AGC CEF Making Impact in 2012 With Variety of Education, Workforce Development Efforts
By: Carol Eaton
2012-06-01
The AGC of California Construction Education Foundation (CEF) has been on the move in 2012, undertaking a wide range of outreach programs and activities in an effort to positively impact construction education and workforce development in California.
Activities this year to date have included everything from regional career days and a renewed emphasis on student chapter participation and involvement to a wide range of educational offerings and the recent launch by CEF of new construction career awareness brochures and video, among many other initiatives.
Student Chapter Training: In May, more than 60 college-age members from seven AGC of California student chapters brought their energy and a new dynamic to the AGC spring conference and meetings in Monterey. They had the opportunity to network with AGC industry members, sit in and participate in various AGC committee and board meetings and to attend over 17 hours of targeted training sessions. The student participation, part of ongoing efforts by the CEF to provide support and training for the AGC Student Chapters, was made possible by a grant received from the Teichert Foundation. Continuing support from vital industry leaders such as Teichert will enable student chapter members to attend future AGC meetings, including the upcoming Fall Conference in Indian Wells.
Just a few of the other recent activities and accomplishments of the Construction Education Foundation include the following:
Career Days: CEF sponsors three Construction Career Awareness Days (CCAD) each year in the Bay Area, Fresno, and Sacramento. Most recently the Fresno CCAD, held April 13, 2012 at the Fresno Fairgrounds, brought in 1,100 students from 30 local high schools – the highest number of students and schools to ever participate in this event, in spite of record-breaking rainfall.
The CCAD event also brought in a record number of exhibitors and sponsors with 25 different companies, colleges and training and apprenticeship programs participating. Students participated in hands-on activities and had the opportunity to see and operate construction equipment and to visit a number of exhibit booths, where they were able to network with industry professionals.
New Career Brochures and Video Unveiled: Early this year, the CEF unveiled a unique and powerful new set of brochures, video and webpage entitled “Build Your Career from the Ground Up,” which provides outreach, information and marketing of construction industry careers aimed at high school students, teachers and parents. To download electronic copies of the brochures or to see the video, visit http://www.agc-ca.org/buildyourcareer/. This project was made possible due to a grant funded by American River College ProjectSTRIPE.
Blitz Build: For more than 90 students in the AGC of California State University (CSU), Chico Student Chapter, community service took on a whole new meaning this spring when they traveled to Joplin, MO to participate in a unique, week-long rebuilding project entitled Blitz Build 2012.
The community service project was selected by the AGC CEF as the first annual winner in its Student Chapter Community Service Challenge. The student chapter project that is selected each year will receive support and promotion from AGC CEF. In the 2012 Blitz Build project, CSU Chico students took part in a seven-day process to rebuild four homes for families devastated by the 2011 tornados. Despite record rainfall, the students worked around the clock to complete the project on March 24, 2012. In total, the student-led project team spent over 12,000 man hours turning “new home dreams” into a welcome reality.
Much More to Come: Additional CEF efforts include serving as a presenting partner of the ACE Summer Camp in Long Beach, a wide variety of scholarship awards to be given at the local, regional and state levels and much more. Look for more updates on the CEF activities and successes in future issues of the California Constructor, including the November/December 2012 magazine which will be devoted to the topic of workforce and education.
For more information or to get involved, contact Erin Volk, Director of the Construction Education Foundation, at volke@agc-ca.org or call (916) 371-2422.