Portland Unions Build Stronger Communities
"This program has changed my life, it's saved my life, and I have a career waiting for me when I get out.” - Deserae Taylor, U-PACT Oregon participant
Endorsements are important for a campaign. An endorsement for a candidate is a public recognition of shared values and a statement of support. That much I knew from reading a Voters Pamphlet.
What I didn't understand before I became your candidate for District 1 is what an incredible learning experience an endorsement process can be. Through conversations, questionnaires, and interviews, it has been an honor to learn from a broad spectrum of partners about the challenges that different communities and sectors experience and the hopes they have for the future of Portland City Council.
I am simply not made for transactional politics—I strive to build meaningful relationships—and luckily Ironworkers Local 29 values relationships as deeply as I do, as they were the first organization to endorse our campaign. These values were made clearer when their team invited me to join them last month at their pre-apprenticeship showcase at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.
Participants recently completed the Union Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training (U-PACT) program, which offers training to women at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. This is a 12-week pre-apprenticeship program run by Ironworkers Local 29, Bricklayers Local 1, and Cement Masons Local 555 that prepares participants for a career in one of these trades.
"U-PACT Oregon is not only training women for a career in the trades but is building the confidence that is required to be self-reliant in today's society. This program is also assisting in creating diversity within Oregon's building trades." Anna Martin, U-PACT Oregon Program Lead
They’re helping participants build a foundation for life after incarceration, and literally helping build our communities.
In other words:
“U-PACT Oregon is showing the participants they are not forgotten. What they did yesterday doesn't define them, it's what they do today that defines them! They are rewarded with a lifetime of benefits for their hard work and dedication! These women deserve the same opportunities as the rest of the world. We believe in them now, and it's time they believe in themselves.” - Noah Jones, Cement Masons Local 555 Instructor
After the showcase, I had the pleasure of chatting with one of the pre-apprenticeship participants. Deserae immediately asked what I could do to ensure that this program continued so that her colleagues with a later release date could be a part of it (I told her that, for one, I could send an email spreading the word about the program. This is that email!).
Apprenticeships offer critical pathways into thriving wage careers, and a number of our local unions have been working to ensure women and people of color feel welcome and encouraged to find a home in the trades.
People often talk about community safety, climate justice, and shared prosperity as siloed issues. But this program is a shining example of how everything is interconnected. We have an entire new sustainable economy to build, and we must focus on a just transition. Fun fact: Ironworkers' most common jobs are wind and solar projects. Thanks to everyone who made U-PACT possible, and to the participants for all their work to complete the pre-apprenticeship training. I can still feel my hands buzzing from all the applauding.