By: Kristi Pronovost, ABC Keystone Director of Marketing & Communications

The Keystone Chapter is striving to create connections with all ages of students throughout the region by promoting careers in the construction industry. These connections begin with preschoolers and continue through to the young adult population and beyond. During Careers in Construction Month (and throughout the year), members will continue to see increased workforce development efforts and connections with students and educators.

As announced at the 2019 Inaugural, ABC Keystone will be the title sponsor of the Hands-on House Construction exhibit slated to open in early 2020. This learning-through-play exhibit will feature multiple trades and will be designed to inspire construction career interest in children from birth – 12 years old. To find out more about supporting the HOH Construction Co. exhibit, please see page 16 and read the full press release at abckeystone.org.

In mid-October, the Chapter will continue to engage with the middle school population through the twice-yearly Construction Wars event. This event relies heavily upon Chapter members for its continued success, and we thank past volunteers and encourage future volunteers to sign up to assist with this event. It’s a life-changing experience for these students and a rewarding experience for all. Thanks to the generousity of supply donations, sponsorships and member involvement, this event creates many positive, life-long memories for the students. Each year, we hear from students who share that they are now considering a career in construction.

The Chapter continues through the education cyle by creating additional articulation agreements providing opportunities to connect with high school students through Core curriculum pre-apprenticeship classes. Currently, the Chapter has agreements with: Berks County CTC; Berks Connections/Pretrial Svc; Commonwealth Charter Academy; Cumberland Perry AVTS; Elizabethtown Area H.S.; HACC; Insight PA Cyber Charter; The Janus School; Lancaster County CTC; Penn College of Technology; School District of Lancaster; and Thaddeus Stevens College.

We invite you to help spread the message of the lucrative and plentiful career paths afforded by the industry during October’s Career in Construction Month and beyond. It’s vital that each and every member find ways to promote the value of these careers to the next generation alongside the Chapter’s efforts to continue to share this message.

Visit our social media channels and share Chapter happenings with your networks. Together we can continue to inspire future craft professionals!

October 3, 2019