“No bad days,” thanks to Building Futures

"Since I joined the union I have had no bad days," said Kenneth Davis. Davis was accepted into the Community Services Agency’s Building Futures Pre-Apprenticeship program soon after his release from prison last year, graduating in December 2016. "I think the Building Futures Program is great!" he told the current crop of students earlier this week. Now in his first year as a residential class apprentice with IBEW Local 26, the Building Futures program was so important to Davis that he took his own time to tell students what life is like for him since participating in the program. Building Futures is a pre-apprenticeship program that trains low-income DC residents to be successful in the construction industry and get placed into construction apprenticeships and living wage construction jobs. “Participants like Kenneth succeed because of their own drive and the intensive case management they receive in Building Futures to help overcome barriers to accessing apprenticeships like help obtaining drivers licenses,” said CSA Assistant Executive Director Sonte DuCote. The curriculum includes construction math, blueprint reading, and job readiness.  Participants also earn certifications in areas like Flagger Safety and OSHA 10. The Winter 2018 cohort will start soon; watch for more details after New Years. To contribute to this program make a check payable to CSA and earmark for Building Futures or donate securely online at communityservicesagency.org.
- photo by Sonte DuCote

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