Local News
ETAP
Journey to Freedom
continued from page 1
out going into debt," says
Lincoln. "You earn while
you learn."
The admission process
requires students to take
assessments for reading,
writing and math.
Lincoln says reading and
writing
are
essential
because trade workers need
to understand technical
manuals and be able to com-
municate clearly, both ver-
bally and in writing. He
says math is in every aspect
of construction, such as
working with areas, propor-
tions and computations.
Students must score 90s in
both reading and writing
and a 60 in math to get into
the program. This means
they must perform at an 8th
or 9th grade level in all the
subjects.
If students don't pass,
Lincoln says he redirects
them to the skills center to
help students develop the
basics.
"All I need is willing stu-
dents," he says.
Once students finish the
application process, ETAP
puts them through ten
weeks and over 240 hours
of training, much of which
is hands on. This includes
instruction on how to build
things, hand and power tool
safety and scaffolding.
Students also learn CPR,
earn flagging certificates
and
receive
Oregon
Occupational Safety and
Health Division (OSHA)
cards.
At the end of the ten
weeks, students receive cer-
tificates and are encouraged
to apply for work with trade
organizations.
Lincoln says the program
has received favorable feed-
back from companies that
have hired ETAP graduates.
ETAP has an advisory
committee with representa-
tives from a number of con-
struction industry profes-
sionals, including Hoffman
Construction, Skanska and
Walsh
Construction.
Portland State University
and TriMet representatives
also serve on the committee.
"It makes a substantial
difference and helps with
outreach, having those pro-
fessionals on board," says
Lincoln.
The advisory committee
plays a part in curriculum
development and the selec-
tion of students.
For example, Lincoln says
he gets recommendations
from committee member
Charles Landers, who
teaches construction at
Franklin High School.
Landers gathers students
interested in construction,
or the trades in general, and
has them talk to Lincoln.
From there, they are direct-
ed to ETAP.
Lincoln says the commu-
nity college is an ideal place
for students, considering the
lack of wood shop and
industrial education in pub-
lic schools due to budget
shortfalls.
ETAP has a focused
approach for high school
students, but Lincoln says
the program is designed to
serve all students, including
those with a felony on your
record.
ETAP holds information
sessions on the first and
third Tuesday of every
month at 11:30 am at PCC
Cascade Campus in TEB
Room 117.
For more info go to
http://www.pcc.edu/career/e
tap/ .
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Page 6 The Portland Skanner December 21/ December28, 2011
karanja Crews, educator and inventor, gave away 10 copies of his board
game, Journey to Freedom: The Power to Read and Write, to Portland schools
principals last week. In the game – which is developing into an online social
network for youth working to bump up their education – players are enslaved
in the Antebellum South, and must increase their knowledge of the English
language and Black history to find their way to freedom. Order a copy, and
get involved online, at www.journeytofreedom.org.