Works Initiative News | Worker Wellness & Career Opportunities

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 29

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 29, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how next month’s college grads have experienced turmoil from pandemic to protests—to how a world-renowned consulting firm is being held accountable for its part in the US opioids crisis—to how employment-related non-compete clauses are being challenged since they tend to limit a worker’s freedom of movement in the marketplace. This week I would like to focus on the recently released report from the AFL-CIO: Death on the Job. This is the 33^rd edition of a report that is published for the benefit of ALL workers: union and non-union…white- and blue-collar. Since the passing of the OSH Act one-half century ago, nearly 700,000 workers lives have been saved. This means of transparency serves as a tool to inform the “public” regarding workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Let’s face it, since 1970, business-friendly administrations in DC have found ways to limit the effectiveness of OSHA—from flat-funding and understaffing to lobbying for weaker rules (and penalties) that place workers at various levels of risk. We cannot ignore the facts, in 2022: over 100,000 workers died from occupational diseases; >40 died from heat-related issues; and workplace homicides and suicides, overdoses, and violence-injuries all increased from 2021. To be sure, we must pay closer attention in ensuring the safety of Black and Latino workers as well as our Older and Younger workers on the job. How is this possible with only 1 OSHA inspector for every ~80,000 workers? It is incumbent upon each of us to get educated. Reading the report linked below is a great place to start. The need to properly staff OSHA requires your input at the local, state, and national levels. However, this is just the beginning. Among a host of other issues, a robust system also requires adequate reporting in order to properly address hazards in a timely manner. In closing, workers should not fear retaliation for reporting unsafe workplace conditions. Simply put…Is it too much to ask that workers come home each day unharmed?

Source: https://aflcio.org/reports/dotj-2024?link_id=2&can_id=71c1079675e0cff5353ba02e01be98ef&source=email-dotj-version-b&email_referrer=email_2294320&email_subject=death-on-the-job

Construction Workers & Fall Safety

Death on the Job Report

Mind the Workplace Report

2024 National Strategy: Suicide Prevention

Class of 2024: From Anxiety to Anger

College Students & Self-Care

Why are women leaving employers?

Mental Stim / Work / Dementia

Stress & Lowering Cortisol

Weed & Withdrawal

McKinsey / Opioids / Crime

Where have the Opioids settlement funds gone?

Drugs / Tripping / Workplace

Testing / THC / Impairment

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 22

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 22, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how the US continues to work with China to stem the tide of Fentanyl-related deaths—to the impact of poor sleep habits on your fellow workers—to how a topic I recently covered cannot find a way to stay out of our national news: Guns (i.e., safety training, violence, and suicides). This week I would like to focus on the UAW’s big win down South…in spite of the ANTI-UNION rhetoric from a chorus of nearby “Henny-Penny” governors. So, why would a so-called leader NOT want his/her constituents to make more money and, thus, have better lives? Maybe you should ask them this question before sending a child off to college in one of their states? From another angle, do the governors from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas discriminate when it comes to you spending your hard-earned (out-of-state) dollars while vacationing there? So, what’s in common between these 6 states? They are all Right-to-Work (for less) states. In 1947, Taft-Hartley provided a pathway for the Deep South to continue their mistreatment of workers. Today, this same outdated law prevents many unions—that recently won elections—from negotiating and settling a first contract. The PRO Act is designed to update a number of built-in faults. The candidate you support in 2024 will make a difference in improving ALL workers’ lives. In closing, consider these words from WWII:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

—Martin Niemöller

Sources: https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/vw-factory-tennessee-union-results-uaw-00cbeffb?st=ubb5gxbi78hido3&reflink=article_gmail_share

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uaw-vw-chattanooga-tennessee/

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/american-labor-movement-unions-support/678099/

Heat Stress & Cranes

Navy / Suicides / Verbal Hugs

Chronic Illness & Grief

China’s direct connection to US Fentanyl ODs

Portland / Homeless / Tranq Dope

Guns & School Safety

Gun violence & Training

Guns are linked to >50% of US Suicides

MN schools / MH / Overwhelmed system

>66% of telehealth claims = MH

Sleep & Depression

Sleep & Employees

MH & Medicaid?

