Young Manufacturers Association: Update from Program Participants, Part 2
For Davon Hazelwood, learning about the field of manufacturing in recent weeks has been about learning specific technical skills, how to present himself in job interviews – and what the actual day-to-day activities inside a manufacturing company are like. Hazelwood is participating in the Young Manufacturers Association (YMA) program, Manufacturing Renaissance’s nationally recognized career pathways […]
Getting Started: Latest YMA Training Cohort Underway, Part 1
Davon Hazelwood, fourth from the left in back row. Alexandria Parlor, second from the left in front row. YMA trainees visit to Dakkota Integrated Systems for Manufacturing Day event October 2022. The latest session of the Young Manufacturers Association (YMA), Manufacturing Renaissance’s nationally recognized career pathways program for adults, aged 18-24, started in September. YMA, […]
Profile: Sarah Mercado, MR’s New Director of Career Pathway Services
Sarah Mercado started her position as Director of Career Pathways Services at Manufacturing Renaissance in August of this year. However, her family background and career path prepared her for this work well before this year. She was born in the Dominican Republic; her life there and here has often been tied to social justice issues, […]
Andrew Crowe: Bringing Youth and Manufacturing Communities Together
Andrew Crowe has seen it all – enough to fill a very long story about his life. These days, he is doing something else: sharing his story and what he has learned to inspire young people in underserved communities about the great potential of working in the manufacturing sector. Andrew “the Mfg” Crowe works to […]
Success Story: Two Brothers On Their Way!
Kevin and William both completed our last YMA Training and worked with DeeDee Jones, MR’s Industry Coordinator, to find good jobs. They both applied to Novolex Duro Bag in Alsip, IL, but only Kevin was called back for an interview. Kevin relies on William, who owns a car, for transportation. Kevin’s interview went well but […]
Profile: Dee Dee Jones, Industry Coordinator, Extraordinaire!
Dee Dee Jones, Industry Coordinator for Manufacturing Renaissance works closely with companies and students to make our programs work. She is responsible for recruiting companies for field trips, job shadowing experiences, internships, and career opportunities. She also prepares students for careers in manufacturing. We asked her to share her perspective about what we do – […]
Young Manufacturers Association Spring Training Cohort Underway
Photo from left to right: Dawmonique, Brence (Instructor), Ocie, Wanya, William, Kevin. While outreach and recruitment has been an ongoing challenge throughout the pandemic, over 35 young adults expressed interest in the joining the Spring YMA Cohort. 16 of those that completed the application and interview process were accepted into the program, which launched on […]
Manufacturing Connect Participants Share First Impressions
The latest session of Manufacturing Connect, our nationally recognized career pathways program for teens, started in January. We talked with a few student participants (and an educator who connected a student to the program) to get their initial perspective about it. Jeremiah Hall “I am starting to get more interested in manufacturing,” says Jeremiah Hall, […]
Mfg Day 2021: An Inside Look
What’s it like to work in a manufacturing company? What kind of opportunities are available? These are the kinds of questions asked by participants in Manufacturing Connect, Manufacturing Renaissance’s program that exposes, inspires, and prepares young adults for the field. Participants in the program had a chance to learn about the field this fall at […]
Success Story: Marla “…learns something everyday…”
Shipping, receiving, operating machines, working in a company’s quality department. In nearly a decade of working in the manufacturing field, Marla Sanders has had many responsibilities over the years. Sanders participated in the Manufacturing Renaissance training program at the Austin Polytechnical Academy, graduating from the program in 2012 in its second graduating class. Sanders grew […]