[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> GENERATIONS OF GENERA SOMEONE'S HAVE SHAPED RHODE ISLAND.

WE CAN HELP.

♪ PETER: WELCOME TO ANOTHER ADDITION OF IN ANOTHER OPINION.

DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

I'M YOUR HOST PETER WELLS.

MY GUESTS TODAY ARE FROM THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.

WE HAVE LOUIS COTOIA.

WE HAVE BETTY BERNAL, LATINO EDUCATOR AND COORDINATOR.

AND WE HAVE CHERYL BOYD, DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE PROGRAMS AND THE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.

THESE FOLKS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP MORE HOUSING IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND TO ASSIST IN INCREASING THE NUMBERS OF MINORITIES AND UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF WITH BETTY.

BETTY BERNAL, YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME, I HAVE KNOWN YOU FOR A FEW YEARS.

TELL ME HOW DID DORCAS GET INVOLVED WITH CONSTRUCTION?

IT WAS BASICALLY AN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAM AND GETTING PEOPLE SETTLED INTO A NEW ENVIRONMENT AND LEARNING HOW TO LIVE IN A NEW COUNTRY, QUITE FRANKLY.

HOW DID WE GET TO CONSTRUCTION?

BETTY: ACTUALLY, I'M NOT WITH DORCAS INTERNATIONAL, I'M WITH THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.

WE ARE COORDINATING WITH DORCAS INTERNATIONAL ON A ESL PROGRAM.

THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION IS CONTINUING EFFORTS TO BETTER SERVE THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO ARE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

WE BELIEVE IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO HELP THE CONTRACTORS TO LEARN ENGLISH, SO THAT IS WHY I APPROACHED DORCAS INTERNATIONAL TO START THIS PROGRAM.

PETER: VESSEL STANDS FOR VOCATIONAL ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.

VESL.

PEOPLE LEARNING ENGLISH IN THE VOCATION IN WHICH THEY ARE GOING TO BE WORKING IN IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION.

IS THAT WHAT I'M GETTING?

BETTY: YES.

THE REASON WHY WE STARTED WITH ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AND OSHA TRAINING AND SAFE TRAINING.

PETER: YES.

BETTY: BUT WHEN WE REALIZED IT THOSE ARE NOT ENOUGH AND BECAUSE DORCAS IS AN ADULT EDUCATION SPECIALIST, THAT IS WHY WE CELEBRATE THIS COLLABORATION AGREEMENT AND WHY WE STARTED TO DO OUR VESL PROGRAM.

PETER: BASED ON THE TITLE, THAT COMES INTO YOUR PURVIEW WAS WELL, CHERYL.

CHERYL: YES, THE VOCATIONAL ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE FALLS UNDER EVERYTHING THAT WE DO HERE AT THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIP.

BETTY HAS BEEN AN AMAZING ADDITION TO OUR TEAM.

SHE IS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND SHE IS DOING HER GREAT WORK AT PROVIDING THE KNOWLEDGE TO THE FOLKS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN STARTING A CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION.

SHE HAS MADE SOME FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FOLKS AT DORCAS INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE AND WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO BRING IN PARTNERS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE PROGRAMS WE ARE RUNNING AND PUTTING TOGETHER.

PETER: BRIGHT.

-- RIGHT.

JUST SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE CONCEPT HERE, WHAT IS YOUR ROLE, LOU?

LOUIS: MY ROLE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT ROLES.

I WORK ALONGSIDE BETTY AND CHERYL.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT CURRICULUM.

I TICKET STRONG PART IN GETTING INDUSTRY INVOLVED, AS WELL AS OUR INSTRUCTORS AND KIND OF BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.

OUR BIGGEST FOCUS IS WE CAN UPSCALE THE STUDENTS, WE CAN BRING THEM INTO THE INDUSTRY, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF HOW TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY AND SOME OF THE STATE REGULATIONS THAT REVOLVE AROUND PEOPLE RUNNING THEIR OWN BUSINESS OR WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO ADD TO THEIR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE.

PETER: HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE IN THE PROGRAM?

LOUIS: CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A POOL OF OVER 16 DIFFERENT CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS.

