Sponsored content provided by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County.
The Madison Area Builders Association (MABA) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County (BGCDC) are celebrating the first anniversary of the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center.
Developed by BGCDC and MABA and powered by partnerships with area organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, WRTP | BIG STEP, and the Latino Academy of Workforce Development; the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center aims to inspire and empower all young people to reach their full potential. At the heart of the center is the MABA Skilled Trades Center Powered by Drexel Building Supply to train and connect a new generation of young people to the skilled trades.
This first-of-its-kind project caught the attention of the National Association of Homes Builders (NAHB) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The Center now serves as a national template for other Boys & Girls Clubs and home builder associations across the county! To celebrate this anniversary milestone James Tobin, CEO of NAHB and Ed Brady, CEO of the Home Builders Institute will be at the center on July 17, 2024 to witness the accomplishments of the first year.
Within the program’s first two years, nearly 3,000 youth have been served at the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center and local Clubs. Over 250 have participated in technical, employment, and soft skill trainings through various camps and programs, and over 20 students have been hired for seasonal, part-time, or full-time employment within the construction industry! As we focus on female and BIPOC youth, we are excited to share that nearly seventy percent (70%) of the participants have been BIPOC and over forty percent (40%) of the participants have been female, including 100% of the BLAZE Camp participants!
“Reflecting on the remarkable journey of the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, we are filled with immense pride at the progress and impact we’ve made in just one year. The collaboration between MABA and Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County along with our other partners has been truly transformative,” said Michael Johnson, President and CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County. “We are especially proud of the diversity within our program, with nearly 70% of participants being BIPOC and over 40% being female. This inclusivity is central to our mission of empowering all young people to reach their full potential.”
Partnering with the Madison Area Builders Association, local unions, and other residential and commercial building companies and organizations, the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center provides a resource to ensure young adults, including females and BIPOC, are prepared for professional success in skilled trades. At a time when we’re seeing a major housing shortage and major labor shortage, our goal is to help fill that gap by preparing young people in Dane County for quality, family-sustaining jobs.
The McKenzie Regional Workforce Center and its programming actively engages investors that are committed to eliminating barriers for youth from low-income communities to achieve career and financial success. To learn more about the programs and resources available at the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, please visit: https://bgcdcbuilds.org/.
