Archive for category: In the News

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Partner Spotlight: Anna Witte

Building pathways and partnerships for a stronger workforce.
Missouri Works Initiative is proud to highlight organizations and individuals who we partner with to help our Apprenticeship Ready cohorts prepare for a career in the trades.

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Anna Witte is all about helping people find their next step—and she’s been a fantastic partner to Missouri Works Initiative in doing just that.

As a University Relations Specialist at Spire, Anna works on the company’s Workforce Development Team, connecting with schools and community organizations to help students and job seekers learn the skills they need to succeed in professional trades. With a background in supporting college students, she’s brought that same guidance into the world of workforce development.

Spire—serving over 1.7 million homes and businesses across Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi—takes its mission seriously. Spire is,”an exciting place to work and build your career,” says Anna. “Safety and care” are core to the company’s culture, and that commitment has landed them on Newsweek’s list of Most Responsible Companies for six years running.

Anna sees firsthand how today’s job seekers face real obstacles. She says, “adapting to the demand for diverse, specialized skills…many face barriers to accessing quality training programs, limiting their growth potential.” But she’s hopeful about what’s possible. “By investing in equitable education, apprenticeships, and vocational programs, we can empower workers, close skill gaps, and foster a more inclusive, resilient workforce.”

Her journey with Missouri Works Initiative began through conversations with union leaders at Gas Workers Local 11-6, who were looking to support recruitment efforts. After a conversation with MWI Executive Director Megan Price, Anna was all in. “I was hooked,” she says. “I got involved with MWI because of the focus on training and upskilling workers, especially diverse talent, which benefits the community as a whole. Spire’s values of safety and integrity are echoed by the MWI programs and their students.”

Anna and her team support MWI through Spire Serves, a program that gives back through direct investment, employee volunteerism, and matching donations. “We invest our time and resources in organizations that enrich the lives of those we serve and MWI is an example of that. Working together, we can help present career opportunities across Missouri.”

She’s seen how the work we do together makes a difference. “I think MWI is addressing so many needs of workers. First, by helping workers who may not have otherwise pictured themselves in skilled trade careers find their path forward. Additionally, the skills taught in the MWI program—both hard and soft skills—help students be more ready to enter the workforce and hit the ground running on day one.”

Anna’s commitment to this work is clear, and we’re so grateful for the energy and insight she brings to our mission. “Providing support services while going through programs like this can be life-changing and meeting those needs is impactful and important,” she says. “We’re helping financially meet some of those needs through our Spire Serves grant and helping show alternative pathways forward.”

Thank you, Anna, for being such a champion of Missouri Works Initiative—we’re proud to partner with you!

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Partner Spotlight: Sue Smith

Helping Springfield job seekers find their path—and their power.Missouri Works Initiative is proud to highlight organizations and individuals who we partner with to help our Apprenticeship Ready cohorts prepare for a career in the trades.

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Sue Smith knows a thing or two about helping people find their way into meaningful careers. She’s a Certified Workforce Development Professional with the City of Springfield’s Workforce & Economic Vitality Missouri Job Center, where the mission is all about connecting local talent with the industries that need them most, including construction.

Sue brings a background as a career educator into her current role as a Workforce Development Specialist. She’s part of a team working hard to support job seekers in Springfield, especially through apprenticeship programs made possible by the Apprenticeship Building America grant. She’s also helped several local businesses create Registered Apprenticeship Programs in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor—no small feat!

Sue was first connected to Missouri Works Initiative when training to become a proctor for the National Career Readiness Certificate, a credential earned through assessments that measure basic workplace skills and verify an individual’s foundational skills for workplace success. Sue’s trainer referred her to Missouri Works Initiative as “one of the best we had to offer” at the Missouri Job Center.

Since then, Sue’s become a key partner in our work. She helps in all kinds of ways—from interviewing potential candidates and supporting enrollment to prepping program graduates for the job hunt with resume reviews, mock interviews, and real-talk guidance. Her insight and encouragement mean the world to our cohort members who are ready to get to work and build a career for themselves.