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 15

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 15, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how AI is being designed to assist in the field of mental health therapy—to why people in their 40s need to begin now to help prevent dementia in their 60s—to how a “non-traditional” recruit has leveraged her eclectic background in order to secure her “rightful” place in the STL construction industry. This week I would like to focus on the new CDC report indicating that the Suicide Rate for 2022 was the highest since 1941…a 3% increase from the year prior. Please note that well over 50% of these deaths were related to firearms and nearly 14% linked to drug poisonings. In a previous blog I wrote about the importance of controlling the access to lethal means. Whether it is a gun lock or a lockbox for prescription drugs, it would do us well as a society to become more informed on this vital life & death matter (See: https://www.saferhomescollaborative.org/).

In addition, rates of suicide for specific populations have increased (i.e., College Athletes: in past 20 years, from 7.6% to 15.3%). Of related interest, health care professionals are reporting rates of burnout and depression nearing 50%. While suicide is the leading cause of death for male physician residents, it remains more common among female physicians vs female non-physicians.

It is important to remember that a death by suicide should NEVER be based on one factor. Demographics, culture, and trauma are just a few important risk factors…not to mention the lingering effects of COVID (i.e., social isolation/loneliness, underserved populations, etc.) as well as a workforce shortage.

The good news is that more and more organizations, across various industrial sectors, are realizing the importance of trying approaches that veer from traditional pathways. Whether it is researchers designing an app that utilizes artificial intelligence to overcome barriers in order to assist those in need of treatment/guidance or a Police Department working with a local behavioral health agency in an effort to reduce fatal law enforcement encounters, the message is clear:

Less TALK, more ACTION.

Sources: https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/zpgz6gxWBXDzun8djJm5lS5auOjqjxsa/

https://muextbusinessand1.podbean.com/e/journeyintobuildingtrade/

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/a-year-of-record-high-suicide-rates?ekey=RUtJRDo0ODgyNTJFMC0yNkNBLTQzMEUtQkQxQS1DNTNEODcxREU3NDQ%3D&utm_campaign=emailname&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=302215186&utm_source=hs

https://www.stlpr.org/law-order/2024-04-12/st-louis-team-of-purple-shirts-diverts-police-intervention

MH benefits of the solar eclipse

National Suicide Rate Increases

Student-athlete Suicide Rates Double

Clinicians & Suicide

911: Overstressed & Underpaid

Teens / Parents / College & Anxiety

AI & MH

Purple Shirts: STL Police MH Intervention

Future of Psychedelic Therapy?

Toxic: Bullying & Bystanders

Can Labor & Mgt reform HC?

A state’s secure MH facility

Do YOU need therapy?

Reducing Loneliness

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 8

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 8, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how a construction industry heavyweight made a 5-year commitment towards suicide prevention—to whether or not technology was/was not used to inflict brain injuries upon various US govt workers—to a topic I visited a couple of months ago regarding the improvements made concerning head protection in the construction industry. This week I would like to highlight the rise in alcohol consumption especially for those over 65. COVID is often blamed for this increase of substance misuse. The fact is that between 2020-21, according to the CDC, there were more deaths related to alcohol (~178k) than all drug overdoses combined! People over 65 were linked to 38% of that aforementioned total. There are many layers to this onion to unpeel but it is worth mentioning a few: in general, people are living longer; alcohol is viewed as a social “lubricant”; binge drinking is on the rise; and there more women in the workforce than decades ago. To be sure, we cannot ignore the data before us:

older bodies cannot process alcohol as quickly;
besides being affiliated with liver disease, alcohol is also linked to an increase in heart and cancer-related issues;
while alcohol misuse exacerbates cognitive decline, it can also impede sleep, reaction time, and balance…contributing to falls; and
alcohol interacts negatively with an array of prescription drugs…at times resulting in over-sedation.

