There are only so many choices a high school graduate can make if college is not an option. One choice, aside from joining the military, is learning a trade. That’s what Project Upgrade, a 14-year-old program, aims to do with its students.
There are only so many choices a high school graduate can make if college is not an option. One choice, aside from joining the military, is learning a trade.
That’s what Project Upgrade, a 14-year-old program, aims to do with its students. The 26-week free program prepares minority and female journey-level workers, exclusively, for supervisory opportunities in the construction industry.
Project Upgrade is a program by The Coalition for United Community Action-O.R.T.C Inc., a Chicago non-profit organization, and has received overwhelming support from labor, management, government and business leaders.
“Since 1969, The Coalition for United Community Action-O.R.T.C. Inc. has helped strengthen ties between labor, management, government and communities,” said Gov. Rod Blagojevich, in a written statement. “By providing forums for community leaders to exchange ideas and implementing programs for future industry leaders, the Coalition for United Community Action-O.R.T.C Inc. has developed economic and career opportunities for countless individuals.”
Coalition President Carl Latimer said state Senate President Emil Jones Jr. (D-14th) has been a staunch supporter of the program for the past decade.
Jones said the program and Coalition organization has made invaluable contributions to the community and for that he is proud to have been a supporter.
“The Coalition for United Community Action-O.R.T.C Inc. is to be commended for its tireless efforts to uplift our community by sponsoring forums and implementing programs on economic and career opportunities,” Jones said.
Each year, the Coalition has a graduating class, and several alumni from its 2008 class talked about how the program has helped their careers and what they learned from the program.
Enrique Contreras, 44, is an electrician and said he enrolled in the program so he could be an example to his co-workers.
“I wanted to show my co-workers that with hard work, anything is possible. The program definitely polished my problem-solving and communications skills,” he said. “There are good networking opportunities that exist for participants, and that’s important because just getting on the bidder’s list can be difficult for minorities.”
A lack of opportunities is one vital reason why so many minority contractors are left out of the inner circle, said Gregory Hardaway, 34, a plumber.
“I did not know about the opportunities that existed for us until I came here,” Hardaway said. “I learned upper management skills, how to better read blue prints and how to deal with people in general. This program showed me that you could break through the glass ceiling.”
Latisha Kindred, 33, an electrician who teaches at Simeon Career Academy high school on the South Side, said it’s even harder to excel in the construction industry when you are a Black woman.
“Black women have it twice as hard because of our gender and race,” she said. “I learned that I could get what I want if I try hard. My self-confidence was so much better after attending the program, and it has softened up the industry for me.”
But not every graduate plans to continue working for someone. Ronald Proctor, 54, an electrician, said he plans to start his own business.
“I am definitely looking to start my own business. I have been working for someone else for 28 years, and now it’s time to start working for myself,” he said. “And a program like this gives you the confidence that you can do it.”
Latimer added that one main goal of the four-hour evening program held two days a week is to provide training to all participants so that they have an opportunity to upgrade and enhance their trade expertise. Students accomplish this by learning a variety of skills from the basics of communicating, problem solving and blue print reading to an overall view of construction supervision and management. And contractor representatives, union administrators and business leaders are the instructors and motivational speakers who facilitate the class sessions.
“We provide classroom instruction to improve reading, math, communication, job readiness and test preparation skills,” Latimer said. “In addition to classroom activities, the students learn how to identify and properly use the tools of the trades.
“This hands-on training approach instills safety disciplines, promotes teamwork and provides on-the-job skills required for construction apprenticeship.”
In photo: Program participants include (top, from left) Enrique Contreras, Carl Latimer, (seated, from left) Ronald Proctor, Latisa Kindred, Gregory Hardway.
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