Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2017-2018 | Page 99

engineering,
construction & design
M
echanical, electrical,
and plumbing career
opportunities are
boundless as 31 million baby boomers
in those roles will retire by 2020. We’re
not only losing skilled workers who
make up 25 percent of this country’s
workforce, but also face a skills gap
– there simply aren’t enough young
people trained to fill those openings.
MEP Career Pathways Academies,
a non-profit formed by six trade
organizations, is creating a conduit
between high schools and trade
careers. Launching this fall at
Sacramento’s Rosemont High School,
the Engineering, Construction and
Design (ECD) Academy will train future
workers for the myriad careers that are
critical to a functioning society, and
that provide professionals with fruitful
middle class incomes and lifestyles
complete with medical benefits and
pensions.
The ECD Academy offers career
paths to kids who otherwise might
not be exposed to these disciplines.
We’re conditioned to think that the only
pathway to success is a college degree,
but the majority of students who go to
college don’t graduate, while accruing
enormous debt.
Modeled after a program at
Stockton’s Lincoln High School,
the ECD Academy offers classes
in engineering, computer design,
construction technology, metal
technology and more, in addition to
mainstream state-required classes.
After high school, ECD students may
easily access union apprenticeships
that provide nighttime schooling and
daytime work with apprenticeship
wages far exceeding minimum wage,
medical benefits and, after six months,
a pension plan.
Classrooms will be outfitted with
computer labs, shops and expensive
NECASAC.ORG
Ecd academy
CAREER CONDUIT
TO REAL LIFE
equipment vital to hands-on learning.
MEP Career Pathways Academies is
looking to the community to help raise
$350,000-$500,000 toward those tenant
improvements. “There’s a lot of talk
now in schools about career pathways,
but we’re putting meat on that bone,
starting at one school and hoping
to expand to others. We’re preparing
young people for real life, real careers,
and tremendous opportunities,”
concluded Sacramento Mayor Darrell
Steinberg.
ENGiNEERIN G, CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN AT ROSEMONT HIGH SCHOOL
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