Students from 12 schools in Central and Western Massachusetts participated in the Massachusetts Girls in Trade fall conference on Thursday, November 16, at Holyoke High School Dean Campus. The event was billed as an opportunity for students to network with women who work in the skilled trades and included guest speakers from the Massachusetts Building Trades Unions and the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau, among others.
Participating students were divided into two groups, rotating their time between an informative and inspiring workshop titled “Becoming a Union Tradeswoman” and a Career Fair in the gym where they met with more than 30 representatives from area pre-apprentice and apprentice programs, contractors, government agencies, and related business vendors. Participating educators, meanwhile, took an “Apprenticeship 101” workshop so they can better support their students throughout the year.