Unisex studies
Some of ABCD’s other non-gender specific programs:- First Steps into Child Care Careers
- GATE
- JobNet
- Downtown Adult Literacy Program
- College Pathways
- Young Parents Program
Published 20:17, November the 16th, 2009
Building new possibilities
The 18 graduates from a recent Building Real Careers in Construction program will all have something unique in common on the construction site: None of them are men.
“Women in general are underrepresented, by far, in the trade union,” said John Drew, President and CEO of Action for Boston Community Development, Inc., the program’s host.
In fact, women make up less than 3 percent of all construction workers, according to Clare Shepherd, director of LearningWorks.
The BRICC classes provide pre-apprenticeship training exclusively for women. Graduates can explore a variety of construction fields for about six weeks before being guided through the process of finding apprenticeships.
“For people who don’t have the funds to go to college, to get that ... high-powered career, then I do believe that the construction industry parallels a college education," said Debra Prentice, 44, of Roxbury, a graduate of the program.
However, getting there can take time. “You have to wait until the union starts taking applications … Because of the job situation in Massachusetts, there’s not much construction going on,” said Prentice, who has to wait another year before she can apply.
With the help of the program, Prentice has decided to become an electrician.
Brief look at ABCD programs
ABCD was created in 1962 and aims to promote self-help for low-income people and neighborhoods. The main focus of the program is to grant long-term self-sufficiency. They offer a number of programs that help families through times of crisis.BRICC came to Boston in July of 2008 but was started over 30 years ago. It is funded by the Federal Department of Labor and located in six other sites nationwide.
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