WOMEN OF THE ALAMEDA COUNTY PS / CBA : JUANITA DOUGLAS
apprenticeship system if indentured .” She adds that because the program prepares students for the real world of construction trades by sharing practical skills and information , they frequently get accepted into a union or hired by a prime contractor right after graduation .
As Juanita reports , “ We have a 90 % program graduation rate , a 90 % union placement rate , a 70-80 % job placement rate and a 55-60 % job retention rate .” Most alumni stay in touch with her and other staff members through email , text and social media , and even graduates who eventually decide not to go into or remain in a construction trade are more likely to successfully overcome life challenges , acquire important work skills and secure gainful employment . “ Some find their way into other fields – one went into real estate and later sold me a house . Another was a homeless mother sleeping in her car when she enrolled – we found her housing and she ’ s working now .”
For those interested in or just starting out in a construction trade , and especially womenidentified , non-binary and other individuals who may be perceived as “ different ,” Juanita recommends balancing speaking up about any genuinely inappropriate behavior with not taking anything personally , because it ’ s rarely ever personal . “ While it is important to speak up and protect yourself if you are being harassed on the job , it is not realistic , for example , to expect everyone to use the pronouns that you prefer – so you have to learn to pick your battles and cut people some slack .”
Juanita is proud that 50 % of Opportunity Build graduates are female . A new Women Building the Bay cohort starts on February 26 , 2024 and over 25 women have already signed up ; applications are accepted up through the first two weeks of class and Juanita wants to recruit another 15 to 20 women . “ This cohort of Women Building Bay will be gaining an indepth understanding of heat pumps , as these are the preferred energy-efficient replacements for older systems , and we ’ ve recently added hands-on instruction in welding , as well as for Multi-Craft Core Curriculum ( MC3 ) nationwide certification . Another recent development is that the San Leandro electrical contractors ’ union will automatically interview our graduates without making them take the entry test for union membership .”
Visit the Rising Sun website for more information about all Opportunity Build courses and to apply for an upcoming cohort .
View a flyer about the Women Building the Bay cohort .
FIRST QUARTER 2024 CTAP CONTRACTOR REPORT - 13