The NYT article linked below advocates for the elimination of barriers for treatment noting that while the Mental Health Parity law of 2008 includes access to treatment for substance use disorders, Medicare does not apply. Having recently turned 65, I reflect on this topic with +45 years of experience. I am encouraged to see that this matter is being taken seriously as more and more conferences are holding mocktail events and/or “Friends of Bill” meetings as part of their agenda. So, here’s my ask: Let’s all do our part to NOT put vulnerable people into questionable venues for the sake of “conducting business” as usual.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/30/health/seniors-alcohol-consumption.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Bechtel donated $7m to AFSP for Construction Suicide Prevention efforts

Operating Engineers focus on Mental Health

Urgent Care & MH

Psychological Safety in the Workplace

Medicare/Medicaid & MH

TX Judge & MH

UK Teachers & Suicide Prevention

A Sense of Purpose?

Seniors & Alcohol Consumption

Siblings / Caring / Brain

Time & Balance

Time & Friendships

Supporting Someone w/ Anxiety Disorder

Floatation Therapy & Anxiety Disorders

ROI & Well-being Tools

MH & The Sandwich Generation

Dementia & Memories

Memory / Art / Trauma

Dogs / Breath / Trauma

On taking Multivitamins

On Turmeric’s benefits

Napping @ Work?

Dangerous Meditation?

Update: Table Saw Safety

Havana Syndrome & Brain Injuries (1)

Havana Syndrome & Brain Injuries (2)

Head Protection Improvements (1)

Head Protection Improvements (2)

Head Protection Improvements (3)

States Undercutting Fed Child Labor Laws

OSHA Inspection Final Walkaround Rule

Dartmouth / NCAA / Players Union

Amazon’s Anti-Union $pending

AI & Labor

On being indispensable

UK coming for US white-collar jobs

WCK & Gaza/Israel Disaster

How much is needed in one’s savings to retire?

Gen Z & Trades

Is college worth $100k/year?

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Work & Recovery

Pilot Funding for RFW

Safer Homes (CALM) Training

Resiliency during Financial Strain

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

April 9, 2024/by Dr. John Gaal

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 1

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of April 1, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how Metal Health stigma is now being referred to as “silent discrimination”—to how loneliness is affecting workers—to the need to comprehend the human and economic impacts of the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. This week I would like to highlight the unintended consequences of sports gambling. In spite of Pete Rose’s MLB betting scandal several years ago, a 2018 US Supreme Court decision paved the way for the ubiquitous online gambling at the college and professional levels that we see today. Whether it is a pitcher’s interpreter skimming funds or players shaving points to cover their own debts, since this blog focuses on worker wellness, I would be remiss not to mention that gambling can be addictive—not much different than alcohol or cocaine—because it triggers the part of our brain that releases dopamine…also known as the “pleasure” hormone! As I explained in a previous blog, contemporary science suggests that the young adult brain does not fully form until one is 25 years old. As such, I think the WSJ article linked below serves as the canary in the coal mine. Why? Allowing an addictive habit to enter our college campuses for the sake of making money to offset administrative expenses may—in the long run—end up being more detrimental to our society than the current student loan debacle. Case in point, please consider how “prop” bets have changed the nature of merely betting on a game. Not to mention, if fed and state legislators do not soon install much-needed guard rails (i.e., disallowing players to bet on their own sport, coaches & staff banned/jailed for leaking inside info, etc.), sports we currently trust to be “unscripted” will eventually sink to a level of believability to that of the WWE.

Sources: https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/hr-skills-news/understanding-silent-discrimination-construction-industry/133333/

https://www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/safety-and-ppe/why-loneliness-is-a-top-health-concern-for-workers/483004?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=newsletter

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/baltimore-bridge-collapse-growing-latino-labor-force-hispanics-rcna145201

https://www.wsj.com/sports/ohtani-sports-gambling-scandal-927fdd22?st=jhrubw434xvfe1k&reflink=article_gmail_share

Homeless & Mentally Ill

Canadians & MH

Construction / Stigma = Silent Discrimination

UK / Construction / MH

Are “clean needle” programs legal?

