Support OTI
Business Membership Spotlight: Walsh Construction Co.
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. welcomes the support of the business community to help us fulfill our mission to engage more women in the trades.
Walsh Construction Co. is one of our partners in this program and we thank them for their contribution to OTI.
“It started in 1961 when two young brothers, Tom and Bob Walsh, who had an idea for a business, created Walsh Construction. They were college students with limited funds, so the shoe box served as their filing cabinet and the Chevy van as their transportation.
Over the years, they made smart decisions, seized opportunities, developed innovative approaches, and asked people who shared their passion for building the Northwest to come along with them as they grew into something extraordinary.
Those characteristics endure to this day. At WALSH, we’re always focused on building Smart, building Green and building Community. Just as importantly, we’re focused on the people who join us for the ride.”
OTI thanks the staff of Walsh Construction Co. 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.
2015 Willamette Week Give!Guide
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. is honored to be part of the 2015 Willamette Give!Guide! The end of year campaign runs November 4th through midnight December 31st.
We are thrilled to have THREE business partners who are matching donations up to $7,500! Thanks so much to Atomic Direct, Enhabit (formerly Clean Energy Works) and Madden Industrial for making this generous pledge of support to help us double the impact of your donation to OTI.
Our business partners have also generously donated cool gifts as special thank you incentives for donors on select days: Cup Cozies, towels, a home energy audit, and court side seats to a Blazer game! These are all in addition to the coupons you receive with a minimum donation as well as the amazing incentives you’re eligible to win when you give a gift on the six Big Give Days! Visit the donate page for a more information about the campaign.
How can you participate?
- Donate! You can donate as little as $10 and it helps out OTI. We have three business partners matching up to $7,500 this year! Here is the link: https://giveguide.org/#oregontradeswomeninc
- Share on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn: Make a post on your social media and encourage your circle of friends to donate. You can also share OTI’s posts on Facebook, retweet on Twitter, and we have an Instagram account (@oregontradeswomen).
- Send an email to friends and family! Example: “I am a big fan and supporter of Oregon Tradeswomen. The non-profit does a lot of great work for tradeswomen and it is one of the organizations in this year’s Willamette Week Give Guide. The Willamette Week Give Guide picks non-profits to spotlight in a special publication in order to build awareness and financial support during the end of the year. OTI has three business partners matching up to $7,500 this year so every donation – whether it is $10 or $100 – is matched until OTI reaches $7,500. That means, $7,500 donated by folks like us becomes $15,000 because of the match. It is really easy, too. Just click on the link below and make your secure donation and tell all your friends, too! Thank you!!!”Here is the link to donate:
https://giveguide.org/#oregontradeswomeninc
If you are currently a supporter of Oregon Tradeswomen, thank you so much! If you are able, please help us meet and exceed the matching funds from our incredible business partners and empower OTI to educate, train, and place even more women into satisfying, living-wage careers in the construction trades.
Thank you!
National Women in Apprenticeship Day Social Media Campaign
It’s great that you are as excited as we are about National Women in Apprenticeship Day, Thursday November 5, 2015. Thank you for joining us to make the presence of women in apprenticeship known far and wide. We all know that apprenticeship itself is a very misunderstood concept and within that system, women are unseen. In order to bring this issue to the forefront, we have some tips for a Facebook post to contribute to the campaign and a national conversation. The tips below will give you a chance to let your friends and family know what you do, while connecting to other tradeswomen to create a larger impact!
Anatomy of the Facebook Campaign Post:
In order for you post to have the most effect, make sure that you specify for these posts to be ‘public’.
The Photo:
For this campaign, let’s show the world that women in apprenticeship work! Include a photo (or a video if you have it) of yourself on a job site or doing trades work. Here are some samples to inspire you!
The Text:
You should talk about your experience, your life, your apprenticeship. You want to let your networks know what you do and what that means to you! So, we aren’t crafting your post for you. However, here are some tidbits we are trying to highlight:
- Announce the first ever National Women in Apprenticeship Day, Thursday, November 5th, 2015
- Explain that apprenticeship means you get an education and paid on the job training!
- Talk about getting a life-long career, not just a job
- Share your story, about how apprenticeship changed your life
- Let folks know that women only comprise 3% of apprentices, nationally
The ‘Hashtag’ (or the connection to a larger campaign!):
Hashtags are an important and essential part of creating a Facebook campaign. When you tag organizations or include hashtags, the connected flurry of activity means that those posts get seen more frequently. Then more people share your post, and the impact grows! So, don’t forget to include some hashtags.
- Essential Hashtags:
- @OregonTradeswomenInc
- #WomenInApprenticeship
- Hashtags for Extra Lift:
- #Tradeswomen
- #NAW2015
- #20PercentBy2020
- Tagging to Bring Your Union/Employer into the Circle:
- Like your employer or local union and use – @EmployerFacebookAccountName
- Like your international union and use – @InternationalUnionFacebookAccountName
Take it to the next level!
