and encouraged students to ask questions.
ACE student Kevin Jackson, an 11th grader at Max Hayes, while in the finishing lab, said he wants to be a bricklayer. “I enjoy ACE. It’s helping me prepare for the trades,” he said.
Jimmy Smith, ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland advisor at John Marshall High School, brought 14 students to Trades Day. He said students enjoy the hands-on activities.
“They are interested, and they learn to have an appreciation for it,” he said. “When they came back talking about the actual activities, I knew they were engaged.”
“Trades Day is amazing,” said Heather Macalla, ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland advisor at Lincoln West, who brought five seniors to the event. With a couple of them considering HVAC, she thinks it’s great for them to see the options.
“A student can’t want to do something if they don’t know what’s out there. I love everything about this,” said Macalla. “Plumbing knocked it out of the park.”
Joe DiGeromino, vice president of Precision Environmental Co. and member of the ACE Mentor of Cleveland Career Pathways Subcommittee, expressed his happiness with the turnout of students and professionals. He thinks the event is important because most students have no experience, no knowledge of the trades and it’s a good way to introduce them to the industry.
He also thought it was amazing to have a company like OCP send three professionals and power tools.
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“We know we have to interact with students,” said Leitson. “That’s why we’re reaching out to them and offering services and support…”
“And connect them to meaningful opportunities,” DiGeromino added, finishing Leitson’s comment. He also said, “We all need workforce help. We all have positions we need to fill.”
In the carpentry lab, students learned about safety and worked to assemble a demonstration-sized metal stud wall. They were also introduced to the slab saw and how it cuts concrete.
Seamus Joyce, ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland advisor at John Hay, brought nine students and said all seem to have had a good time. Daejonna Dyer, a 9th grader at John Hay, said she wants to enter the trades and is interested in plumbing. She’s glad she received the opportunity to attend Trades Day.
“I think this is awesome,” said Tamandra Diaz, ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland advisor at Max Hayes. “Being an advisor, I’ve learned so much about the opportunities that are available.”
She’s glad her students received this experience.
Monica Guardodo, an 11th grader at Max Hayes, is interested in trades and engineering. “[Trades Day] is the opportunity I’ve been looking for,” she said. “I loved today. I love that we go to see what they do in the trades and put our hands on stuff.”
Guardodo found bricklaying to be the ‘most fun” and the first year ACE student said she will continue with the program.
“In our 15th year of operation, we continue to evolve and broaden ACE’s programming with generous support from the industry, volunteers and firms, corporate Cleveland, and foundations,” said Glen Shumate, ACE Cleveland, executive director.
This year ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland is serving over 200 high school and 65 college students, with career and mentoring support.
Shumate invites the Greater Cleveland community to celebrate the end of the school year at ACE Cleveland Spring Celebration, which will include student team presentations, scholarship awards as well as awards for volunteers and educators, at Windows on the River on May 9.
For more information on ACE Mentor visit www.acecleveland.org and or contact Glen Shumate, Executive Director (caa@acecleveland.org)
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