CONGRATULATIONS, JEN!
OTI is so proud of Jen Netherwood who was announced as the “2015 Irwin Trade Professional” by Irwin Tools for her dedication and inspiring work in the trades!
Jen has been working as a carpenter in the construction industry for more than 11 years. She worked for Neil Kelley as a high end residential re-modeler for many years before deciding that she wanted to become more involved in shaping the community.
Soon after leaving her carpentry career at Neil Kelly, Jen was hired as an instructor for a pre-apprenticeship program in a women’s correctional facility. The program was designed to provide women the training and skills needed to pursue a living wage career once they are released.The program lost funding, but Jen was committed to continuing the work to help these women flourish. She approached the Bureau of Labor and Industries and collaborated with a local community college to work on developing the pre-apprenticeship program for the prison that wasn’t reliant on corporate support. She did this on her own time, unpaid, and from a selfless place where her primary interest was only to continue to provide hope for the women she had worked with in prison.
She continues to volunteer at the correctional facility doing information presentations for groups of women and talking to inmates individually. Jen also works with OTI as an instructor for our Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class, imparting her knowledge and skills to OTI’s pre-apprenticeship students. Clearly, Jen is a teacher and mentor at heart.
Congratulations, again, Jen!
Business Member Spotlight: NW College of Construction
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. welcomes the support of the business community to help us fulfill our mission to engage more women and girls in the trades.
NW College of Construction is one of our partners in this program and we thank them for their contribution to OTI.
The school is a privately funded, non-profit educational facility with a mission to promote life-long learning by delivering craft, technical, supervisory and management education to workers and managers at all levels in the construction industry.
OTI thanks the staff of NW College of Construction for their support of our programming as a business membership program participant!
If you want to learn more about our business membership program, please send an email to dennise@tradeswomen.net for details on how you can be involved.
Pacific Northwest Combined Federal Campaign
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. is pleased to announce that we are one of the participating non-profits in the Pacific Northwest Combined Federal Campaign.
The Pacific Northwest Combined Federal Campaign is administered by a committee of federal employee volunteers called the Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC). The Oregon Federal Executive Board provides support to and participates in this committee. The mission of the CFC is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.
The CFC is the only official workplace charitable fundraising program allowed in federal government offices. During a six-week time frame between Sept. 1st – Dec. 15th of each year, the local CFC is promoted and federal employees are given the opportunity to designate a payroll deduction, cash or check donation to any of thousands of charities locally and nationally.
Learn more by visiting the local CFC website to find out how you can support Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.!
FOR THE HEALTH & SAFETY OF TRADESWOMEN
A Collaboration Between Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. and Therapeutic Associates East Portland Physical Therapy
Damage to the back, neck, and shoulders account for over 25% of all construction related injuries, significantly more than any other injuries experienced in the trades (Center for Protection of Workers’ Rights, 2010). Here at OTI, we strive to train women to successfully enter the construction trades with the hopes that they will have long, rewarding careers. In addition to providing classroom and hands-on training, we require students to participate in a fitness component that helps women strengthen their core muscles to prepare them for the physical demands that work in the trades requires. While fitness training is great, we also know that it is not enough to help women keep their number one tool, their bodies, safe from neck, shoulder, and back injuries that can be debilitating.
Enter Therapeutic Associates East Portland Physical Therapy! Early in 2015 the East Portland branch of Therapeutic Associates reached out to OTI with the offer of collaborating to help keep our tradeswomen safe and healthy. Clinic director Peter Dills, PT, DPT, staff therapist Sarah Stuhr, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, and physical therapy aide Elizabeth Bilotta met with OTI staff and developed a workshop for our Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC) students that would help them become educated about workplace risk factors and injury prevention.
Peter, Sarah, and Elizabeth put on a four hour workshop on August 22, which included classroom education about risk, prevention, and what steps to take when a tradeswoman realizes she has been injured. In addition, they provided individualized training to 14 women, observing them lift and carry common objects found on construction sites, such as lumber, sheets of plywood, and table saws. The Therapeutic Associates East Portland Physical Therapy team observed TACC students’ lifting and carrying techniques, provided instruction on the mechanics of lifting/carrying and assisted them in beginning to develop safe habits to utilize on the job site. The workshop finished up with the practice of a daily stretching & foam roller recovery routines as well as instruction on techniques for self-managing minor injuries.
The class was a tremendous success. TACC students and recent graduates that attended reported that they were grateful to be receiving this training before they began to develop unsafe habits in the field. Peter, Sarah, and Elizabeth stated that they were impressed with how engaged our future tradeswomen were with both the classroom and hands-on training.
