Students Get Hands-On Experience in Construction Trades at the DECC

DULUTH, Minn. — Construct Tomorrow hosted a two-day event at the DECC this week. The event allowed local students to get hands-on experience and learn about new job opportunities.

Students could lay bricks, set tiles and even use motion simulators as they went through stations. Many organizations also taught kids about apprenticeships and careers in construction.

“I am passionate about sharing that knowledge to new people and how to get in on every step of the way for them,” said Akeethia Lloyd, Career navigator for Local 49.

“So that way they’re more confident and knowledgeable about whatever it is they choose to do, whatever trade they want to go into, but at least now they know the steps and can walk into any space more confident than ever before because they have that information available to them,” said Lloyd.

Lloyd says events like Construct Tomorrow help students who aren’t leaning toward college.

“By us being here and talking about the trades, I mean, you have some people, they may want to go off to college right after high school,” said Lloyd. “But there’s always those kids, sometimes they know college may not be for them and if they feel like the trades are more of an option for them, we’ve got to be here to at least give them that way.”

Local 49 had hands-on activities and also provided information about their Operating Engineers Program, which allows students to take free online courses.