Today, Craft & Trade Academy celebrated the graduation of eight pre-apprentices from our P.A.C.E. program! Students have learned safety essentials and foundational construction skills and have also gained hands-on experience in the field with our employer partners. Over the past ten weeks, they have:

- Received OSHA 10 and First Aid/CPR certifications.

- Learned about financial wellness and credit-building with Common Wealth Charlotte.

- Gained hands-on practice with power tools alongside Milwaukee Tools.

- Built four doghouses and created six mosaics in partnership with Alair Homes.

- Learned new skills while working alongside mentors as Reliable Restorations, Metrolina Greenhouses, Price Brothers Plumbing, and Catalyst Construction.

At graduation, students received a tool bag with a variety of hand tools to prepare them for success in the next stage of their journey. The Lowe’s Foundation also generously provided a $100 gift card and a set of knee pads to each student. Finally, at graduation, student received job offers from our employer partners, the final step towards a career.

We are so proud of our students and the dedication they have shown towards building their career paths in the trades and the construction industry!