Members of the CSDI class with Joe Jackson, President of the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance
In the June 2009 issue of the Atlanta Business Journal, I was fortunate to contribute the following article regarding the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance’s youth outreach program the Construction Skills Development Institute (CSDI). This is an outstanding model for skills development, internship and enrichment to allow Atlanta youths to gain lifelong skills and jobs within the construction industry. The program is designed for success, well monitored and managed by the Greater Economic Alliance and their talented President Joe Jackson. More over CSDI is a model that can be replicated in many cities around the country that have a similar need to provide real skills to real people for real jobs.
The following is a reprint of my article in the Atlanta Business Journal, June 2009 Story:
Atlanta Business Journal June 2009
The Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance’s Construction Skills Development Institute Creates a Pipeline of Talent for the Construction Industry
Around the country, state and municipal governments are promoting “shovel ready” projects that will yield immediate stimulus package dollars and begin to change the landscape of tough economic times. With a long term view on impacting the community, the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance (Alliance) is laying strong foundations in the lives of young people with their innovative mentoring and development program called the Construction Skills Development Institute (CSDI).
Growing from 10 participants in 2000 the first year of CSDI, the program now impacts the lives of 25-30 students annually. CSDI recruits, trains and retrains underemployed, unskilled and displaced workers throughout Atlanta. The CSDI provides individuals with the necessary elements to become skilled craftsmen and construction workers. As a training component of the Alliance, the program continues its efforts to increase the city’s construction labor pool while waging a campaign to increase awareness of this critical shortage.
Joe Jackson, President of the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance with CSDI participants.
“Demographics show us that over the next four years we will need to fill over a million jobs in the construction industry,” said Joe Jackson, President and CEO of the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance. “Construction is not a glamorous career. We noticed young people starting to shy away and we are changing that through our program while increasing the pool of skilled workers.”
CSDI employs a selective process for participants by engaging students and parents to encourage success. High school students ages 16-18 interested in construction, many of whom participate in the school system’s construction based curriculum programs, must be recommended by their instructors, test and interview for placement in the program. Qualified students attend a construction training course at Atlanta Technical College before starting their construction internships.
“We bring the interns in and provide training and orientation to sharpen their skills. Our courses include equipment and safety, math and science,” adds Jackson. “We want students to learn how to measure twice and cut once as they apply their education to their intern experience.”
After successfully completing the training course, interns are placed with companies specializing in the student’s field of interest (i.e. architecture, drafting, CAD, etc.) The Alliance and participating businesses monitor the intern’s progress and students are encouraged to provide feedback. All parties keep an open line of communication to promote a positive working environment and experience for both interns and participating firms.
Corporations and local businesses are important stakeholders in the project and contribute time, funds and resources to CSDI. Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, participates as a sponsor and active partner with the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance giving much more than funding.
GAEA Recognition Received
“Wachovia didn’t want to just cut a check. They wanted to have a meaningful partnership. They assessed our program to determine how they could work with the Alliance and best benefit CSDI and our community,” added Jackson.
Wachovia’s Corporate Supplier Diversity group sponsored five students to participate in the CSDI program in 2008. The sponsored students participated in a breakfast meeting with Sonya Dukes, Director of Corporate Supplier Diversity and Todd Gray, Assistant Business Manager, Corporate Supplier Diversity. Students shared their experiences during CSDI and the lessons learned. The students were also guests of Wachovia at the Global Diversity Summit in Atlanta. During the summit students had an opportunity to meet Bob Bertges, Wachovia Head of Corporate Real Estate.
Joe Jackson with the GAEA partnered with Wachovia (a Wells Fargo Company). Sonya Dukes, SVP of Corporate Supplier Diversity and Todd Gray, Assistant Business Manager led the Wachovia participation.
“The breakfast with the participants was a confirmation that the students were impacted and CSDI is effective,” said Todd Gray. Gray played a key role in overseeing Wachovia’s participation with CSDI and the Alliance. “We value the development of our youth as they are the future leaders of the communities we serve.”
To read a virtual copy of the entire magazine, please click the following link to the Atlanta Business Journal’s Virtual Paper Archives: June 2009 Online Issue
Tags: article, Atlanta Business Journal, community development, Construction Skills Development Institute, Edward Cates, Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance, internships, Joe Jackson, June 2009, Nuance Marketing, President Obama, Sonya Dukes, stimulus plan, supplier diversity, Todd Gray, youth development
