In Their Own Voices
To better understand the impact of our programs, we are grateful to those who are willing to share their experiences.
Genesis, Women’s Initiative for Readiness in Electrical (W.I.R.E.), Tradeswomen Sisterhood, Southern CA
“In the program, I improved my math skills and gained lots of hands-on knowledge, particularly operating machinery — which helped me get over my fear of heights and made me feel more independent. I also improved my leadership skills when I was assigned as a journeyman on a project. I feel like I’m equipped with the knowledge and the insight to prepare myself to get into an apprenticeship. I feel confident and very ready to start working. For my career path, I’d like to journey out, become an electrician and maybe a foreman.”
Tamara, Women’s Initiative for Readiness in Electrical (W.I.R.E.), Tradeswomen Sisterhood, Southern CA
“In this program, I gained the patience and the discipline to see tough challenges through. In addition to working with tools and lifts, I gained communication skills that will benefit me in the field. I aspire to get as much knowledge as I can with hands-on work; I’d also like to do the kind of work that Khadeejah and Venessa do — inspiring and supporting women to break down barriers in a male-dominated field. Anyone can do it with the right head space and real support. It’s hard to give up when you’re surrounded by people who want to see you win!”
Stephanie, Women’s Initiative for Readiness in Electrical (W.I.R.E.), Tradeswomen Sisterhood, Southern CA
“I came in knowing nothing about the trade. In the program I learned skills like how to pull wire, build a circuit with a receptacle, a switch, and a light as a source; I also learned how to do that by building a small robot, which was my favorite project. With the physical activity, I learned I am more capable that I thought I was — I’m just so excited to put these skills to use in the field! The experience was amazing. I’d do it all over again.”
Briannah, Women’s Initiative for Readiness in Electrical (W.I.R.E.), Tradeswomen Sisterhood, Southern CA
“When I go on a job, I’ll know what to expect — what to do and how to get it done. I want to be a journeyman, all thanks to the W.I.R.E. program. I’m confident I have the tools and skills because I know what it takes to succeed. Being part of the sisterhood has been awesome. At first, I felt kind of out of place but now I have a sense of belonging. No matter what your gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, you belong — you’re going to make it in this field.”
Vanessa, Women’s Initiative for Readiness in Electrical (W.I.R.E.), Tradeswomen Sisterhood, Southern CA
“The experiences in this program will benefit me in my career because I learned a lot of things a first-year apprentice would learn, so I feel more comfortable dealing with materials and tools. I enjoyed the teamwork exercises — it was great to work as a team, which made for a comfortable learning environment. We made some good bonds. It was a great experience — and you might even get some sisters out of it!”
Rona, Seattle Mentorship Program for BIPOC Tradeswomen
“What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to meet women from different trades and find out more about their work. Learning from others is so helpful! I was inspired by the women I met and what they were doing. I got to know about the possibilities and that enabled me to be recruited. I got laid off at one place but was able to be hired elsewhere because I knew what was out there. Because I knew more about things, trainings and the like, I was able to move from flagging (which I loved!) to being a forklift driver. The women who inspired me made such a difference for me, I want to do that for others too so some us mentees started our own mentoring group to give back.”
Tetre’anna, Seattle Mentorship Program for BIPOC Tradeswomen
“It was nice to build community with other women and have their positive influences. I met not only carpenters like me, but operators, electricians, and laborers. On my job site, I’m one of three women. The other two are in different trades and we don’t get to interact very often. And they look nothing like me, so I appreciated being able to sit down with my peers and talk with other women who were experiencing things like I did, not only as a woman but as a woman of color. I got advice on what we constantly deal with on the job site and overall, I liked the camaraderie of the group. The program helped me make lifelong connections and I’m appreciative of that.”
Juliette, Seattle Mentorship Program for BIPOC Tradeswomen
“When you’re out there on the job, you don’t see many other females and if there are one or two, sometimes the guys try to make you accountable for other women’s bad behavior, you know, if they show up late or don’t want to do the tough jobs. That’s why I appreciated this program; I wanted to meet other females in the trades. I could learn from my mentors and have someone to call who’s been through it. Sometimes I felt like I was the only one facing difficult job situations and talking to others let me know I was not the only one. I felt less alone. I like to work hard — do the hard things that sort of kick the guys’ butts (laugh) — and I found others like me who love the work. So many of us connected, I feel like there are women I’ve met I will hang out with for the rest of my life!”