Sue’s deeply aware of the challenges workers face today. She says, “One of the biggest challenges facing workers in Missouri and in general is accessing and affording the necessary training to enter or advance in a specific career. While many industries increasingly require specialized skills and certifications, the cost of training programs can be a barrier for individuals. Additionally, navigating the variety of available training options and identifying those that align with career goals can be overwhelming. The lack of awareness about resources, such as grants, apprenticeships, and employer-sponsored training, can further hinder workers’ ability to pursue the skills needed for high-demand careers.”

That’s exactly why we’re so grateful for partners like Sue. She helps break down those barriers and connect people with the resources they need to succeed.

One story that sticks with her? “I had the opportunity to help a single mother who wanted to transition from office work to a career in construction,” Sue said. “She was seeking a path that would not only provide a living wage for her family but also allow her to take pride in her work. After completing the Missouri Apprentice Ready (MAR) program, she advanced to the IBEW pre-apprenticeship program…This experience has been life-changing for her, offering stability, financial independence, and a sense of accomplishment.”

Sue also has great things to say about the program itself, “I believe the Missouri Works Initiative is effectively addressing the needs of workers by offering a comprehensive 5-week program that provides foundational knowledge about the construction industry.” Says Sue, adding “It allows individuals to explore multiple career pathways within the industry before committing to a specific trade, helping them make more informed decisions.” 

She gave a special shoutout to Austin Fox, our Construction Programs Manager and Springfield Instructor: “Austin Fox is an amazing leader of this strong program.”

We’re so lucky to have Sue as a partner. Her experience, commitment, and heart help make Missouri Works Initiative what it is—and we can’t thank her enough.

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Partner Spotlight: Sonja Gholston-Byrd

“United Way is a global organization that works to build stronger, more equitable communities by connecting donors, volunteers, unions, community leaders, and partners to address complex challenges,” says Sonja. “The breadth and depth of the help provided to so many of our neighbors is incredible. Across two states and 16 counties, we invest more than $1 million per week to ensure that people can live into their possibilities each and every day.”

Overseeing the organization’s largest labor liaison department in the country, Sonja and her team are tasked with connecting union members and workers facing financial hardship with 211 agency resources and direct assistance. “We encourage unions, labor leaders, and union members to contribute to and support United Way’s annual campaign,” says Sonja. “By participating on workforce development boards and community social services organizations, they engage with leaders of apprenticeship programs throughout the region and help create pathways to livable wage jobs and union apprentice programs.”

Social services support is provided to Missouri Works Initiative program participants by United Way of Greater Saint Louis Labor in partnership with MWI, including assistance with transportation. “We provide resources for long-term, permanent vehicle ownership in addition to short-term ride-sharing services through Lyft. Our mentorship program aims to assist graduates in overcoming obstacles to entry and successful retention in the construction trades while UWGSL Labor provides direct assistance to students who are struggling financially with basic needs,” shares Sonja. “Additionally, we host the Labor and Learn event, which gives students a chance to get in touch with AFL-CIO-recognized consistency groups and other union diversity-focused organizations.”

In addition to providing participants with the connections they need financially, the United Way of Greater St. Louis sponsors the Mentoring Program, which is intended to assist graduates in overcoming obstacles in obtaining employment and retention in the construction trades. “We connect men and women with trade expertise with recent graduates of the program,” says Sonja. The mentoring program addresses topics connected with work and job performance and staff of United Way Labor select and screen mentors, who are at least level 5 apprentices or retirees. “For several months following graduation, we continue to coordinate and monitor the mentoring pairing connection to ensure it remains strong and effective,” shares Sonja. These valuable mentoring relationships help participants navigate the workplace culture and expectations while inspiring the hope and confidence that are necessary for success.

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“Building Union Diversity Serves as a Gateway to the Trades” from the St. Louis American

Note: The following article originally appeared in the St. Louis American’s Annual “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” Edition. Click here to view the St. Louis American website and other content. Click here to view the full “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” Edition. 

Sammy Morning was facing a math problem of the worst kind. Following his felony conviction and incarceration, he was struggling to find gainful and sustainable work. He had five children to support. He had two jobs. And the money wasn’t adding up.

Morning’s pastor suggested a program called Building Union Diversity (BUD), which served as a gateway to the building trades – and to a better life.

“They took a chance on me and allowed me to change my life,” said Morning, who today is six years into a rewarding career with Bommarito Construction as a member of Laborers International Union Local 110.