PRIMARILY, WE ARE WORKING WITH ABOUT 8-9 ALL THE TIME BETWEEN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ALL THE TIME.

PETER: ARE THEY DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES?

CARPENTER VERSUS PLUMBER VERSUS ELECTRICIAN?

OR ARE YOU NOT GOING THAT ROUTE?

LOUIS: NO, SURE.

CURRENTLY WE ARE RUNNING SEVERAL DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS AND CARPENTRY AND THEN WE HAVE ADDED AN ELECTORAL -- ELECTRICIAN PROGRAM AND THEN HVAC ALSO.

THESE GUYS HAVE ALL BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR 25-PLUS YEARS.

THEY PRETTY MUCH ALL HOLD A RHODE ISLAND REGISTRATION CARD.

AS WELL AS 98% OF OUR INSTRUCTORS ARE CURRENTLY TEACHERS IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION SPACE IN K-12.

WE REALLY HAVE A GREAT, GREAT MIX OF INSTRUCTORS WITH A LOT OF NOT ONLY CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE, BUT WORLD EXPERIENCE.

THEY ARE WORKING IN THE FIELDS NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, SCHOOL VACATIONS, AND SUMMERS.

THEY BRING A GREAT MIX TO OUR PROGRAM OF KNOWLEDGE AND WEALTH.

PETER: I SEE.

CHERYL OR BETTY, WHOEVER WANTS TO ANSWER THIS, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE IN THE PROGRAM NOW AND/OR HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM?

BETTY: WE HAVE RECRUITED AROUND 269 INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATED.

OUT OF THOSE, 219 GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM.

LET ME TELL YOU THIS PROGRAM IS NOT ONLY FOR LATINOS.

IT IS FOR ALL ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

WE HAVE IN THE CLASS A GOOD DIVERSITY.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES LIKE RUSSIAN, ETHIOPIA, NIGERIA, AND BESIDE THE LATINOS.

THE MAJORITY ARE LATINOS, BUT WE TRIED TO ATTRACT ALL MINORITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS VESL CLASS.

PETER: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GRADUATED?

BETTY: WE HAVE 219 GRADUATED FROM THE CLASS.

PETER: GO AHEAD, I'M SORRY.

BETTY: OUT OF THOSE 219 INDIVIDUALS, 135 OBTAINED OSHA CREDENTIALS.

WE HAVE 21 THAT WERE ALREADY PLACED IN JOBS.

WE HAVE SIX OF OUR PARTICIPANTS WHO CREATED THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

PETER: REALLY?

THAT IS INTERESTING.

WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS?

BETTY: CONSTRUCTION, GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, PAINTING, GENERAL pCONSTRUCTION BASICALLY.

PETER: OK. LOUM, WHEN BETTY SAYS GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, DOES THAT MEAN BUILDING A HOUSE OR DOES THAT MEAN ASSISTING?

LOUIS: IT IS FUNNY YOU BRING THAT UP BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT CONSTRUCTION TRAINING, THE PERCEPTION IS IT IS THAT MALE OR FEMALE THAT STRAPS ON THE TOOLBELT AND THEY ARE READY FOR THE WORK.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE TRY TO FOCUS ON IN OUR PROGRAMS IS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR INDUSTRY.

WE ARE NOT JUST BUILDING FRAMING CREWS.

IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM A REAL ESTATE AGENT.

IT COULD BE SOMEONE WHO IS JUST WANTING TO WORK ON PAINTING, SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO WORK ON ROOFING, SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO WORK WITH A REMODELING COMPANY.

WHETHER IT IS DESIGN, INTERIOR DESIGN WORK.

OUR INDUSTRY IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT.

LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE BIGGEST GOAL WE TRY TO ACHIEVE IS IDENTIFYING OUR STUDENTS' NEEDS, WANTS, AND INTERESTS IN THE INDUSTRY AND THAT IS WHERE THE THREE OF US ALONG WITH THE REST OF OUR TEAM, WE TRY TO IDENTIFY WHERE THEY WANT TO GO AND FORTUNATELY WITH THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE A HUGE NETWORK OF EMPLOYERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR NEW PEOPLE TO ADD TO THE INDUSTRY.

