“Looking around, can you point out anything that is sheet metal, that’s made out a sheet metal?” Ben Wood with the sheet metal workers union asked a MacLaren youth. The youth looked around a few seconds before admitting they couldn’t. Wood identified a few examples and quickly pivoted into a the merits of the work: “You start out about $26 an hour…[and] when you complete the program, you’re making $53.60 an hour.”
Scenes exactly like this played out over the course of the day. Representatives pitched youth on a variety of careers – from clothing design to ironwork, from plumbing to barbering – and talked them through how to move into that career, if they so choose. Some participants went a step further, speaking candidly about their own justice involvement and the paths that led them away from those experiences.
“I want to let them know there are other ways to go,” one representative shared. “You have choices.” Another pointed youth to a picture on a poster, saying, “This is a friend of mine right here. He was incarcerated for nine years, and he owns a house and makes six figures a year. It doesn’t matter your background.”
These moments clearly stuck with the youth who attended. “They brought in people who have gone through the same thing that I’m going through right now,” one youth said afterwards. Another youth, reflecting on his conversation with the POIC representatives, expressed gratitude that, “when you talk to them, it sounds possible…If you know what you want to do, then they’ll help you. And if not, they’ll still help you.”
For other youth, the Career Fair fueled planning they were already doing for their futures. After a conversation with the sheet metal workers, one youth who had been “thinking about autobody work” came away realizing that, “doing this – it would be easier for me to go into that career and then come out and be able to go to the career that I want.” Another found confirmation in his prior interest in becoming an electrician and candidly shared that the only thing getting in his way was “being in here.”
Under the leadership of Statewide Education Coordinator Jennifer Falzerano, OYA hopes to replicate the experience for all youth at other facilities in the coming year.
Youth had the opportunity to learn about a variety of industries and job training programs from our partners:
Constructing Hope pre-apprentice program
Hands on construction skills training with transportation support, record expungement, applied math tutoring, equipment support, job search assistance, and mentorship.
Epic Electric PDX electrician training workshop for incarcerated youth and training program
Their training program includes skills training, mentorship, career coaching, job placement assistance, and life skills development.
Sheet Metal Institute/NWRC Smart Local 16 apprenticeship program
Their apprenticeship and mentoring program is a pathway to a no-cost college degree.
Trap Kitchen, Stackin Kickz, and Black Mannequin
Representatives from these three organizations staffed an entrepreneurship station and shared their experiences starting their own businesses. Eddie Bynum with Trap Kitchen also works as an Advocate with OYA partner Youth Advocate Programs Inc. (YAP), which provides reintegration support for youth transitioning out of juvenile justice placements.
Portland Youth Builders (PYB) pre-apprenticeship and job readiness programs
PYB has a number of opportunities for youth including their Bridge to Construction nine-week pre-apprenticeship program with hands-on training and career coaching and their Youthbuild program that provides job readiness through individualized career coaching, hands-on training, and certification.
Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC) semiconductor training and construction pre-apprentice and workshop programs
POIC talked about an upcoming semiconductor training also has an ongoing 12-week paid construction pre-apprenticeship program and a 140-hour construction workshop paid program available.
OYA has barbering programs at Rogue Valley YCF and MacLaren YCF with the goal that youth leave OYA with a barbering license as well as creating a strong work ethic and empowering youth with the professional and social skills to be successful. Throne’s Johnathan Baker shared the ins and outs of the barbering industry.
Ironworkers Local 29 apprenticeship program
A four-year program that provides on-the-job training in structural, reinforcing, ornamental, welding, and rigging. Apprentices receive at least 204 hours of classroom and shop instruction during every year of training that complement the hands-on training in the field.
JTA Plumbing LLC
JTA Plumbing spoke about the paths to having a career in plumbing.
All Star Labor has offices in Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, and Bend. They presented about a number of industries they are currently hiring for, including manufacturing, custodial, and warehouse positions.
OYA MacLaren partners Project Pooch, Forward Stride, and Keys, Beats, Bars also attended and spoke about careers in animal management and the arts. Several OYA Juvenile Parole and Probation Officers (JPPOs) came to MacLaren for the day to support the fair and learn about resources for their youth.
Many thanks to the professionals who volunteered their time and shared their expertise with our youth!