Add the Twibbon look to your Facebook and/or Twitter Account:
Over the past couple of months, you may have seen people change their profile pictures to have an overlay image. Maybe it was for Planned Parenthood with a pink picture that said “#StandwithPP” or Domestic Violence Awareness with a purple tint and a ribbon. Well, we now have a Twibbon for Women in Apprenticeship! It is a white hardhat that will go over the top of your current profile picture on either Facebook or Twitter. To use this, go to Twibbon and search “Women in Apprenticeship”. Click on the link and allow it to access your Facebook or Twitter and the website will take care of the rest for you!
Bring the Conversation to Twitter:
For those of you who are active on Twitter already you can craft a short post ( I am #WomenInApprenticeship). Here are some rough ideas for people to tag that you could use on Twitter (in addition to those above!):
Your State Governor, State Labor Commissioner, or State Department of Labor
US Department of Labor, Valerie Jarrett (Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls), Labor Secretary Perez
Together, we can use National Women in Apprenticeship Day to really bring tradeswomen to the forefront!
How To: Facebook Campaign for Oregon Women in Apprenticeship Day
It’s great that you are as excited as we are about National Women in Apprenticeship Day, Thursday November 5, 2015. Thank you for joining us to make the presence of women in apprenticeship known far and wide. We all know that apprenticeship itself is a very misunderstood concept and within that system, women are unseen. In order to bring this issue to the forefront, we have some tips for a Facebook post to contribute to the campaign and a national conversation. The tips below will give you a chance to let your friends and family know what you do, while connecting to other tradeswomen to create a larger impact!
Anatomy of the Facebook Campaign Post:
In order for you post to have the most effect, make sure that you specify for these posts to be ‘public’.
The Photo:
For this campaign, let’s show the world that women in apprenticeship work! Include a photo (or a video if you have it) of yourself on a job site or doing trades work. Here are some samples to inspire you!
The Text:
You should talk about your experience, your life, your apprenticeship. You want to let your networks know what you do and what that means to you! So, we aren’t crafting your post for you. However, here are some tidbits we are trying to highlight:
- Announce National Women in Apprenticeship Day, 11/5/15
- Explain that apprenticeship means you get an education and paid on the job training!
- Talk about getting a life-long career, not just a job
- Share your story, about how apprenticeship changed your life
- Let folks know, that women only comprise 3% of the trades, nationally
- You can support women in apprenticeship with a donation to your local tradeswomen organization, like Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. Donors who give a minimum of $10, today, will be eligible to be chosen to win 4 lower-level tickets to a Trailblazers game PLUS a signed jersey from a starter! Learn more at www.tradeswomen.net/donate.
The ‘Hashtag’ (or the connection to a larger campaign!):
Hashtags are an important and essential part of creating a Facebook campaign. When you tag organizations or include hashtags, the connected flurry of activity means that those posts get seen more frequently. Then more people share your post, and the impact grows! So, don’t forget to include some hashtags.
- Essential Hashtags:
- @OregonTradeswomenInc (In order to do this, make sure you already like our Facebook Page.)
- @TradeswomenTaskforce
- #WomenInApprenticeship
- Hashtags for Extra Lift:
- #Tradeswomen
- #NAW2015
- #GiveGuide
- #20PercentIn2020
- Hashtags to Bring Your Union/Employer into the Circle:
- Like your employer or local union and use – @EmployerFacebookAccountName
- Like your international union and use – @InternationalUnionFacebookAccountName
Take it to the next level!
Add the Twibbon look to your Facebook and/or Twitter Account:
Over the past couple of months, you may have seen people change their profile pictures to have an overlay image. Maybe it was for Planned Parenthood with a pink picture that said “#StandwithPP” or Domestic Violence Awareness with a purple tint and a ribbon. Well, we now have a Twibbon for Women in Apprenticeship! It is a white hardhat that will go over the top of your current profile picture on either Facebook or Twitter. To use this, go to Twibbon and search “Women in Apprenticeship”. Click on the link and allow it to access your Facebook or Twitter and the website will take care of the rest for you!
Bring the Conversation to Twitter:
For those of you who are active on Twitter already you can craft a short post ( I am a woman in apprenticeship). Here are some rough ideas for extra hashtags that you could use on twitter (in addition to those above!):
Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, Oregon Apprenticeship and Training Division
USDOL, US Women’s Bureau, Labor Secretary Perez
Together, we can use National Women in Apprenticeship Day to really bring tradeswomen to the forefront!
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.