WE WILL FALL BACK ON OUR NETWORK TO TRY TO PLACE OUR STUDENTS INTO THE RIGHT CATEGORY THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

PETER: HOW DO YOU FIND THE STUDENTS?

LOUIS: WE FIND OUR STUDENTS THROUGH A LARGE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES.

BETTY WITH OTHER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, SHE IS CONSTANTLY REACHING OUT.

DORCAS, WHICH WE WORK WITH ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, HAS A BIG UMBRELLA THAT THEY CAST.

WE PROMOTE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ON OUR OWN RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

RADIO, TV, NEWSPAPER.

WE PUT THE FEELERS OUT EVERYWHERE WE POSSIBLY CAN TO RECRUIT THE CORRECT AND PROPER STUDENTS WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

PETER: WHERE ARE THE CLASSES HELD?

ARE THEY HELD AT THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OR AT DORCAS?

LOUIS: AT OUR ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT PLATFORMS THAT WE DO OUR EDUCATION FROM.

IN-HOUSE, WE DO A LOT OF CONTRACTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS MOSTLY TOWARD PEOPLE THAT ARE EITHER IN THE INDUSTRY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

THEN WE HAVE OUR CENTRAL FALLS LOCATION, A 2200 SQUARE-FOOT TRADE FACILIY WITH SOME OF THE LATEST, GREATEST NEW EQUIPMENT.

WE ALSO HAVE THE LUXURY AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND ON EVERYTHING WE DO THAT WE RENT TO THE CAREER TECH HIGH SCHOOLS WITHIN OUR STATE.

IT GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO GO ALL OVER THE STATE BASED ON THE POPULATION OF APPLICANTS AS TO WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM.

PETER: I'M GOING TO SHIFT OVER TO CHERYL, I SUSPECT, AND FIND OUT ADMINISTRATIVELY HOW THEY ARE DOING FINANCIALLY.

CHERYL: WE HAVE BEEN FUNDED, WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING'S REAL JOBS RHODE ISLAND AND THE BACK TO WORK PROGRAM.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM SINCE 2016 AND WE HAVE BEEN TRAINING AND PLACING FOLKS IN THE INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO A PATH POTENTIALLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

IT HAS BEEN VERY REWARDING.

PETER: I JUST HAVE TO BRING UP THE POINT THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS, THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY SOME CONCERN THAT MINORITIES WERE NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES, NOT ONLY HERE IN RHODE ISLAND, BUT THIS WAS JUST THE NORM.

THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES WERE KIND OF CLOSED TO FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY.

BECAUSE I REMEMBER COMING HERE TO RHODE ISLAND AND THERE WAS A BIG PUSH TO TRY TO FIND MINORITY WOMEN TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY WAS THE ISSUE AT THE TIME.

A COUPLE OF WOMEN WHO DID GO THROUGH A TRAINING PROGRAM.

BUT AT THE TIME, THERE WERE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MINORITIES WERE ACTUALLY WORKING IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADE, NOT AS APPRENTICES, BUT ACTUALLY WORKING AS FULL-TIME CARPENTERS OR TRADESMEN.

WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THAT TODAY?

FOR YEARS, THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.

CHERYL: AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE STARTED THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH THE FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING.

THE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY REALLY HAS NOT HAD AN AVENUE TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND SO WE HAVE BROUGHT HIS FLOWERED WITH NO COST TRAINING.

THERE ARE OTHER AVENUES TO GET INTO CONSTRUCTION WHETHER YOU WORK FOR A RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR ON THE JOB AND YOU STARTED AS A LABORER AND WORKED YOURSELF UP THE LADDER, OR YOU WOULD ATTEND MAY BE A CAREER AND TECH HIGH SCHOOL AND FROM THERE YOU WOULD ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND START TO BUILD YOUR CAREER, OR YOU COULD HAVE GONE TO MAYBE AN MTT I TECH SCHOOL WERE A NEW ENGLAND TECHNICAL.

BUT THE FREE-TRADE TRAINING BASICALLY I BELIEVE HAS STARTED WITH THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION WITH THE HELP OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING AND BACK TO WORK RI AND REAL JOBS RI.