“Open Air” MH treatment?

Does Workplace Wellness work?

Workers & Loneliness

Loneliness / Personality / Time

Coping w/ Anxiety, Anger, Fear…

Improving Emotional Intelligence

Vagus Nerve & Emotional Health

Dementia: Diabetes / Pollution / Alcohol

Glucose Monitor

Chronic Illness & Grief

Speed Marriage Therapy?

Is cinnamon dangerous?

Backlash: Sports Gambling

Sports Gambling & Rose

Sports Gambling & Ohanti

Smartphones & Children

MO high school & RFW

Construction / Phoenix / Heat

NFL: New Kickoff Rule

On making sports SAFER for kids

Key Bridge Collapse

Baltimore bridge & Legal fight ahead

Latinos & Bridge

Port Workers & Bridge

UAW & VW (1)

UAW & VW (2)

Boeing’s Union wants a Seat

Contractors & Back Wages

New Census Categories (1)

New Census Categories (2)

Cesar Chavez & Workers Rights

Single Women & Retirement

Future of St. Louis Metro Police?

Chicago & Pre-Apprenticeships

STL Co Jail & Beauty Shop Training

Increasing K-12 absences

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

Loneliness (Free)

Denver Zoo & MH for vets, etc.

MHA MH Tool Kit

MN MH Tool Kit

Update: NSC Narcan Training

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.

April 1, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Worker Wellness News

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 25

Wellness & Well-being Highlights

for the

Week of March 25, 2024

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog highlights how some Spring Break locations are providing Narcan to guests in order to address the opioid crisis—to how loneliness and isolation continue to impact our societies long after COVID—to how immigration is actually helping the US economy (by filling low wage jobs) vs that of our Asian counterparts where birth rates have steadily dropped. This week I would like to highlight the deluge of reports regarding the topic of HAPPINESS. Whether its comparing cultures, genders, or age groups, in most cases, the Nordic countries appear to hold most of these cherished top slots. Issues to consider:

1) While the reasons for this may be as difficult to count as hairs on one’s head, I cannot help but reflect on my experience visiting a trade show booth at the World Skills Contest in Germany during the summer of 2013. As I approached the Finland’s booth, I noticed a booklet on how their secondary vocational educational system integrates Mental Health trainings into their coursework. This reassured me that the path the Carpenters in St. Louis recently undertook indeed had merit (We implemented an online Financial Literacy course as a launching point to address broader Mental Health issues in the construction industry);

2) The US dropped out of the top 20 ranking. Why? Mostly due to the dip in happiness reported among people under 30; and

3) While women report to be happier—in general—they, at the same time, report to be more distressed—day-to-day–vs men.

Upon further inspection, one may find that a “culture”—at home and work—may hold the secrets to the Nordic’s success. One where “win at ALL costs” (mostly driven by age-old paternal structures) has been replaced by caring and cooperation!

Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/us/world-happiness-report-finland-us.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/why-arewomen-both-sadder-and-happier-than-men-4ffe1ba4?st=5nqgoak2u5jlgf4&reflink=article_gmail_share

Spring Break & Narcan

Female Happiness Paradox

Youth & Happiness (1)

Youth & Happiness (2)

Culture & Happiness

Finland & Happiness (1)

Finland & Happiness (2)

Canada & Happiness

Income & Children’s Brains

Adult Children & Drug Misuse

Mislabeled HEMP Products

Climate Change & Anxiety

Canada’s Workers & Isolation

Exercise & Isolation

Midlife Loneliness

Gambling addiction

Online Therapy & Insurance?