Sammy Morning, right, mentors young participants in the BUD program.

BUD is one of several innovative partnerships between labor and employers that are opening doors to life-changing employment for minorities, women, people who have experienced incarceration and other underrepresented populations.

Now in its 10th year and its 34th cohort, the BUD program is a six week union construction pre-apprenticeship program, offered at no charge to selected individuals who meet the admission requirements. The program, which is sponsored by the Missouri AFL-CIO’s Missouri Works Initiative, is offered statewide, though the BUD name is used only in the St. Louis area; in other parts of Missouri, it is known as the Apprentice Ready Program (ARP).

More than 250 BUD graduates have been placed in every building trades union in the St. Louis region.

Recognized as a comprehensive apprenticeship readiness program (ARP) by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), BUD offers enrollees a comprehensive introduction to construction employment by using NABTU’s nationally recognized Multi- Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) providing relevant national skills certification training, with a particular focus on job safety.

The three-part training model includes classroom coursework that covers both technical skills and life skills such as financial literacy; hands-on training; and trade placement advising to help participants find a place in one of more than 15 trades in the construction industry.

Participants also receive a weekly stipend and a bus pass, in addition to other support such as free work gear and a tool allotment. “The door this program has opened for me has helped me not only financially, but mentally as well,” said Kaylah Doss, a BUD graduate and member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 3.

The BUD program coordinates with individualized training programs in the trade unions that are similarly designed to bring underrepresented populations into the trades. In this way, many BUD graduates receive additional specialized training in their chosen trade before starting work.

One example is the CHAMPIONS Initiative, a partnership between Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA) and the Plumbing Industry Council (PIC). The program offers six weeks of hands-on technical training and professional development specific to the pipe trades, concluding with placement as a pre-apprentice with an MCA or PIC member contractor. More than 40 CHAMPIONS graduates are currently employed as union plumbers or pipefitters.

In addition, CHAMPIONS – whose name is an acronym for Creating Hometown Advantages through Minority Participation in Our Neighborhoods – provides peer groups and intentional mentorship to walk alongside participants as they progress into apprenticeship and beyond.

“I am eager to begin this challenging yet rewarding journey,” said Jessica Percell, a BUD graduate and former bartender who is in this year’s CHAMPIONS cohort. “The thought of achieving my goals fills me with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.”

Employers are joining the BUD movement as well. The Metropolitan Sewer District partnered with BUD to establish the Workforce Development Grant Program. Other employers participate in hosted hiring events and graduation ceremonies that expose BUD participants to more career opportunities and industry contacts.

“This program affords participants invaluable skills and resources and provides a solid foundation of support,” said Larry Woods, diversity construction supervisor with MSD, who regularly speaks to incoming BUD cohorts. Woods added that the diverse makeup of BUD participants – men, women, minorities, veterans, new Americans, formerly incarcerated people and more – is a game-changer for the economic landscape.

“By opening up opportunities to individuals who are often overlooked or underserved, the program is cultivating a new generation of construction industry workers,” Woods said. “This fresh intake of talent and innovation broadens the scope of inclusion within the industry”

“In doing so, those who may have previously encountered barriers to entry are being given a platform to succeed,” he added.

Morning, the BUD graduate turned laborer, concedes. “It can be better,” Morning said. “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.” For more information on BUD, visit moworksinitiative.org. For more information on the CHAMPIONS Initiative, visit mca-emo.org.

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Partner Spotlight: Larry Woods

The Diversity Division of The Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) partnered with the  Missouri Works Initiative’s Building Union Diversity Program (BUD STL) in St. Louis to establish the Workforce Development Grant Program. According to Larry Woods, Diversity Construction Supervisor with the MSD, “Our Diversity Division is unwavering in its commitment to the initiation and support of programs and endeavors designed to create a trained, qualified workforce of minorities and females in the field of sewer construction. The Workforce Development Grant Program has helped create a pool of qualified individuals including minorities and women. The resultant workforce is equipped to fulfill our pre-set “boots on the ground” workforce goals for our capital improvement projects. This approach also allows for employment opportunities for under- and unemployed individuals within the communities we serve.”

