Donna Hammond to be Honored at LERC Black History Month Event

Donna Hammond (Photo from Portland Tribune)

The University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) is holding a special Black History Month Event!

Pioneering a Living Legacy:
Shaping Our Vision for Diversity and Inclusion in the Labor Movement

February 8, 2018
6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

UO Portland
White Stag Building Room 142/144
70 NW Couch Street
Portland OR 97209

Click here to save your seat for this free event!

LERC will be honoring Donna Hammond for her continued efforts to make the trades a safer place for women, people of color, and other minorities. There will be a special viewing of the film “Sista in the Brotherhood” by Dawn Jones Redstone followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Roberta Hunt of Portland State University and honoree, Donna Hammond, Business Representative for IBEW 48.

Donna began her career in the trades 39 years ago as an apprentice electrician and became Oregon’s 2nd ever black woman to journey out as an electrician. During her time in the trades, Donna faced discrimination and harassment from her coworkers and even supervisors. As a result of her experiences during those 20 years where she was a union electrician, Donna took it upon herself to blaze a trail for marginalized people so that they could pursue a career in the skilled trades without fear of harassment.

Hammond joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) as their first black female Business Representative and negotiates contracts and inspects job sites among other things. Outside of her work there, she has been a member of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus for the past 22 years and has spent the past 3 years with the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. Not only that, but Donna Hammond played a key role in the development of our Pathways to Success program here at Oregon Tradeswomen.

We have immense respect for Donna and the impact she has made. Thank you for your continued work making the trades a safe place for women and diverse workers!

Isis Harris (front) and Donna Hammond (back) on National Women in Apprenticeship Day

Thank you for Supporting Oregon Tradeswomen in the Willamette Week Give!Guide!

Thank you for helping make Oregon Tradeswomen’s Give!Guide campaign such a success!

We are so grateful to have been included in the Willamette Week Give!Guide again in 2017 – a fantastic opportunity for local non-profits to reach new and long-time supporters alike.

All we can say is WOW and THANK YOU! We are completely blown away by the outpouring of generosity from all of you! Between November 1st and December 31st, we received 177 gifts totaling $19,960 – only $40 short of our goal of $20,000! These gifts will go a long way in the continued effort to increase the visibility of women in the trades and building their economic independence, from supporting the Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC) to offering career and leadership support as they grow in their Trade

A special thank you and round of high fives to our fabulous Oregon Tradeswomen Alumnae, who contributed an impressive $1,224!

As gifts began to come in, so too did the seriously heartwarming words of appreciation and support. Here are a few of our favorites:

“Thank you Oregon Tradeswomen! I have benefited greatly from your organization and mentorship and I am grateful for all of the work that you do!”

“Happy to support you all in any way I can. Thank you for the positive impact you make for the trades industry and women entering the field!”

“YOU ROCK.”

Thank you again to all of our supporters, whether you made a monetary donation, or donated your time, energy, and love to Oregon Tradeswomen and the work we’re doing together.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2018!

 

Looking Ahead to 2018!

As we begin 2018, Oregon Tradeswomen would like to thank our industry and community partners and supporters. Each of you contribute to changing the lives of the women we serve, and we are grateful for all that you do.

With your support, we are building our capacity to reach and serve more women each day.  In 2017 we provided more than 1,000 women with career education and support to pursue a career in skilled trades in construction and manufacturing.

Because of your commitment, support, and generosity, Oregon Tradeswomen was able to provide 159 women with industry skills training, hundreds of women with job placement, access to registered apprenticeship, career counseling, supportive services, advocacy, and leadership development. Our work – with your support – ensured that women were able to move themselves and their families out of poverty and into prosperity.  They have gained skills and confidence and community.  They have been able to build a career and a future and a sisterhood.  Thank you for making all of these things and more a reality for women in the Portland region and across Oregon.

As we begin this New Year, Oregon Tradeswomen invites you to continue to support our work, and to join us as we think and dream and do – bigger and bolder.

We have big changes underway – including the development of a three-year strategic plan, revamping of our decade old pre-apprenticeship training program, and expanding services. We are raising money to purchase our own building where we will house a training workshop, community space, on-site childcare, and low-income housing.  We are building an advocacy platform to ensure positive changes for women and industry at the local, state and national level are realized.  We are developing a mentoring program, expanding our services to rural communities and engaging new partners.

We invite you to join us as we build this vision and our future for the women, industry and community we serve.

With gratitude,

Kelly Kupcak, Executive Director

 

 

Oregon Tradeswomen Honored With PCC Community Partner Award

Last night, Oregon Tradeswomen was honored with Portland Community College’s (PCC) first ever community partner award for a partnership with a non-profit organization.

PCC recognized three categories of partnership: non-profit, small business, and large business. At the dinner, PCC President Mark Mitsui introduced us, spoke about our partnership, and how we were one of their strongest employers who guide curriculum and give the support that allows PCC to educate and train a skilled workforce. President Mitsui then introduced the small business partner, Rebecca (Gillenwater) Smith of Blessing Landscape. As soon as they introduced her she professed, “I’m also a grad of Oregon Tradeswomen!” and the whole room cheered with excitement!

Rebecca (Gillenwater) Smith went through our pre-apprenticeship training program in 2009 and also graduated from PCC’s landscaping program. She worked in the field for a number of years and is now the landscape designer for PCC and has helped them win awards for their sustainability practices!

It was a thrilling convergence. Rebecca wanted to re-engage with Oregon Tradeswomen: she is actively looking to recruit Oregon Tradeswomen pre-apprenticeship graduates for her company and has been wanting to come and speak to students in our classes.

We are so humbled by this recognition and are also thrilled to see how our grads are positively impacting the community! Thank you PCC and keep up the good work, Rebecca!