This year marks the 7th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). NAW is a nationwide celebration where industry, labor, equity, workforce, education and government leaders host events to showcase the successes and value of Registered Apprenticeship for re-building our nation’s economy, advancing racial and gender equity, and supporting underserved communities.

This year’s celebration includes recognition of the efforts by the Biden-Harris administration and the Department of Labor to encourage and increase apprenticeship opportunities for women and communities underrepresented in apprenticeship. NAW’s 2021 focus aligns with YouthBuild Boston’s mission to empower and assist underserved young people from the Boston area with the essential social, vocational, academic and life skills necessary to enter the construction and design industry.

YouthBuild Boston is extremely committed to doing its part to increase the number of skilled, minority women in the trades. Our current Pre-Apprentice cohort has two young women that are sure to take the industry by storm! Jahbria Horsley and Amarah Parris (pictured above) are proud of what they have learned thus far in our Pre-Apprentice Program. Both women expressed the importance of working together, as a team, to produce quality work. They have received their OSHA 10 and CPR\First Aid certifications – providing them with the required credentials to master their skills and safely work on live job sites.

Jahbria is a graduate of the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science. She felt college was not her immediate trajectory after completing high school and made the decision to join YouthBuild Boston in hopes of following in the footsteps of family members already in the trades. One family member in particular, her mother, is a Foreman for the Boston Public Library. Jahbria is honored to be following her mother’s path to success and committed to making her own mark on the industry.

“I am very appreciative of YouthBuild Boston for giving me the opportunity to be a woman in the field” – Jahbria

Amarah is a graduate of Community Academy of Science and Health. Very similar to Jahbria, Amarah did not see college as her immediate path after high school, but knew she wanted to do something that would provide her with an opportunity for a successful career. She has an uncle an uncle in the trades industry that is a HCVAR technician. Amarah will be the first Carpenter in her family and is creating a lane of her own.

“I appreciate the opportunity to work with YouthBuild Boston because it shows women can get the job done too.” – Amarah

These two young women are on a true path to success in the industry and we are honored to be part of their journey.