This important partnership is one that we are looking forward to continuing to build upon and fine tune for future classes and, potentially, for tradeswomen that have been in the field for a while but may not have had instruction in developing safe lifting/carrying habits. We are looking forward to another workshop for our October – December TACC students.
We are so excited to continue this work with the amazing staff at Therapeutic Associates East Portland Physical Therapy. Keeping our tradeswomen safe and healthy so they can have longevity in the field is of the utmost importance to us. So, from all of us here at OTI, a huge thank you to Peter, Sarah, and a special shout out to Elizabeth for initiating the conversation about a partnership between our organizations. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship!
Congratulations September 2015 TACC Graduates!
On September 3rd, I attended our Trade and Apprenticeship Career Class graduation celebration and once again, was blown away on so many levels. Seeing how the classmates connected with one another after a rather intense seven weeks translated into well wishes and gentle ribbing. It brought a few smiles to many faces to witness these exchanges. Listening to two of the graduates tell their stories about how their lives have changed in such positive ways during those rather intense seven weeks brought tears to my eyes. Witnessing their genuine love and appreciation for the Pathways to Success staff with words of gratitude warmed my heart another ten degrees.
This happens at each celebration. Four times a year, women enter our pre-apprenticeship program with dedication and intention to change the course of their lives. They leave ready to start a career as an electrician, a carpenter, a laborer or in another trade.
During last week’s celebration, the group gave a card to the program staff and in it were words of thanks and well wishes for all the staff. It also included a donation that the women pooled together to give back to OTI.
THANK YOU!
Well wishes and much success to Gabiela, Hannah, Darla, Jessica, Crystal, Sabryna, Monalisa, Ashley, Gecel, Tricia, Lynn, Amanda, Ash, Desiree, Terrica, Jamie, Letty, Alex, Cinsera, and Madyson!!!!
Dennise M. Kowalczyk, Development Director
U.S. Bank Foundation Grant Award
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) is honored to have been selected as a recent grantee of the U.S. Bank Foundation in support of our Pathways to Success program.
This $1,500 grant will help fund Pathways to Success, OTI’s job training and employment program which fosters the economic self-sufficiency of low-income women by providing job training, support services, job placement and retention services for women entering high-wage trades careers. These grant funds will pay help for student support services (such as hard hats, rain gear, boots, and tools), student transportation (for field trips to apprenticeship training centers and construction job sites), and staff time of our employment services team.
U.S. Bank contributes to the strength and health of its communities through the U.S. Bank Foundation and Corporate Giving. Through the U.S. Bank Foundation, the Foundation provides cash contributions to nonprofit organizations in grant priority areas of education, economic opportunity, and artistic and cultural enrichment. In 2014, the U.S. Bank Foundation provided more than $23.5 million in grant funding.
Thank you again to the U.S. Bank Foundation for their ongoing support of our work to train and educate women about living-wage trades careers. Learn more about the U.S. Bank’s charitable giving by visiting their website at:
www.usbank.com/community/charitable-giving.
Women in Metals & Manufacturing: FREE Career Training for Women
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) is launching our Women in Metals & Manufacturing program for women interested in pursuing careers in the manufacturing industry.
Entry level wages range $10-$16 an hour, depending on education and experience.
OTI’s training is offered at no cost to interested participants!
“Try It Day”
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
8:00 am – Noon
Mt. Hood Community College
26000 SE Stark Street
Gresham, OR 97030
Intensive Training
September 29 – October 2 and October 6 – 7
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Mt. Hood Community College
26000 SE Stark Street
Gresham, OR 97030
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Special thanks to Bank of America and Mt. Hood Community College for their support of OTI’s Women in Metals & Manufacturing program!
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Donor Spotlight: Victoria K. by Dennise M. Kowalczyk
I reached out to Victoria when she renewed her sustaining membership because I saw this comment on her donation:
“My daughter, Vanessa, is a recent graduate of the Pathways program. She was given a great opportunity to learn a trade and is looking forward to an apprenticeship in iron working. OTI provides a career opportunity to women that might not otherwise be possible. I saw her develop improved self-confidence and teamwork with her cohorts.”
The above photo was taken at Vanessa’s graduation celebration that I also had the opportunity to attend. It was my first experience in participating in Oregon Tradeswomen’s celebration of our training program participant’s success in graduating from our Trade and Apprenticeship Career Class. The event included stories, laughter, tears, and promises of established friendships.
Victoria began investing in OTI when her daughter, Vanessa, began investing in her own, new career path as a TAC Class student. When the session was over, Victoria renewed her support so OTI can prepare even more women in their pursuit of a living wage career as a tradeswoman and Vanessa gave back by donating a computer so OTI can help find those women work.
