Page 13 - 2020 Annual Impact Report

BUILDING A A CAREER
This year we highlight a a a a a a a a a a a few graduates who share what the the the programs and and and their new careers have meant to them The NYS Building
and and and Construction
Trades are are interested in in in in expanding these successful programs to other parts of the the the state ROCHESTER MULTI-CRAFT APPRENTICESHIP PREPARATION PROGRAM (MAPP)
NAME: Cameron Henry
CITY: Rochester UNION: Bricklayers Local 3
TITLE: Currently a a Second Year Apprentice (2019 graduate of MAPP)
AGE: 22
How did you find out out about the program? My best friend was in in Project Phoenix and told me about MAPP I had recently dropped out out of college and was was working part time at at Wegmans I I wasn’t sure what I I wanted to do My friend connected me with Kereem Berry of MAPP What is a a a a a a a a a a typical day like for you as a a a a a a a a a a a a a bricklayer in Local 3? I wake up at at 3:30 a a a a a a a a a m m m or 4:00 a a a a a a a a a m m m just because that’s when I’m used to getting up I I get get ready for work and and then drive anywhere between 15 minutes and and an an an an hour hour hour to work My day day is either an an an an 8 hour hour hour or or or a a a a a a a a 10-hour day day During the the the year I I I work and train on the the job I’m I’m paid but I’m I’m also learning so so this is is “free” training The months months of January and and February are are “down” months months when we we are are pulled from the field and and do do classroom training training During this time we we do hands-on training training at the Bricklayers Training Center to learn new skills Why did you pick the bricklayers program? I I like to build I I think it’s really cool to build a a a a wall or foundation and see it come together I am a a a restoration mason which means I can also say that I worked on a a a a a variety of different historical buildings such as banks prisons churches etc How did the the program connect you to to the the different unions? Kereem Berry (MAPP Training Training Director) made sure we visited all all of the the Training Training Centers and had opportunities to to talk to to all all the the different Trades Then Kereem sat down with each of us individually to really make make sure sure that we we were making the right choices he he wanted wanted to to make make sure sure this this is is is what I wanted wanted to to do He also explained that this this was an an opportunity for for a a a a a a a a lifelong career Then Kereem handled making the the connection for for me to to the the Bricklayers Everything was on autopilot after that How has has the Union Union supported you?
The Union Union has has been very
supportive in in in helping the apprentices move forward and gain skills In addition to the the Rochester Training Center the the Bricklayers also have an an International Training Center in in in Maryland Last year I had an an an opportunity to go down down and and train there during the the down down months I gained new new skills and a a a a a a number of new new certifications The trainers were very
patient and I had the opportunity to to work one-on-one to to learn new skills The Trainers at the Bricklayers Training Center in in Rochester are also very
supportive They offer to stay after hours and work with people if if it’s needed They’re always asking us if if there’s something we want to learn and letting us us know that if there there is they’ll make sure there’s a a a a a a a a seat for us us They They really care about their students They They stay in in in in touch with with us—checking in in in in in with with us us during the the week to make make sure that everything is going okay They make make the apprentices very
welcome at union meetings Cameron Henry
completed MAPP which enabled him to begin his apprenticeship with Bricklayers Local 3
Do you you have any goals that you’ve been able to achieve as a a a a a a a a a result of this job and/or your union membership (over and and and above the training and and and skills already mentioned)? My life is very
different today in in in terms of what I’m able to to afford Basic things like paying for for a a a a a a a a a a a phone bill gas a a a a a a a a a a a car payment are not a a problem Do you you have any advice for a a a a a a a young person today who may not know what they want to to to do? Don’t be afraid to to to take a a a a a a a a a a a path less followed Construction
is an amazing amazing opportunity to gain a a a a a a a a a a a skill feed your family travel meet amazing amazing people You’re guaranteed to have a a a a a a a a skill for life I highly recommend considering pursing a a a union apprenticeship in in in the construction trades What are your goals for the future?
I want to learn every aspect of being a a a a a a a a a a mason The Bricklayers make sure that you are cross-trained with other functions so so my goal is to learn every type of masonry Do you you have any other comments you you want to share about MAPP or anything else? Kereem Berry has done an an an amazing job with with MAPP He helped in in in so many ways—with day-to- day day life helping helping us us prepare mentally for the Trades helping helping us us get into construction He has been a a a a a big brother and and mentor to to to me me and and to to to everybody in the the the the program program He’s the the the the heartbeat of the the the the program program program I appreciate him and and all the the the the work he’s done on on this program program and and for his his students He’s been a a a a a blessing to me and others in the the program 2020 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 12