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MCC Daily Tribune

Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program Works Towards DE&I Goals with Champion Academy

On Wednesday, June 9th, The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program (FLYAP) started their 2021-2022 Recruiting Campaign. The FLYAP Team kicked off the campaign at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park at Manhattan Square, with the Champion Academy, a program started by NFL Super Bowl Champion and East High Graduate, Roland Williams. Chris Rush and Anthony Grissett from Champion Academy were instrumental in recruiting students and coordinating the event.

A dedicated effort to increase awareness for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has been a strategic goal and mission of the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program going into its third year of existence. The program was recently awarded a $75,000 grant from Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) to assist with this specific initiative. Kyle Banks, Senior Economic Development Specialist of RG&E was crucial to connecting the FLYAP with Champion Academy. 

Dale Pearce, Program Director of Apprenticeships at MCC teamed up with Bob Coyne, Executive Director of The Rochester Technology Manufacturing Association, to present on FLYAP, advanced manufacturing and the importance of registered apprenticeship in the Rochester community.

Two MCC students who are registered apprentices at Kodak shared their experiences with attendees: Casandra Rivera, a single mother taking classes and working full-time as a registered apprentice in the Electro-Mechanical Trade stressed how the apprenticeship program has allowed her to provide for her family and learn new skills to further her career and educational goals. She is also able to remain debt free since Kodak pays for her MCC courses and trainings.
Lucious Kitchens, an Urban League graduate, presented on his journey from taking courses at MCC to finding a career as a Plumber-Pipefitter at Kodak. He shared stories of how his skills have helped him save money fixing projects around his house, and how every 6 months he gets a pay raise being in the registered apprenticeship program.

The day finished with hands-on workshops using measurement tools, hand tools, power tools and allowing students to work as a team to assemble a skateboard. MCC Apprenticeship Coordinator Mike Smith led the charge with the skills-trade workshop, and Rich Turner, Director of Workforce Development at RTMA, worked with Dale Pearce on the skateboard project. 

The FLYAP team would like to give a special thanks to our MCC Apprentices, Casandra and Lucious for taking time out of their busy work days to come and talk to our Rochester Youth about the importance of Apprenticeships and Advanced Manufacturing. 

Great work to all involved!

Attached Files:
Champions Academy FLYAP Pic.jpg
Champions Academy Roc Strong Pic.jpg

Dale Pearce
Economic Development, Workforce and Career Technical Education
06/16/2021