PETER: LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

ISN'T THIS KIND OF A CAN TO LIKE HABITAT FOR -- AKIN TO LIKE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY?

LOUIS: I WILL TAKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD CONSIDER IT AKIN TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WHEN HABITAT STARTED OUT IT WAS A LOT OF DO GOOD, FEEL GOOD, LET'S HELP THE COMMUNITY, LET'S RAISE THE BAR, LET'S PROMOTE HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIVING FOR PEOPLE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

I KIND OF SEE THIS AS A WAY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

I THINK ONCE WE DO THAT, IT CHANGES THEIR MINDSET ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

WE ARE NOT BUILDING JUST FRAMING CREWS, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE THEMSELVES SUCCESSFUL IN THE INDUSTRY.

A LOT OF THAT IS ABOUT MAKING THEM COMFORTABLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHETHER IT BE A MINORITY OR LEGAL STATUS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE AROUND A NETWORK OF WHAT THIS INDUSTRY IS.

AND ALL OF US COMBINED WITH OUR MANY YEARS OF INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE CAN MAKE THEM AWARE OF WHAT THESE AVENUES ARE, WHAT THESE OPTIONS ARE, AND HOW THEY CAN GO ABOUT BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR OWN PERSONAL LIVES.

THE MORE UPSCALEING WE CAN DO, THE MORE TRAINING WE CAN DO, THE MORE POSITIVE WE CAN MAKE PEOPLE FEEL, THE LESS INTIMIDATED THEY ARE WHEN THEY GO OUT FOR THEIR JOB INTERVIEW OR WHEN THEY GO OUT FOR THEIR FIRST DAY OF WORK, THAT IS OUR MAIN GOAL.

TO MAKE THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

AND YOU KNOW WE CAN DO THAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT IT ALSO DOES NOT STOP ONCE WE GET THEM TO WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

WE DO CONSTANT FOLLOW-UP.

WE CALL THEM ALL THE TIME.

OUR STUDENTS ARE WITH US FOR YEARS AND THAT IS OUR MAIN SUPPORT.

WE CAN TRAIN THEM, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT AROUND THEM TO HEAR THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE ARE NOT DOING OUR JOB PROPERLY.

WE NEED TO COMPLETELY EMBRACE AND WRAPAROUND EVERY SERVICE WE CAN WITH THEM.

PETER: YOU KNOW, I DID NOT MEAN TO MISLEAD YOU, I GUESS WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT WITH THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND YOUR OPERATION IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO END UP WITH HABITAT HOMES ACTUALLY HAVE TO WORK ON THE HOMES, THEY HAVE TO BUILD AS PART OF THE EQUITY.

I KNOW THAT THE ORGANIZATION HERE AFTER CARTER STARTED THAT OPERATION, THE ORGANIZATION HERE WAS ALSO TRYING TO TRAIN PEOPLE IN HOW TO DO HOUSE CONSTRUCTION, SO THAT IS KIND OF WHERE I WAS MAKING THE CONNECTION, BUT NO I UNDERSTAND THE VESL PROGRAM IS DIFFERENT.

YOU ARE PROBABLY DEALING WITH A DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NEW TO THE AREA, NEW TO THE COUNTRY MAY BE.

THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT MAYBE IN TERMS OF THE OUTCOMES.

SPEAKING OF OUTCOMES, A LONG TIME AGO, I REMEMBER, I WAS WORKING AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AT THE TIME AND WE DID SOME WORK WITH THEM.

I WONDER WAS THAT KIND OF LIKE THE CATALYST OF THIS OR NOT?

LOUIS: I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS A CATALYST TO PROPEL US FORWARD, BUT IT WAS THE ENGINE BEHIND A LOT OF OUR DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS.

WE STARTED VERY SIMPLE WITH ONE VESL PROGRAM AND FIGURING OUR WAY THROUGH IT AND THEN ONCE YOU BRING IN RON'S BACKGROUND AND ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUND, WE ARE GOING TO PROPEL THIS FORWARD AND MAKE THIS WORK.

RON HAS BEEN A HUGE PROPONENT AND I DON'T MEAN TO STEAL HIS WORDS OF THE WRAPAROUND.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR MANY YEARS.

