From "The Apprentices" to "The graduates"

Barbara White with participants in the welding program at Waukesha Technical College (WTC).

by Barbara White
Two weeks ago, Percy Dorsey of Martha Love Association B. LLC introduced me to Devery Sherman of TMC Commercial Drywall, a subcontractor working on a classroom expansion project at WRTP/Big Step.

Dorsey also introduced me to Tracey Griffith, a tutor at WRTP/Big Step, Julie Gehling, also an instructor at the apprenticeship program and Dave Finner who was helping Sherman and talked to a class of students to share his experiences in construction work.

Afterward, Dorsey took me to the campus of Waukesha Technical College (WTC) where we met James Drake, director of WTC's welding program. He gave us a tour of the campus and the facility where the welding program was held.

While talking to Drake, we also met Tom Wiecorek an instructor in the welding program and apprentice Terry Crawford.

Drake shared with us that transportation is a problem for many individuals coming from Milwaukee to Waukesha for classes. However, once a person can get to the college daily, they can learn quite a bit of stuff.

WTC has some of the latest state of the art equipment and technology to train future welders. Folks are even coming from Racine and Kenosha to WTC, which is also THE place to retrain displaced workers.

We left WTC and went back to WRTP. Once there, we sat in on an orientation that was in progress. It warmed my heart to see so many young Black men there with an interest in the trades.

My mind shifted to what Dave said to our class earlier about many who enter the program but fail to make it to the journeyman’s level for whatever reason.

Nevertheless, in learning about the construction trades, I concluded that there is one more component that could be added to this already outstanding program. How about a mentorship component?

Perhaps placing an apprentice with a mentor can keep them motivated. The Skills Trades Collaborative could serve as mentors to the young people entering the trades. It would give them someone to chat with who understands what the students are going through and will face in the trades, as well as give them a better understanding of how to navigate the pitfalls.

My next stop is the Potawatomi building where my class is about to graduate from the WRTP program.

This is a unique class because there were four women out of a class of 12 who will be graduating. You could feel the excitement in the air as the families and friends of the graduates arrived.

Representatives from Gilbane, WRTP/BIGSTEP, the Private Industry Council (PIC), the city of Milwaukee, and the Forest County Potawatomi Community-all the groups that make up UTPI who put money, time and resources into making the apprentice program work.

Saying that it was a great day, Linda Sowell of the Gilbane Company welcomed the graduates and their families.

She praised the students and the UTPI. The graduating class giggled every time she mentioned them. The Chief of the Potawatomi tribe was there to wish the graduates well. He told a story of very few Native Americans in the trades because they were not given opportunities.

Instructor Julie Gehling stated the class had 100% attendance. Sharon Robinson, representing Mayor Tom Barrett, congratulated the group and wished them well in their new endeavor.

Alderman Joe Davis told the gathering that diversity must be part of all policies.

Mathew Robertson, a senior at Marquette University who taught financial literacy at the WRTP program, talked of keeping a good credit rating and warned against falling into the trap of not managing personal finances.

"Yes, money does make the world go round," Robertson said. "Think of money as a means to get to an end, but it is not the end."

One of my classmates, Kevin Cross, said he already has a job as a plumber's apprentice.

John Garcia gave the message on behalf of the class. "We wanted to learn and I learned a lot. Big Step, I thank you. I will miss all of you. We worked as a team and this is just the beginning of our careers."

Jamaal Stokes’ family was there, including his young daughters. He looked at me and said, "this is who I did this for," as he points to his daughters, Jamariah, Malejah, his mother Bobbie Stokes and his aunt, Betty Kelly.

His statement put a wide smile on my face because I know he is going to make it. There was so much joy in the room, the joy of having accomplished a goal, the joy of knowing you are now heading somewhere in life and the joy of knowing that the people in your life are cheering for your success.

Being a construction worker and an apprentice was a real good experience for me. I know many guys in the trades and I have a greater appreciation for what they do now. I thank my two hosts, the Gilbane Building Company and Martha Love Association B. LLC for assisting me in my endeavor to share with you the ins and outs of the construction trades and apprentice programs.

I hope that you have gotten a real feel of what it is like to be a construction worker and the opportunities available in the trades. Maybe the trades are something you would like to try.

For those of you who are interested in the trades, contact Big Step or WRTP at (414) 342-9787.