Larry’s role with the program is multifaceted, including vital behind-the-scenes work to help students get hired and to ensure underrepresented individuals are gainfully employed on job sites. “I regularly speak to the new cohorts of the Building Union Diversity Program discussing the requirements, opportunities, and benefits associated with employment in the sewer construction industry,” says Larry. “This active engagement also involves hosting on-site job tours where participants can gain real-life insights and understanding of the industry.” Woods regularly attends the Apprentice Ready Program in St. Louis-hosted hiring events and graduation ceremonies and provides continual follow-up support to program graduates, ensuring their transition into the industry is as smooth as possible.

“I wholeheartedly believe that Missourians who participate in this program stand to gain immensely. The program affords participants invaluable skills and resources and provides a solid foundation of support. With these tools, individuals are empowered to secure occupations in a trade, in turn enabling them to earn a decent living and provide for their families,” says Woods.

With the unique opportunity to see students through the whole program, Larry’s favorite aspect is watching them come full circle. “If I had to narrow down my favorite aspect of the program, it would undoubtedly be witnessing the journeys of the individuals who participate in the program. From the initial stages right through to their ultimate success, being able to chart this progression is deeply rewarding. Regular updates and heartfelt expressions of gratitude from participants serve as constant reminders of the significance of our efforts,” shares Larry.

Woods believes the BUD STL Apprentice Ready Program is already shaping the social and economic landscape. “By opening up opportunities to individuals who are often overlooked or underserved, the program is cultivating a new generation of construction industry workers,” he says.  “This fresh intake of talent and innovation broadens the scope of inclusion within the industry. In doing so, those who may have previously encountered barriers to entry are being given a platform to succeed. These individuals not only contribute to the existing workforce but are also an integral part of future infrastructural upgrades. In essence, the program is paving the way for sustained, long-term development that will serve our needs now and into the future.”

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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.

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BUD program featured in theSTL

Story By Matt Sorrell
Visuals By R.J. Hartbeck

As seen in STL Made

When Aurora Bihler decided to pursue a career as a union iron worker, she didn’t know where to start. Originally from Joliet, Illinois, she came to the St. Louis area to study fine art and sculpture at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. After graduating, she searched for a career where she could put her creativity to work and get her hands dirty while still making a good living. The idea of working with iron was intriguing, but she had no family or friends in the construction trades to give her advice or direction on how to pursue that career.

“When I first got into the trades it felt like I was an anthropologist dropped into a foreign country,” she says. “It was like ‘How do I survive and respect this culture? I don’t speak the language, this is all new to me.’”

AURORA BIHLER, COORDINATOR FOR THE BUILDING UNION DIVERSITY PROGRAM.

Bihler’s experience isn’t unique. Each construction trade has its own apprenticeship process, and trade unions haven’t always had the reputation of being the most welcoming of places, with underrepresented minorities and women making up just 6 percent of the construction workforce. While Bihler did go on to find success in her career as an iron worker, she’s now part of the effort to make it easier for others to enter trade careers in St. Louis through the Building Union Diversity program.

BUD’s union construction pre-apprenticeship program was born in 2014 with the goal of getting more St. Louisans into the construction trades, focusing specifically in expanding diversity within those fields. It’s part of the Missouri Works Initiative, a nonprofit whose goal is creating economic opportunities for Missourians.

“It’s important for our union workforce to look like the neighborhoods they work in,” says Jake Hummel, president of the Missouri AFL-CIO (a federation of unions affiliated with the national American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations), which sponsors and supports the Missouri Works Initiative.

THE SPRING 2023 BUD COHORT VISITS TILE, MARBLE & TERRAZZO WORKERS – LOCAL 18 OF MISSOURI AFL-CIO.

To create the BUD program learning materials, several trade unions came together to craft a comprehensive curriculum. It covers basics in construction, math, blueprint reading and tape measure reading, as well as soft skills helpful to launching a successful career.

“The curriculum also covers some life skills about how to have a good attitude at work and how to present well in an interview,” says Megan Price, executive director of the Missouri Works Initiative. “Then throughout the cohort, we’re also taking them to the various apprenticeship training centers. And that is what students really find to be the most exciting part of the course.”

