ROCKVILLE, MD — In honor of the 10th anniversary National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), WorkSource Montgomery (WSM) hosted a day of events to inform and connect both young and adult jobseekers with apprenticeship opportunities available in the county.
More than 400 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students from 25 high schools attended a Youth Apprenticeship Fair the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the Montgomery College Rockville campus. Dozens of employers were on-site to speak with students about real-life opportunities for stable and secure employment, all starting with apprenticeships.
“As an Apprenticeship Ambassador for the US Department of Labor (USDOL), this event is the perfect illustration of how WorkSource Montgomery is integrating school-based work with the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) stated mission to improve and strengthen the national public workforce,” said Anthony Featherstone, WSM Executive Director. “While exposing our youth to local career opportunities helps prepare students for the world of work, it also bolsters our talent pipeline and local economy in the years to come.”
The students also took part in several breakout sessions, from apprenticeship basics to delving into RIASEC and even a tour of Montgomery College’s Applied Technologies and Gudelsky Institute building. There was a panel featuring student apprentices and employers moderated by MCPS Work-Based Learning Supervisor Shawn Krasa, along with an apprenticeship job fair for adult job seekers in the afternoon.
Other speakers included Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu, Montgomery College President Dr. Jermaine Williams, Clark Construction COO (Infrastructure Group) Kris Manning, Krasa, and WSM Career Education Services Deputy Director John Hattery.
Several MoCo CAP Career Coaches were also honored for completing their Registered Apprenticeship in Career Advising, making them Journey-level Career Advisors with the USDOL. The recognized Coaches included:
- Ms. August Belt
- Ms. Aniyah Brooks
- Mr. Alexander Brown
- Ms. Paola Castro
- Ms. Gabrielle Nickens-Garner
- Mr. Cory Turner
“It’s hard to be the first, and we did not set out to be the first of anything,” Hattery said before handing out certificates of achievement to the Coaches. “But as it turns out, this apprenticeship program for career advisors and counselors is one the first of its kind in the country, which is something I hope you can all be proud of and you should be.”
WSM registered Standards of Apprenticeship with the USDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship and the Maryland Training and Apprenticeship Council. When MoCo CAP Career Coaches complete the program, they receive a certification from Montgomery College and a Certificate of Journey-level status from the USDOL, a recognized, portable national credential.
About NAW
National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) is an annual event established in 2015 by the USDOL to highlight the effectiveness of the apprenticeship training model across a wide spectrum of industries, which helps employers foster a skilled workforce. The initiative recognizes the contributions of apprentices, employers, and educators in building strong career pathways. For more information about NAW, visit https://www.apprenticeship.gov/national-apprenticeship-week.
About MoCo CAP
MoCo CAP, short for Montgomery County Career Advising Program, is a collaborative effort headed by WorkSource Montgomery, along with partners Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, and the Universities at Shady Grove. The goal is to address one of the requirements related to the College and Career Readiness pillar laid out by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a $3.8 billion overhaul of the state’s public education system. For more information about MoCo CAP, visit mococap.com.
About WorkSource Montgomery (WSM)
WSM is the fiduciary agent for Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding in Montgomery County. The organization operates the American Job Centers in Wheaton and Germantown and provides employment services to Montgomery County residents who are unemployed or underemployed. WSM engages employers in various industries throughout the county to ensure that their workforce needs are being met. For more information about WorkSource Montgomery, visit worksourcemontgomery.com.
