Back: Mikhaela Merwin, Gabriel Hallett-Arnold, Aiden Kennedy, Gael Alonzo, Leyton Unzicker, Merejildo Cardozo-Avelar and cohort mentor Aric Gobernatz. Front: Montrel Harrell, Damian Miller, Jon Yenchek, Rex Unzicker.

At the culmination of a three-week training program, 11 Union Carpenter Training Program participants stood before a gathering of mentors, program staff, union members, friends and family to celebrate their graduation. Created in partnership between Minnesota Training Partnership (MTP) and the Carpenters Training Institute and funded by a Drive for 5 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), program participants earn carpentry certification and receive hands-on training to prepare for entry into union construction careers.

"The Drive for Five grant is truly changing the trajectory of people's lives," said MTP Program Coordinator Jessica Gawron. "[It gives] those who may have felt they didn't have a second chance an opportunity to feel seen and provide for themselves and their families."

The free, short-term program was the second in a series of cohorts designed to train workers to meet employer needs in construction and wood framing. In addition to preparing participants to apply for registered apprenticeship opportunities with the Carpenters Union, the participants also received individualized work readiness and life skills training. Throughout the program and after completion, MTP also offers participants career navigation, case management, support services and job placement assistance.

DEED's Drive for 5 initiative offers opportunities for workers, particularly those who have historically faced systemic barriers to employment in the past. The initiative allows workers to learn new skills or reskill to find a career in high-demand fields, such as carpentry or construction, with family sustaining wages.

"I quit my job to do this. I was previously a horticulturalist for the City of Minneapolis. I have a degree in environmentalism and was torn between do I stay in horticulture or do I completely change tracks?" said program graduate Rex Unzicker. "And this is the best course of action I could have taken. This is an opportunity that will change my life."

"I was a juvenile probation officer, 37 years old and I wasn't sure where I was going with my life," said another graduate, Damian Miller. "Now, I can show my boys what hard work looks like. I have three boys at home, and so they get to see dad come home dirty for a good reason."

Governor Tim Walz declared September Workforce Development Month in Minnesota. Workforce development supports the economic health of Minnesota families and communities by investing in the education, training and career advancement of our workforce and is vital to Minnesota's ability to compete in the global economy. Workforce development professionals' efforts through programs like MTP and Drive for 5 are critically important to help workers and employers adjust to a shifting labor market.

To jump-start your job search and find your next career, explore education, training and retraining opportunities at CareerForce.MN.gov.