WE CAN'T JUST TRAIN THEM AND SAY HERE IS YOUR CERTIFICATE AND GO OFF TO THE INDUSTRY.

THAT IS WHERE ALL OF OUR NETWORKS THAT BETTY HOLDS VERY STRONG WITH THE COMMUNITY, CHERYL AND I HOLD WITH THE INDUSTRY, AND ALL OF OUR ASSETS COMBINED ARE THE BIG THING.

TEAM SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ACRONYM IN THE WORLD.

WE TRULY DEFINE THE WORD TEAM AS EVERYTHING WE DO BECAUSE WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON THE SAME PAGE TOWARD THE SAME OUTCOME AND BETTY, I THINK YOUR FIGURE EARLIER WAS TONY ANYONE PEOPLE OUT OF ALMOST 300 HAVE BEEN PLACED AND I THINK YOU ARE MISSING A DIGIT SOMEWHERE.

I THINK IT IS A LOT HIGHER THAN THAT.

PETER: WHAT TENDS TO BE THE BIGGEST PLACEMENT?

IS THAT THE CARPENTRY OR SOME OTHER AREA?

LOUIS: YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY EVERYTHING.

CARPENTRY, IF YOU WANT TO SPEARHEAD IT DOWN, THAT IS BUILDING WALLS ALL DAY LONG.

WE HAVE PLACED OUR STUDENTS IN GARAGE DOOR COMPANIES.

WE HAVE PLACED TO THEM WITH ENERGY WHETHERIZATION COMPANIES.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR DIVERSITY AND WHERE WE ARE PUTTING THEM, WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO BUILD 29 FRAMING CREWS AND THAT IS ALL YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO EXPOSE THEM TO EVERYTHING.

PETER: CHERYL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

SINCE WE HAVE LOST GOVERNOR RAIMONDO TO WASHINGTON, DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY CHANGES COMING FROM THE STATE OR LABOR DEPARTMENT OR WILL YOU BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM AS CLOSELY AS YOU DID UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION?

CHERYL: WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM RIGHT ALONG, SO I COULD NOT SPECULATE, BUT I WOULD BE PLEASED AND HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES GOING FORWARD.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

PETER: REGINA WAS REALLY BIG ON THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PIECE.

I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THE SHOW WHO HAVE PIECES OF THAT OPERATION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ALL OF IT SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN THE BLESSINGS OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR?

CHERYL: NO, NOT PERSONALLY.

BUT I WOULD IMAGINE OUR ASSOCIATION AND THE INDUSTRY HAS , BUT PERSONALLY I HAVEN'T.

PETER: OK. WHAT IS NEW?

WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE FOR YOU AS FAR AS THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION IS CONCERNED AND THE OVERALL CONCEPT OF WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY WITH BETTY AND DORCAS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS?

CHERYL: THANK YOU.

WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO FIND A NEW WAY TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO SPARK INTEREST IN THE TRADES.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BETTY IS BEGINNING TO WORK ON AND WE ARE LOOKING AT AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS HELPING FOLKS NAVIGATE ONCE THEY ARE TRAINED OR EVEN PRIOR TO BEING TRAINED TO NAVIGATE THE WAY TO BECOME A CONTRACTOR IN THE STATE.

PETER: YES.

CHERYL: WITH THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE, BETTY IS A PERFECT PERSON TO TAKE SOMEONE AND WALK THEM THROUGH AND HELP THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO BECOME WHO THEY WANT TO BECOME IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

PETER: OK, HOW DO YOU DO THAT, BETTY?

WHAT IS THE PROCESS?

BETTY: WHEN I IDENTIFY ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN EITHER WORKING IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION OR WANT TO OPEN THEIR OWN BUSINESS, WE HELP THEM, WE PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

I HELP THEM TO GET CONNECTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSE AND REGISTRATION, THE PROPER REGISTRATION FOR THEIR BUSINESSES.

AND ALSO -- THERE ARE DIFFERENT STEPS THAT CONTRACTORS, THEY DON'T KNOW, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY FEEL INTIMIDATED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

SO WE ARE HELPING THEM TO GET INTO THE SYSTEMS, TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM, TO GET THE PROPER CERTIFICATION, REGISTRATION, AND THE CLASSES THAT THEY NEED.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE OUR VOCATIONAL CENTER IN CENTRAL FALLS IS HELPING US TO WORK WITH THE CITY.