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
Call to Action: Tell Congress You Support Funding WANTO
The Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations (WANTO) Act is a small pool of money that organizations like Oregon Tradeswomen rely on to run pre-apprenticeship classes for women. WANTO appropriations amounted to less than $2 million over the last two years, but the program’s impact on women’s economic security is colossal. With the support of this crucial funding source, WANTO grantees (including Oregon Tradeswomen) have helped thousands of women access meaningful careers in male-dominated industries with quality, family-supporting wages. Regions where WANTO-funded organizations work have more than twice the national average of women employed in construction trades. WANTO works!
Oregon Tradeswomen needs your help: The federal budget under currently under consideration by Congress provides zero dollars for WANTO. But with your help, we can change that and get WANTO back in the budget. We need your voice for our message to be heard in Congress.
The best way to support Oregon Tradeswomen’s efforts to keep WANTO alive is to contact your elected representatives and tell them how vital WANTO is to women in the trades. We’ve made it easy – you can write to your representative with the simple template linked below. (Make sure to read through and personalize your message.) Support tradeswomen, support OTI, and support our sister organizations around the nation. Tell Congress that programs that work should be expanded, not cut out of the budget. Fund WANTO, WANTO works!
Business Member Spotlight: Madden Industrial Craftsmen, Inc.
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.
Madden Industrial Craftsmen, Inc. is one of our partners in this program and we thank them for their contribution to OTI. For 25 years, Madden Industrial Craftsmen has served as the premier staffing provider for industrial businesses in the Pacific Northwest, and has provided quality employment opportunities to our pool of skilled workers. Recently, owner Ken Madden posted this article on LinkedIn about the hiring challenges and solutions for the manufacturing sector.
OTI thanks the staff of Madden Industrial Craftsmen, Inc. 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.
Congratulations June 11 TACC Graduates!
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. is so proud of our most recent group of graduates from our Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class!
Name of Graduate and Trade Goal:
Kristin “Kris” Albers – Utility Worker
Carina Beneventi – Sign Maker/Erector
Jennifer “Jenn” Boyd – Utility Worker
Shirley A. “Alexsis” – Cummings Carpenter
Kerri Danay – Sheet Metal Worker
LaNel Fritz – Sheet Metal Worker
Emma Gray – Sheet Metal Worker
Katherine “Katy” Hardy-Ward – Sheet Metal Worker
Jennifer Kinder – Electrician
Vanessa Konopasek – Ironworker
Sabrina Langfitt – Sheet Metal Worker
Olivia McKavery – Cement Mason
Michelle Minor – Sheet Metal Worker
Hael G. Morales Torres – Carpenter
Kristine T. Nguyen – Plumber
Rosalia Ramirez – Carpenter
Jaclyn “Jac” Rickard – Welder
Eliani Rodriguez – Carpenter
Jessica Ross – Ironworker
Aubrion Sterrett – Sheet Metal Worker
Makenzie Talbot – Electrician
Shondra S. Washington – Tree Trimmer/Power Line Clearance
Erin West – Plumber
Aisha Winters – Sheet Metal Worker
Funding for our program is provided by:
Bank of America, The Boeing Company, Construction Apprenticeship & Workforce Solutions, Inc. (CAWS), the Environmental Protection Agency, H.W. Irwin and D.C.H. Irwin Foundation, Hoover Family Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Community Fund at the Northwest Health Foundation, Multnomah Bar Foundation Multnomah County, Oregon Department of Transportation, Pacific Power Foundation, Penney Family Fund, a member of The Common Counsel Foundation, the Portland Development Commission’s Economic Opportunity Program, Stimson-Miller Foundation, The TJX Foundation, U.S. Bank, The Portland Water Bureau and Hoffman Construction through the Community Benefit Agreement, Wells Fargo, Women’s Bureau–U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Foundation of Oregon, Worksystems, Inc., industry donations, and individual tradeswomen and supporters.
Thank you for your investments in OTI and our work!
OTI Selected for Legacy Award
We are thrilled to share that OTI is one of the recipients of a Legacy Award of $25,000 from the Women’s Foundation of Oregon!
The Women’s Foundation of Oregon has a vision for Oregon where every woman and girl can thrive. This vision resonates significantly with the work and mission of OTI, which is dedicated to promoting the success for women in the trades through education, leadership, and mentorship.
The $25,000 award will greatly expand the reach of our information and messages, revealing the information about high-wage trades careers that is generally hidden or inaccessible to women, as well as enable us to better retrieve data that will show the impact of our work. This includes improving our digital communications to reach more women; produce videos sharing the opportunities to become involved with OTI; connect with girls and women of color and in rural communities to engage them in our programs; hire a part-time outreach coordinator; and improve our infrastructure to better improve our services for girls and women
Terri, Connie & Dennise at the Women’s Foundation of Oregon celebration event
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. thanks the membership of the Women’s Foundation of Oregon for this generous gift to help us do more in empowering women and girls in the trades!