Partner Spotlight: Ashley Fleming

Reliable transportation is vital to obtaining and maintaining a job in the trades, especially in Southwest Missouri, where public transportation may be limited. A missed car payment, needed repairs, or money for a tank of gas could pose a seemingly insurmountable barrier for students in the Apprentice Ready Program. However, many Missouri Works Initiative students can overcome this challenge and graduate through the generosity of The Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Let’s Get to Work grant program.

“In the Fall of 2021, the CFO hosted a series of donor education events focused on philanthropy and workforce development. Throughout the series, we heard from Springfield employers about the challenges they encounter in hiring and retaining employees. One of the recurring barriers was reliable transportation,” shares Ashley Fleming, CFO Grant Program Coordinator.

“In response, the CFO launched the Let’s Get to Work grant program,” says Ashley. “The grant program provides funding to nonprofit agencies, including the Missouri Works Initiative, working with low-income individuals in acquiring or maintaining employment by supporting related transportation expenses, including anything from paying for insurance costs and licensing fees to paying for car repairs, to purchasing e-bikes,” she says. “The goal of the grant program is to help individuals experiencing job loss or reduction of hours due to lack of reliable transportation move from unemployment to employment, or from part-time employment to full-time,” says Ashley.

With barriers like reliable transportation removed, graduates of the Apprentice Ready Program continue to build better futures for themselves, their families, and the Ozarks as a whole. MWI appreciates the CFO grant to support its students entering and completing construction apprenticeships.

March 22, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Sisters in Recovery, Whitney and Esbeydi’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

When Kansas City Apprentice Ready Program graduates Whitney Leaming and Esbeydi Villalobos first heard about the Missouri Works Initiative, the new friends were seeking a brighter future for themselves and their children. Both were residents of Amethyst Place, which provides transitional housing and support for women and their children while the women are in recovery from substance use disorder. When Amethyst Place began an expansion project, Whitney and Esbeydi met Kansas City Program Coordinator Rudy Chavez.

The women of Amethyst Place consider themselves sisters, and for Whitney and Esbeydi, joining the Missouri Apprentice Ready (MAR) Program not only provided the opportunity to give back to the place that had given them a fresh start but also helped them each create a foundation for sustainable careers. “I had already had ideas on wanting to be in construction – I just didn’t know what part or what union or how it worked. I really had no idea or information on any of it,” says Whitney. “While listening to Rudy, something just clicked, and I knew I wanted to help build Amethyst Place and become a part of the unions.”

For Esbeydi, who had just gotten her GED, the MAR Program was exactly what she sought. “I wasn’t interested in going to college. I wanted a career path that would pay me to learn a skill set,” she says. “I really liked that the program let us visit all the trades. We got to learn what they do and what they have to offer and try it hands-on for ourselves. That was the most fun!”

Since completing the program, life has drastically changed for the better for both Whitney and Esbeydi. “ Before I started with the laborers union Local 264, I was on government assistance,” says Whitney. “Now I am fully self-supporting. I can afford to pay for my daughter’s child care and all the food for myself and my family. I even have health insurance through the Laborers. I do not need government assistance, which gives me all the confidence in the world that I can support my family as a single mother.” Esbeydi is now part of the local 124, The Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. “I am a pre-apprentice working and learning to be an electrician, and I love it. My kids are watching me grow, which makes me so happy. This program helped me find a career where I enjoy working because I want to learn. I am very thankful.”

If you are curious about the trades and looking for a sustainable, life-changing career, Esbeydi and Whitney encourage you to find out more and take a chance. “If you’re considering doing the program, do it,” encourages Esbeydi. “It will change your life like it changed mine. You will be so happy you did!”

“I would absolutely encourage you to try it out,” says Whitney. “The worst case scenario is you get $500 for doing the program, and you get to learn about all these different careers and life paths you can take. The world is doing nothing but getting more expensive, and the Union definitely lives up to the idea of taking care of its people,” she says. “Also, you get to earn while you learn. Even with zero experience, you can make money just starting because the union has standards on how much somebody should make based on their work, not the color of your skin or whether you’re male or female.”

Start your journey here.

