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Several 91Ӱ�� are putting new skills to use as apprentices for roofing and facade improvement projects thanks to a training program with a local construction union. 

A partnership between NYCHA and the union, the 12-week pre-training program aims to prepare participants for a union apprenticeship and a future career in bricklaying and masonry restoration. Two separate cohorts were launched this past spring at the Local 1 union’s training center in Long Island City, offering 91Ӱ�� a pre-training opportunity for apprenticeships in the PCC (pointer, caulker, cleaner) or bricklayer trades.  

The free training course provides industry certifications such as OSHA 30-hour, 10-hour Site Safety Training, 16-hour Suspended Scaffolding, and 4-hour Supported Scaffold User. Trainees receive a $200 weekly stipend, and upon graduation they are connected to a construction apprenticeship with Local 1 as well as employment referrals. 

The cohorts were initiated after NYCHA’s Asset & Capital Management division (A&CM) determined a need for skilled labor in the bricklaying and PCC fields due to an increased portfolio of work over the next five years. A&CM collaborated with NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES) to identify employment and training opportunities for residents specifically for union bricklaying and PCC-related jobs that are required for current and future projects across NYCHA. A&CM and REES worked together in the past to establish similar workforce development efforts for the Hurricane Sandy and Comprehensive Modernization capital programs.  

“Resident employment on capital projects is critical for NYCHA to achieve our Section 3 goals,” Chief Asset and Capital Management Officer Shaan Mavani noted. “By taking an innovative, collaborative approach with our partners in labor, A&CM is creating meaningful pathways for residents to enter the construction trades and access real economic opportunities on NYCHA capital projects.” 

“This initiative builds upon REES’ existing work to establish relationships with various construction union trades in order to create and connect residents to employment-linked job training opportunities and long-term career pathways,” said Lenese McPhie, Deputy Director of REES, which coordinated recruitment and structured the program to fit the specific needs of Local 1. “Union opportunities can help significantly increase a resident’s employment prospects over time, as well as create a pipeline of qualified 91Ӱ�� for employment opportunities on NYCHA properties.” 

At the conclusion of its pre-training, Local 1 assists the graduates by referring them to vendors in the PCC and bricklaying trades. PCC workers perform masonry-related duties such as removing old mortar, cleaning surfaces, and sealing areas to prevent water damage.  

The Local 1 pre-training program prepares participants for a union apprenticeship in the bricklaying and PCC trades.

After completing the program this past June, five 91Ӱ�� have been hired as first-year apprentices for PCC jobs, while three residents were hired for bricklayer apprenticeships. Four of the PCC workers were assigned to jobs on NYCHA projects, while the three bricklayers and one PCC apprentice were assigned to work on private contracts.  

PCC apprentices Dwayne Morris and Daniel Malin, both of whom had no previous experience in construction, spoke highly of the classes run by experienced Local 1 instructors, saying the course adequately prepared them with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed. 

“It was a very good program,” said Mr. Morris, a Section 8 resident in the Bronx. “The teachers were very informative on what to look for once we begin working, what the benefits are, what the job requirements are, and what the job is going to ask of us.” 

Lifelong Marcy Houses resident Mr. Malin also touted the support of instructors and said they were “in my corner throughout the whole program.” 

“I feel like I learned exactly what I needed to for the field I’m in now,” said Mr. Malin, who previously served as a NYCHA Caretaker at Manhattan’s LaGuardia Houses. “They won’t put you in the field without being well taught about everything you need to know, especially safety.”  

The two classmates recalled that they learned of the free training through a flyer and were intrigued at the prospects for a new stable career. Mr. Morris, whose father had worked in construction, was recently unemployed at the time, and he believed construction was the right fit as someone who likes being handy. For Mr. Malin, construction had the potential to be a long-term profession.  

“It was about finding a career and being able to do something that I had never tried before,” Mr. Malin said. “Construction offers a well-paying job that has benefits, a good pension, and you can make a living off this.” 

Prior to the 12-week training course with Local 1, participants receive a weeklong “soft” skills training, which was structured by A&CM and REES and facilitated by NYCHA vendor GEM. The soft skills program covers topics such as workplace expectations, effective communication, goal setting, as well as financial management.  

“The workforce development training provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of workplace professionalism, financial literacy, job readiness, and career advancement strategies,” Ms. McPhie noted.  

Soon after their monthslong training for PCCs was completed, Mr. Morris and Mr. Malin were among those hired as entry-level apprentices at NYCHA construction sites, where they were eager to build their in-the-field experience. Mr. Morris is working with contractor J&N Corporation on a brick restoration project at Woodside Houses in Queens, while Mr. Malin is working with contractor Zoria Housing on a project at Manhattan’s Dyckman Houses. 

“It’s a good experience to be a part of something like this,” Mr. Malin said. “I love the job, and it’s a pretty good team I work with.” 

As a longtime NYCHA resident, Mr. Malin is proud to assist with efforts that help improve the homes of residents. 

“Giving back to my community is something I take pride in,” he said. 

Fellow apprentice Mr. Morris is equally gratified to pursue a construction career, which he believes will be rewarding and help support his family. 

“I like working in construction, and it’s good for me,” Mr. Morris said. “A laborer’s job is something I needed after all these years, and now that I got here, it’s been fulfilling for me.” 

NYCHA and Local 1 are looking into opportunities for future training cohorts for PCCs and bricklayers, possibly beginning this fall. Manager of Strategic Partnerships John White, who managed the overall effort from A&CM, said “connecting our residents to union apprenticeships is a way to ensure that NYCHA is not only investing in our campuses but our residents as well.”