WE JUST RECEIVED OUR GRANT FOR THE CENTRAL FALLS TO TRAIN LATINO CONTRACTORS THAT ARE FROM THE AREA.

ISSUES OF PROVIDING ASSESSMENTS TO THE HOUSES THAT HAVE ISSUES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

SO, THE TRAININGS WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING TO THEM ARE LEAD POISON PREVENTION, OSHA, AND ASTHMA ASSESSMENT.

PETER: ASTHMA ASSESSMENT.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

BETTY: WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT TRIGGER ASTHMA IN CHILDREN.

IT IS BECAUSE THE HOUSES, THEY MAY HAVE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

WE PREPARE THE CONTRACTORS TO GO AND DO AN ASSESSMENT, A TOTAL ASSESSMENT, AND THEY CAN EVEN COME DURING THE REMEDIATION'S TO BECOME A SAFE HOUSE FOR THE CHILDREN.

PETER: THAT IS FANTASTIC.

SO, BASICALLY YOU GET THEM FROM START TO FINISH.

WALKING IN THE DOOR, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BE A CONTRACTOR ONE DAY, SO THEY START WITH THE PROGRAM, THE VESL PROGRAM, THEY GET THE VOCATIONAL LANGUAGE DOWN FOR THE INDUSTRY, THEY WORK WITH LOU AND HIS FOLKS HANDS ON DOING SOME WORK OUT THERE, THAN WHEN THEY COMPLETE THEIR CERTIFICATIONS, BETTY, YOU TAKE THEM AND GET THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF OPENING THEIR OWN BUSINESS IF THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO TO GET THEIR CERTIFICATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IS THAT THE COMPLETE WRAPAROUND?

CHERYL: YES.

PETER: GOT YOU.

THAT IS ENCOMPASSING.

IT IS COMPREHENSIVE.

IT IS DEFINITELY BETTER THAN PIECEMEAL THROUGH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH I GUESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PAST.

SO, DO WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED FOLKS COMING TO THE PROGRAMS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS?

OR IS IT GOING TO WIND DOWN?

ARE WE GOING TO HIT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADE?

BETTY: ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WE ARE IN NEED OF AROUND 2600 NEW CARPENTERS THROUGH 2026.

SO I THINK WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY AS CONSTRUCTION IS A BOOM RIGHT NOW IN OUR ECONOMY.

I EXPECT THAT WE WILL HAVE ENOUGH POSITIONS TO COVER IN THE NEXT YEARS.

PETER: LOU, DOES THAT SOUND DOABLE AS FAR AS YOUR END IS CONCERNED?

TO PUSH THAT MANY PEOPLE OUT?

LOUIS: WE CAN ACTUALLY PUSH OUT A LOT MORE.

OK?

WE HAVE AN ENDLESS RESOURCE OF EDUCATORS, TEACHERS, AND FACILITIES.

TO YOUR POINT, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT BEING BUSY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

IN OUR INDUSTRY, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE 65-PLUS AND ARE ALL RETIRING.

WE HAVE SCENARIOS WHERE CONTRACTORS THAT COME INTO THE INDUSTRY, FOR EVERYONE COMING IN, WE LOSE 10, DUE TO AGE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

PETER: I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF, I'M SORRY, BUT WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME.

IT HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THEY WILL NOW.

LISTEN, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME AND I WANT TO THINK TODAY'S GUESTS FROM THE RHODE ISLAND BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, AND YOU THE VIEWERS FOR TUNING INTO ANOTHER SEGMENT OF "IN ANOTHER OPINION."

ARE SPECIAL THANKS TO PBS FOR MAKING THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.

I'M YOUR HOST PETER WELLS AND I'M ASKING FOR YOUR OPINION.

GIVE IT TO US ON FACEBOOK AND ABOVE ALL, HAVE A GREAT DAY.

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ENERATIONS OF GENERA SOMEONE SAID HELPED SHAPE RHODE ISLAND