Join Victoria, Vanessa and all the supporters of Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. by making a donation today to ensure a bright future for women in the Portland area. It takes all of us to support these women as they embark on this new journey of independence. With your gift, you are helping women earn a living that will allow them to build a life for themselves and their loved ones. Women who not only live here, but fulfill their dreams like Vanessa did in finding a career that she loves and in which she thrives.
Thank you!
Dennise M. Kowalczyk – Development Director
Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order
During the past several decades, labor advocates have worked hard to enact policies and laws protecting workers – especially with contractors receiving federal money. Each of these victories was an excellent reason to celebrate, however, we now know that despite the passage of these laws, they have not been enforced for these federal contractors. In order to rectify this situation, President Obama recently signed the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order.
We need to take action to ensure that this Order is upheld! We need comments submitted to the Department of Labor by August 26. Because this process is complicated, OTI is collecting comments which we will submit as a group. Please send your comments to us before 9:00 am on Tuesday, August 25!
The executive order is backed by unions and will ultimately protect all workers by setting compliance standards and practices for laws that already exist. Currently, the federal government is awarding contracts to contractors who are known to have violated labor laws – and this practice needs to end. Violating contractors have received over $81 billion in contracts, despite violating labor laws more than 1,800 times.
“Today, President Obama took a stand for American workers by signing an executive order that will promote fairer and safer workplaces for employees of government contractors. While many federal contractors already play by the rules and try to treat their workers fairly, thousands of hard-working Americans end up being denied the pay they deserve, or being exposed to health and safety risks, because some contractors insist on cutting corners in the name of profits.” – Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworker Union
We are encouraging tradeswomen to submit their comments, to make their voices heard in support of government actions that improve the lives of working people, deliver superior construction projects to the public, and ensure that contractors have a fair playing field.
While the executive order extensively covers many aspects of labor law, we are highlighting just a few:
- Paycheck transparency – specifically showing hourly rates used to calculate payments so that workers can more easily identify when wage theft is happening
- Strengthens protections against discrimination by not allowing contractors to force mediation as the primary solution to discrimination complaints
- Requiring contractors to reveal labor law violations when bidding for contracts
- Strengthening collective bargaining
Your comments will be most effective when you highlight your own personal experience in the industry. The National Women’s Law Center and the AFL-CIO Building Trades are encouraging comments specifically demonstrating the importance of the paycheck transparency and any evidence folks have about how law abiding contractors perform better on projects.
9th Annual Tradeswomen Leadership Institute
Where is the best place in Oregon to get together with other tradeswomen? Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.’s annual Tradeswomen Leadership Institute (TLI) of course!! This year the event will be Friday September 25 and Saturday September 26. Some of you already know all about this, so if you are eager to register, you can do so now!
We start out on Friday night with a celebration for tradeswomen, which includes a social hour and a special event: Tradeswomen Stories! Five tradeswomen will be on stage telling their true stories live. If you register for TLI you automatically get one ticket free but you are encouraged to bring friends and family! Additional tickets are for sale for $15.
The Tradeswomen Leadership Institute facilitates the leadership development, advocacy skills, and unity among all women (union, open shop, self-employed and otherwise) working in the building, construction, mechanical and utility trades. 2015 will mark the 9th annual Tradeswomen Leadership Institute, planned by Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI), the University of Oregon’s Labor Education Research Center (LERC), and a dedicated committee of tradeswomen volunteers. This year committee members were: Barbara Byrd, Irais Gandarilla, Anjeanette Brown, Leigh Jenkins, Maddie Ettlin, Sarah Heidler, Lori Baumann, Bea Jenkins, Kadence Jimenez, Jodi Tillinghast, and Becki Yanosko. We are so grateful for all of the time they put into planning and volunteering for this event!
This year we will have 8 workshops (instead of the normal 9). We did this to focus on an extended workshop about mentorship – both how to be a mentor and how to find a mentor. It is going to be a great topic! We also have workshops on running for office, social justice, and a return from Innovative Changes to teach Financial planning.
We encourage tradeswomen to ask their employers or unions to send them to this great event. The cost is $55 with a $10 discount for all OTI members. We are more than happy to invoice your company or union, just make sure you ask them first! If you need more support with that process, Tiffany would be happy to help.
We also want to be supportive of those who are not being sponsored and maybe be new to work or perhaps currently underemployed. We do offer scholarships, just tell us you are interested in your registration, and we will be in touch! For those with kids, we have you covered too! We are offering $40 per child scholarships to help with childcare costs. This is a first come, first served scholarship with limited spots so register early!
We look forward to seeing you there!