BY MICHAEL BURKE
Journal Times | Posted: Saturday, March 29, 2008 12:00 am
RACINE - The First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a City of Racine initiative designed to increase racial diversity in the construction trades.
The program, which costs $130,000 annually, is funded by federal Community Block Grant Development money and grants from sources including United Way, Racine Community Foundation and the SC Johnson Fund.
Here are some basic facts about First Choice, from Executive Director Ola Baiyewu.
Who is eligible
* City of Racine residents who are at least 18. The age range of enrollees so far is 18-52, with the average about 35, Baiyewu said.
The vast majority are men, but two women have entered the program.
* First Choice is designed for racial minorities who live in Racine Census tracts 1-5. City residents from other areas who qualify under the federal poverty guideline are also waived in.
But actually, First Choice cannot discriminate against anyone who meets the other basic criteria such as age and education, Baiyewu said.
* A high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma.
"Some people tell me my eligibility is too high, Baiyewu said. "But I can't afford to bring people in at the sixth-grade level, because we're competing with Milwaukee" for apprenticeships and jobs.
* A driver's license and reliable transportation.
Program steps
Here is what each participant will go through:
1. Attend an orientation session.
2. Take a two-hour basic-education test of reading and math skills. Passing is achieving 10th-grade levels in both areas.
Those who cannot pass the test are referred to the Racine County Workforce Development Center to raise their skills.
3. Take the six-week First Choice program, held daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the former Marquette Street fire station.
The course starts with two weeks called Tools For Success, using a curriculum from the National Center For Construction Education and Research. Topics include basic work skills, nutrition and financial literacy/money management.
The next four weeks are the technical side, covering hand and power tools, safety and fall prevention, and math.
4. In the fifth or sixth week of the program, enrollees go to the union of their choice and take the qualification test. If they pass, they become either an apprentice or pre-apprentice depending on the union.
5. First Choice provides the graduate with a voucher, worth about $150, to buy boots and hand tools.
6. Baiyewu then finds a job placement for the new apprentice. "Really, the value of what we do is to secure 98 percent of the jobs for them," he said. "Because it's hard for a person to find work."
The state provides a bond for each ex-convict, he said, should that person commit a theft or other damaging act on the job. So many contractors don't have that concern.
"What they're interested in," Baiyewu said, "is: Can you come to work on time every day?"
And how do the First Choice grads do on that requirement? "Ninety-nine percent of everyone we have placed continues to go to work," Baiyewu said.
"If they walk off the job, they can't come back to our program."
As an aside, Baiyewu mentioned that he requires every new enrollee, on day one, to get a library card.
Then they must read one of the following books and "connect the city to the book" in a one-page report: "Native Son," "Of Mice and Men," "Silas Marner," "A Christmas Story," "Animal Farm," or "1984."
He explained his reasoning by saying, "I want them to understand that there is nothing new under the sun."
Learn more
For more information about First Choice call (262) 633-3285 or e-mail Baiyewu at
By the numbers
The First Choice Pre-Apprenticeship Training program since its inception in July 2005:
481 - attended orientation session
219 - enrolled*
56 - obtained construction jobs (average $16.80/hour)
62 - obtained manufacturing jobs (average $9.52/hour)
14 - achieved apprenticeship status with a trade union
2 - achieved journeyman status
* Not all who attended orientation were eligible to enroll.