The six-week BUD program is held four times a year at no cost to students, and gives participants a taste of all the building trades so they can find which one suits them best. In addition to hands-on sessions with carpentry, bricklaying, electrical, sheet metal, plumbing and pipefitting, and cement masonry, BUD also focuses on wellness and personnel issues, with classes on subjects from financial literacy to fighting racial and sexual discrimination on the job site.

“The benefit of a cohort is that we continue to find that the model of bringing students together to go through this similar experience creates a lot of synergy, a lot of organic connections for people who are also starting their career and maybe encountering challenges,” says Price. In addition to building networking connections, the cohort also helps establish a peer support system – one way to help combat the high rates of mental health issues among construction workers.

MEGAN PRICE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSOURI WORKS INITIATIVE.

The first week of BUD is a full five days, but the remaining weeks are only four days long, giving students time to work or take care of getting the documents together they’ll need for their apprenticeship, like birth certificates and social security cards. Students also receive a $100 weekly stipend to help with expenses, and they’re supplied with necessary equipment like boots, high-visibility shirts and vests, work pants, ear and eye protection and a hard hat so they can hit the ground running once the program is completed. Transportation to the various training locations is also provided. Once a BUD graduate is accepted into an accredited apprenticeship program they get a $150 tool stipend as well.

Since its inception, 92 percent of BUD participants have graduated from the program, with 26.5 percent of those graduates being women and 79.2 percent being underrepresented minorities. One of those graduates is Raine McDevitt, who completed the program in November 2022.

“I went to a local private high school and they were like ‘You go to college, you get your fancy degree and you make a lot of money so you can give it back to us,’” says McDevitt. “I wish I’d known about BUD earlier.” McDevitt has a degree in graphic art and tried her hand in that field, then gave coding a shot, all the while supplementing her income with bartending and serving jobs. She heard about the program from a BUD graduate she met at a Women In The Trades meeting and decided to apply.

“I consider BUD one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” says McDevitt, who now works as a tile finisher with Stutte Tile Flooring.

SPRING 2023 BUD COHORT.

Another crucial part of the program is to give students an overview of all of the trades so they can get a clear picture of which one would be best for them. Bihler plays a key part in mentoring the students to help them find the right career path.

“I think the BUD program did a great job of painting that picture overall,” says Shay Jones, who graduated from the program with McDevitt. “You feel informed and responsible for your decision.”

Jones spent years behind a desk in the home health care industry, while longing to be in a role where she could tap into her creative side. She found her fit as a glazier apprentice with Industrial Walls & Roof North America.

“I’m a baker, and caulking reminds me a lot of icing,” says Jones. “So I found it really easy to work with. I wanted to do something more hands-on, and something where I could see results of my work immediately, something more visible and tangible.”

Jones was also attracted by the competitive wages and benefits trade unions offer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there’s about a $10,500 net difference between typical trade union and non-union annual salaries.

Once participants find a trade to pursue, often the biggest hurdle they face is finding out how to start the process to become an apprentice. One of the main focuses of BUD is to help students navigate those waters.

“I’d always been interested in the trades, but I didn’t know anything about that world,” says Jones. She feels BUD was invaluable in helping her figure out the necessary steps to successfully apply for her apprenticeship.

Bihler strives to help students realize they have what it takes to succeed in the trades, regardless of their background, and to advocate for themselves, using her own experiences coming up through the union ranks as an example.

“I felt like I was constantly standing up for myself or for other people who did not fit the mold,” Bihler says.

“Now I tell my students, ‘You need to set your limits and don’t let other people do it for you.’”

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Eric Green, a BUD graduate, meeting with Joe Biden
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BUD graduate meets then Vice President Joe Biden AND lands a job

As seen in the St. Louis Labor Tribune

Eric Green, a recent graduate of the Building Union Diversity (BUD) program, has all the confirmation he needs that the program works. He’s landed a job and recently met Vice President Joe Biden.

Green, 31, had sold insurance and worked in medical billing since 2009. When he wanted something different, his uncle, a journeyman plasterer told him about BUD and he signed up.

Green graduated from a seven-week BUD session Aug. 31 was meeting with business representatives Todd Hake and Kevin Haynes with the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council at Goody Goody Diner on Natural Bridge Ave. on Sept. 9 when the Vice President and U.S. Senate candidate Jason Kander came in for lunch and stopped to talk at their table.

