In August 2024, MassHire North Shore of Salem, MA, celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of clean energy and offshore wind trainees! Funded by MassCEC Equity Workforce Fund, the 14 trainees were recruited from underrepresented, low-income, or environmental justice neighborhoods from Salem, Lynn, and other North Shore communities in late Spring of 2024. For 12 weeks, they participated in an intensive program that included technical skills development and certifications, as well as broader career readiness skills and background on jobs in the offshore wind industry and the trade unions that are involved.
The 12-week curriculum, offered in English and Spanish (as needed), was specially designed with input from MassHire North Shore, Essex Tech, many of MassCEC grant partners mentioned above, as well as the City of Salem Department of Planning and Community Development, City of Salem DEI Department, the UMass Amherst Gloucester Marine Station leadership, the Essex County Community Foundation, Crowley Wind Services Salem, Salem Alliance for the Environment – (SAFE) and over 35 stakeholders representing community partners on the North Shore.
During the first three weeks of their program, held at MassHire’s North Shore Career Center in Salem, the trainees participated in clean energy and offshore wind job training and gained career preparedness skills. This included the trainees’ first ever exposure to the breadth of opportunities in the Clean Energy and Offshore Wind industry such as: an introduction to the Trades and Clean Energy, an introduction to Environmental Justice, a presentation and a site visit organized by the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal’s developer and port operator, Crowley Wind Services. The trainees heard from a variety of professionals -- from offshore wind trainers to trade union representatives relevant to clean energy and offshore wind, to the leadership of the Essex County Community Foundation and the Salem Alliance for the Environment’s (SAFE) Offshore Wind Program Manager. This portion of the training also included career readiness skills such as job search, resume writing, interview skills, and salary negotiation.
This was followed by nine weeks of occupational skills training at nearby Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School in Danvers (Essex Tech). There, the trainees gained certifications in Hot Work (to safely perform work involving risk of fire), OSHA 30, Ramset (tool certification) and CPR/First Aid/AED. They also studied preparatory coursework for a Massachusetts hoisting license (for industrial/commercial/construction lifting); basic tool skills and job site awareness and safety; basic construction involving metal, wood, concrete; welding; and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and cooling).
The last few weeks of their 9-week occupational skills training included weekly in-class employer information sessions and a career fair organized by MassHire North Shore and Essex Tech. Invitees included local clean energy private employers as well as representatives from several trade unions, including the Carpenter's Union Local 339, NASRCC; the Communication Workers Union Local 201, IUE-CWA at GE; the Painters and Allied Trades Union, District Council #35; the Millwrights Union Local 1121, NASRCC and the Construction Laborers Union Local 560. At each of the weekly in-class employer information sessions, the guests engaged in lively discussion with the trainees about career options and benefits, job applications, and interview processes.
All selected candidates went through extensive initial needs and eligibility assessments, as well as individualized coaching and support services from MassHire North Shore Career Center and Essex Tech. Throughout their training, wraparound services included stipends, work gear, technology devices, real-time in-class language translation and transportation assistance to and from the training to the transit-accessible Salem MassHire Career Center.
According to Rafael Prenza Castillo, who already had a background in electrical engineering in his former country (as translated from Spanish): “The treatment from the MassHire team was very good. They have people very eager to help us improve. As for the Essex Tech team, I could tell that they cared a lot about the education we received. Although it was an introductory training, this course has helped me obtain a certification from this country and helps me to join a company and then develop and show my skills.”
MassHire North Shore is proud that all 14 of our first clean energy and offshore wind equity workforce trainees graduated this August with 100% on-time attendance and 100% completion during the 12-week program! They are currently receiving comprehensive employment and placement assistance from the MassHire North Shore Career Center and are actively engaged in job searches with private clean energy/construction trades as well as union apprenticeship pathways. We look forward to their future success in the rapidly expanding clean energy and offshore wind sector.