March 21, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Sammy’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Struggling to find gainful employment after his incarceration, Sammy heard about the Apprentice Ready Program, called Building Union Diversity (BUD) in St. Louis, from his pastor. “I was convicted of a felony,” Sammy shares. “When I got out of prison, I had difficulty finding good work.” Sammy, a father of five children ranging in age from toddler to teenager, worked two jobs but wasn’t earning enough. He was in desperate need of a sustainable career that would make it possible for him to support his family.

The Missouri Works Initiative’s BUD program was the solution Sammy sought. The 6-week program provided him with education on the unions, a bus pass, a weekly stipend, and a hands-on introduction to all the trades. “They took a chance on me and allowed me to change my life. Joining the BUD Program is the best decision I’ve made,” says Sammy. “I graduated from the program on a Thursday and started work the next Tuesday.”

Sammy is now a laborer with Bommarito Construction and a member of Local 110. “I didn’t have to do it alone,” says Sammy. “I had a great mentor named Rodney Griffin with Local 110. I’ve been in the field for six years now, and I’m able to be a mentor to new students. I share my experiences and help students understand the simple rules and etiquette of the work site, like the importance of being on time and staying off your cell phone. It’s great to help someone else succeed and build a new life.”

If you have experienced incarceration and feel like you’re facing an uphill battle in securing a sustainable career, Sammy wants you to know that you have options. “It can be better,” he says. “ I had friends on probation who are electricians now. If you’ve got someone willing to provide you with the opportunity to be successful, you should take it! The BUD Program did that for me.”

“I used to have a job, but now I have a career. You can have one, too,” says Sammy. “Go be a carpenter or electrician or ironworker. They can provide you with the best possible career in the trades. Making $45-50 an hour is some real motivation. The BUD Program trains you for free in five weeks. You’ll have a career. You just have to apply yourself.”

Start your journey here.

March 21, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Missouri Apprentice Ready Program, News, Success Stories

Riley’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Riley was looking for a more fulfilling career and had been thinking about pursuing a trade, though she wasn’t sure which one would be the best fit for her. “I was looking at the Missouri Works Initiative’s website and saw their recommendation of the program in St. Louis for women interested in the construction trades,” shares Riley. “I thought the program would help expose me to all my options and help me make an educated decision.”

Throughout the program, Riley got all the information and support she needed to make the best career choice. “I valued how much Aurora and the many guest speakers shared their experiences and advice on succeeding in this industry. I think the amount of information and training we received also made me more qualified and confident to start an apprenticeship,” says Riley. “Being able to visit different job sites and trade school locations helped me visualize and balance my interest in each trade. But I think most importantly, because of the program, I gained connections to people who are rooting for my success as a tradeswoman.”

Now, Riley is thriving in a satisfying and sustainable career as an apprentice with Mid-America’s Carpenter’s Regional Council Local 92. “I now have a career that I enjoy, and I feel a deeper sense of purpose,” Riley says. “I don’t think I would have had the motivating force to pursue carpentry on my own, considering I didn’t have any connections to Union tradespeople nor the level of confidence and knowledge that the program encouraged. At the end of the day, I have a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and I am also the strongest and in the best physical condition of my life.”

Are you a woman interested in a career in the trades but need help figuring out where to start? You can find the answers and directions, just like Riley did. “Whatever your situation may be, I believe everyone has something to gain from the program,” says Riley. “You will have to be respectful of yourself, show up, and be ready to work the program, but six weeks isn’t that long of a commitment considering the time in the Apprentice Ready Program in St. Louis will set you up for a career that may positively impact the rest of your life.”

Start your journey here.

March 21, 2024/by Missouri Works Initiative

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 29

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 22

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 15

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 8

Wellness & Well-being Highlights April 1

Wellness & Well-being Highlights March 25

Partner Spotlight: Ashley Fleming

Sisters in Recovery, Whitney and Esbeydi’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Sammy’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

Riley’s Story: Missouri Works Initiative

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