Dozens of tables representing trade labor unions and potential employers lined the walls of the gym at Holyoke High School’s Dean Tech Campus on Tuesday, November 19 for the Massachusetts Girls in Trades Western Conference & Career Fair.
For hundreds of young women from area career and technical education (CTE) programs, the event was an opportunity to meet high school students from across western Massachusetts peers along with industry representatives in a space meant just for them. The conference—held for the second year at Dean Tech—aims to uplift young women seeking careers in trades. As ahistorically underrepresented group, women make up less than 5% of construction workers across trades. Participants had opportunities to network with peers and potential employers, attend workshops led by tradeswomen and ask lots of questions about working in trades.
“Last year was about scoping things out, seeing what kind of stuff was available,” said Dean electrical shop senior Makellah Jenkins. “This year was about networking and getting serious about my career.” She was especially energized to talk with representatives from the electrical union, which she hopes to join after graduation. For many students, the opportunity to speak to union leadership with the support of their instructors was a key focus of their time.
For union and company representatives, the event was all about getting a foot in the door with the tradeswomen of tomorrow. Liz Wambi, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Fontaine Brothers, was especially excited to speak to Holyoke students. Fontaine Brothers is the general contractor of the new middle school construction project and has hosted Dean students on site for immersive learning throughout the different phases of construction of the new school.
“I love that we can connect the dots for students by pointing—physically pointing—to one of our projects that’s right down the street,” said Ms. Wambi. Students were able to learn about the variety of roles on a Fontaine job site (and take home a complimentary measuring tape).
Massachusetts Girls in Trades was founded in 2015 “by a partnership of educational, governmental and union organizations with a shared goal of supporting and encouraging female career and technical education students and alumnae to pursue careers in the building trades.” Each year the organization hosts two annual conferences to connect building trade unions, contractors, developers, government, and community organizations to network with high school women enrolled in CTE programs.