Palmer Pathways Establishes Advisory Committee, Pursues Pre-Apprenticeship Certification

Palmer Scholars has recently established its first Palmer Pathways Advisory Board (PPAB). The PPAB will serve as a standing Board for the purpose of working with the Palmer Pathways Initiative, Palmer Scholars’ Executive Director, and Palmer Scholars’ Director of Postsecondary Pathways.

Palmer Pathways is an initiative of Palmer Scholars and focuses its efforts on connecting young adults of color between the ages of 18 and 26 who are neither employed nor enrolled in a postsecondary program to a family-wage career in the trades. The Palmer Pathways Initiative began in 2019 and graduated its first cohort of Scholars in June of 2020.

Since its first cohort, Palmer Pathways has evolved to meet the many needs of disconnected young adults of color throughout Pierce County. We have applied to the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council to be recognized as an official pre-apprenticeship program, providing Scholars with specialized instruction and experience in the trades. As the program gears up to begin recruiting its second cohort, Palmer Scholar has brought a variety of experts and industry leaders to form the PPAB. The PPAB members and their affiliations include:

· John Boufford, Project Labor Agreement Specialist, Sound Transit

· Jeremy Clevenger, LiUNA!/NWLETT Apprenticeship Coordinator, Northwest Laborers Apprenticeship

· Lowell Glodowski, Apprenticeship Coordinator, WWMT JATC Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 Washington

· Aubre Nelson, Apprenticeship Consultant 3, WA Labor and Industries, Board Consultant (non-voting member)

· Kristi Grassman, Director, Construction Center of Excellence

· Mark Martinez, Executive Secretary, Pierce County Building and Construction Trades Council

· Kacee Woods, Training & Apprenticeship Analyst, Tacoma Power and Palmer Scholars Board Member

The PPAB will meet at least once per month and advise on matters concerning program structure, policies, curriculum, outreach, and fundraising efforts for the Pathways Initiative. We are excited to welcome our PPAB members to the Palmer Scholars family and grateful for the roads they are paving for economically disadvantaged young adults of color. If you would like more information or would like to get involved, please email pathways@palmerscholars.org.