Contra Costa Trades Day Gives Students a View into Construction Jobs Available in the Bay Area
PLEASANT HILL, Calif., — In partnership with Earn & Learn and Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE), more than 130 students throughout Contra Costa County were given the opportunity to explore the world of skilled trades and learn from experts in the field. Earn & Learn is an organization that helps support and manage work-based learning activities. By teaming up with them, CCCOE was able to help connect dozens of students with the construction workforce and introduce them to industry career opportunities in construction, engineering, and other skilled trades.
Community partners such as Overaa construction, Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College, Build California, Future Build, Ironworkers Local 378, UA Local 342, and Tesla provided a firsthand look at career options to teens and educators. Each of the companies hosted booths where students could ask questions, try out equipment, gather information, and be inspired by well-paid jobs they may have never known existed.
Students from Richmond High, De Anza High, John F. Kennedy High, Pinole Valley High, John Swett High, Sylvester Greenwood Academy, CCCOE’s Marchus School, Glenbrook Academy, San Ramon High, and Heritage High participated in the Trades Day activities and were able to learn about industry programs and trade apprenticeships available when they graduate high school. Additionally, all the students were given tours of Diablo Valley College.
Contra Costa Trades Day was made possible by the City of Concord, Contra Costa Economic Partnership, and the Contra Costa Community College District.
More information about CCCOE’s College and Career Readiness Program can be found on
CCCOE’s website.
-30-
Trades Day
The Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEFoundation) hosts an annual Trades Day event that introduces high school students to construction careers and jobs in trades. Each organization that participates in the event offers students hands-on activities to explore all the industry has to offer - teaching them how to swing a hammer, try their hand at mixing cement, scale a wall for roofing, or throw on some PPE and get them welding. Anything to get their hands and minds moving. More information about the annual event can be found on the
CIEFoundation’s website.
About Contra Costa County Office of Education
One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County (CCCOE) has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,225 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of our county's most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.
CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county's 286 schools or
18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at
www.cocoschools.org.