Biden was in town to talk about jobs, education, and training. He earlier had visited LaunchCode off Delmar to talk about growth in tech jobs.

Hake, the Carpenters business representative, said he told Vice President Biden that they were there meeting with Green for lunch and that he was a recent graduate of the BUD program, and Biden said “Yes, I’m very familiar with the BUD program.”

The vice president then offered some words of encouragement to Green.

BUD organizers visited the White House to discuss the program and its successes during a conference on worker training programs in 2015.

A CONFIRMATION

For Green meeting with union business representatives about job opportunities, then having the opportunity to meet the Vice President – who was familiar with the BUD program – was proof enough that he was headed in the right direction.

“I felt like it was kind of a confirmation,” Green said. “I felt like this was a great opportunity. I had heard that he as a politician that supported us. I felt like this was an opportunity to give it my best, because that’s what he and the President (Barack Obama) have been supporting.

“Just to know that they knew about the BUD program was kind of big to me,” Green said. “It was just telling me to take advantage of this.”

RECORD OF SUCCESS

The BUD program was launched in 2014 to bring more minority and female workers into the union trades in a unique partnership of the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council, the Eastern Missouri Laborers District Council and St. Louis-Kansas City Regional Carpenters Council, with funding help from the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) and the Missouri Division of Workforce Development.

Participants in the program also receive support from the United Way to help with issues such as car repairs or other problems that may be preventing them from getting or keeping a job.

BUD prepares participants to enter apprenticeships and, with commitment and dedication of their own, begin fulfilling and rewarding careers. Roughly 85 percent of participants have landed jobs since the program started.

Green was recently hired by Builders Bloc as an apprentice carpenter. The first day was hard, he said. “They worked me, but I came back the next day It’s a great experience. I’m happy I signed up with BUD.”

 

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Missouri Works Initiative logo
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Missouri AFL-CIO Launches New Workforce Initiative

The Missouri Works Initiative aims to provide economic opportunities to Missourians.

Jefferson City, MO: The Missouri Works Initiative has been formed to eliminate barriers to economic opportunities by connecting Missourians to the necessary resources to build life-sustaining careers. Serving as a non-profit organization affiliated with the Missouri AFL-CIO, the Missouri Works Initiative is strategically positioned to address the state’s changing workforce needs. The initiative aims to address workers’ needs by creating health and recovery friendly workplaces, connecting laid off workers with job-search or upskilling resources for future employment, or collaborating with community partners to offer innovative points of entry to traditional apprenticeship opportunities.

“The Missouri Works Initiative is a big step in lifting up all workers across Missouri,” stated Greta Bax, Executive Director of the Initiative. “Our expert team, network of labor professionals, and community-based organizations stand ready to work toward the shared goal of creating economic opportunities for all Missourians.” 

The Missouri Works Initiative includes four major programs:

  • The Missouri Apprentice Ready Program is a collaborative partnership with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development that will offer a 5-week introduction to the construction industry to qualified participants in Kansas City and Springfield, working toward the goal of increasing the number of Missourians participating in registered construction apprenticeship programs. 
  • The Building Union Diversity (BUD) St. Louis Program aims to address the growing need in the construction industry for a skilled and more inclusive workforce. The BUD Program was established in 2014 and has successfully graduated 21 classes. 
  • The Worker Wellness Program will work to ensure that all workers have access to timely information regarding mental aspects of safety on the job and in the community.
  • The Dislocated Worker Program connects dislocated workers to resources and assistance they need to re-enter the job market quickly following a closure or layoff. The Dislocated Worker Program has been a project of the Missouri AFL-CIO for over 20 years. 

“Missouri Works Initiative is uniquely positioned to take on the role of expanding pre-apprenticeship programs statewide because of its partnerships and connections across Missouri with Organized Labor, registered apprenticeship program coordinators, contractors and employers,” stated Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel. “I am excited to expand upon the years of success the AFL-CIO has achieved for workers.”

For more information about MWI’s programs and staff, please visit moworksinitiative.org or follow us on Twitter @MissouriWorks and on Facebook @Missouri Works Initiative.

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