Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 2013)
O ctober 2, 2013 Minority & Small Business Week Page 7 Diversity Wanted in Highway Construction Labor Commissioner joins call for new training programs The Oregon B ureau of Labor and Industries is seeking proposals for p re-a p p ren tice sh ip services to strengthen the state’s highway con struction workforce and encourage more women and minorities to pur sue highway construction careers. The p re-apprenticeship pro- Not the Start, but the Completion Pledge to finish degree Statistics show the surest way for anyone to land a job in their chosen field is to finish college and earn a degree or certificate. F A nd that's exactly w hat « V*, students at Mt. Hood Commu nity College are prom ising to d o - signing a mass pledge to Sule W hitlock complete their associate degrees or certificates before leaving commu nity college to transfer to a four-year college or enter the job market. MHCC employees have also been asked to sign the pledge, commit ting themselves to doing whatever they can to facilitate completion of student credentials. Students gathered on this first week of fall term to sign the comple tion pledge, part of a national commu nity college movement. The event was hosted by the college’s Rho Theta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. “Having students commit to their goals in writing helps motivate the student to take action. Retention is key,” said Sule Whitlock, MHCC student and Rho Theta president. At the 2010 White House Summit for Community Colleges, President Obama called for community col leges to produce an additional five million degrees and certificates in the next 10 years, part of a goal to restore the United States as the world's leader in college graduates. The U.S. is now ranked 16th among industrialized countries in the per centage of citizens holding higher education credentials. Studies show that students who complete their degrees or certificates wil I earn an average of $500,000more over the course of their careers. grams - a partnership between BOLI and the Oregon Departm ent of Transportation - will engage stu dents and young adults about op portunities and potential careers as carpenters, cement masons, iron workers, laborers, operating engi neers, or painters. “Students can build a great ca reer in the highway construction trades,” said Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian. “We want to ensure that all Oregonians - including women and minorities - have access to the skills and tools necessary to have a fair shot at a Brad Avakian well-paying, family wage job.” The effort seeks to communicate career opportunities to traditionally underrepresented groups and cre ate a support system for them to succeed in apprenticeship, espe cially during the first year of train ing. Career camps for students will be included in the programs. In ad dition, winning proposers will de velop career guidance for those in terested in highway construction trades and pre-employment coun seling for graduates. During the past legislative ses sion, Sen. Chip Shields, D-Portland, and other legislative leaders helped passed Senate Bill 831 A, which di rects ODOT to spend up to $2.1 million of federal funds on construc tion workforce diversity and pre apprenticeship training programs for women and minorities. The bill also provides resources for sup portive services that remove barri ers to participation. Successful proposers will start their 18-month programs on Jan. 1. The Request for Proposal (#107- 1509-13) is available on the Oregon Procurement Information Network website. We’re in the business of providing hope, access and potential. Join us. V \ ■ 1 ome ■ F orw ard (formerly the Housing Authority of * Portland) provides shelter and support for our neighbors Contact Home Forward for more information or to learn about specific in need. Because with the essentials of a home, individuals opportunities, or for information can move forward in life. Today, we are more committed than ever about resources such as free training, to serving our community of Multnomah County by providing technical assistance, and workforce hope, access, and th e p o te n tia l fo r a b e tte r to m o rro w . hiring and training programs. To achieve our goals, however, requires the help of our business partners. We frequently have contract opportunities-particularly for m inority, wom en-owned and emerging small businesses— in the following areas: • Professional Services • C on structio n Services • Social Services hom eforw ard.org «£& homel ì M f \ W a / e £3 l l rc w hope, access, potential. Berit Stevenson Procurement and Contracts Manager berit.stevenson@homeforward.org 503.802.8541
