December 6, 2017 The Skanner Page 3
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Courthouse
trialization Center (POIC).
“I would say in terms of tim-
ing, there’s always time to go
into a pre-apprentice pro-
“
for the county’s project.
Those enrolled in the pre-ap-
prentice programs get com-
plete training where they are
At the end of their training, pre-
apprentices pick which trade they
want to go into, and start going to
job sites where they are getting
paid, either for union or non-union
work
gram,” Burch said. Burch said
because construction projects
go in waves, there’s a need for
a variety of types of workers
introduced to all building
trades — carpentry, concrete,
electrical work — and they get
onsite experience. Most pro-
grams require a high school
diploma or GED, but programs
like Portland YouthBuilders
also provide GED assistance.
At the end of their training,
pre-apprentices pick which
trade they want to go into, and
start going to job sites where
they are getting paid, either
for union or non-union work,
Burch said.
“It’s a viable opportunity for
them to make a really good liv-
ing wage and with so much con-
struction now in the Portland
metro area it is a chance to find
out if it’s for you,” Burch said.
Some complete pre-appren-
tice training and determine
the work is not right for them,
Burch said: “A lot of people
don’t like to work in the rain.”
Others find a career path that
allows them to make good
wages, with room for upward
mobility as they improve their
skills and seniority.
The county hosted a large
hiring event in November, but
is still seeking workers for the
projects.
Those interested in the ap-
prenticeship programs should
contact community partners:
Constructing Hope, (503) 281-
1234; Oregon TradesWomen
INC., (503) 335-8200l; Portland
YouthBuilders, (503) 286-9350.
cont’d from pg 1
ect Breaker facilitator with Construct
Foundation.
Students practice these steps by tak-
ing on “mini-design challenges” -- for
example, designing a chair for the an-
imated character Moana, redesigning
the playground for a friend or creating
an innovation to solve a problem in a
story book.
“
Glenn Hubbard’s family is shown a mural painted in his honor in the “The Hubb” during a small celebration Nov. 30 at the Meadowbrook
Teen Life Center. The Seattle Parks Department honored Glenn Hubbard for his years of service to the parks department and especially
to young people by dedicating a room as “The Hubb” last week.
cont’d from pg 3
Both projects have broken
ground and county officials
estimate they will need thou-
sands of workers. A booming
private construction industry
has also translated to job open-
ings for those looking to enter
the building trades.
According to Faye Burch
of FM Burch and Associates,
an equity and inclusion con-
sultant, workers can be as
young as 18. They can enter
the field through pre-ap-
prenticeship programs like
Constructing Hope, Oregon
Tradeswomen Inc., Portland
Youthbuilders Program or
Portland Opportunities Indus-
KairosPDX
Glenn Hubbard Room Dedication
We are pleased that
KairosPDX will be
helping to right
the historic under-
representation of
African American
students in STEM
classes
In January, Project Breaker will work
on a larger design challenge with stu-
dents during the winter break.
“We are thrilled to have this partner-
ship that provides our third and fourth
graders the opportunity to lead in new
and exciting ways,” said Kali Ladd, ex-
ecutive director of KairosPDX, whose
Afro-centric curriculum works ad-
dress to Portland’s achievement gap
for students of color.
The charter will also be partnering
with Building Blocks for Success and
Young Audiences for additional after
school projects, and is one of seven
programs that received the two-year
funding from the Children’s Levy this
autumn.
On Sept. 20, the funding package –
made possible through unspent Levy
revenue – went before the Portland
City Council for a final vote, during
which grantees came forward to testify
to their programs and pledge their sup-
port of the package.
It’s reassuring news for KairosPDX,
which found itself in the hot seat this
summer when a proposed Portland
Public Schools policy was threatening
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAIROSPDX
strengths of both our
differences and our com-
monalities.”
Weaver, who is also
co-directing “A Christ-
mas Carol” with Cristi
Miles, says the story of
redemption and trans-
formation reflects cer-
tain universal truths.
“We are all in this to-
gether and connected
through how we are sim-
ilar,” he told The Skan-
ner. “But I also value
what makes us different:
race, culture, family his-
tory. This is what makes
our lives more rich and
our community more re-
silient in the ability to ac-
knowledge and celebrate
our differences.”
For tickets and more in-
formation, visit www.por-
tandplayhouse.org/acc.
PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED
“
We are all
in this to-
gether and
connected
through
how we are
similar
Actress Sarah Smith in Portland
Playhouse’s production of “A
Christmas Carol.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAIROSPDX
of the theater company
fit perfectly in line with
its ethos, said co-founder
and artistic director Bri-
an Weaver.
“We cast a diverse com-
pany of actors to reflect
the truth of our commu-
nity and highlight the
PHOTO BY BRUD GILES
cont’d from pg 1
Students of KairosPDX count down to the school’s 4th annual “Spread the Love 2017” event in February.
to take away its building and potential-
ly leave the one-of-a-kind charter with-
out a facility.
Ladd told The Skanner that her school
is currently in negotiations with the
district for a longer term lease of the
building, which is the former site of
Humboldt Elementary School.
KairosPDX’s program joins 22 oth-
er levy-funded after school programs
which support student well-being.
“We are pleased that KairosPDX will
be helping to right the historic under-
representation of African American
students in STEM classes,” said Dan
Saltzman, city commissioner and Port-
land Children’s Levy allocation chair.
The Portland Children’s Levy cur-
rently funds 74 programs with $18 mil-
lion annually in areas of Early Child-
hood, After School, Mentoring, Child
Abuse Prevention/Intervention, Fos-
ter Care and Hunger Prevention.
