IKORCC Partners With Louisville Urban League
A New Partnership to Remove Barriers
An exciting new partnership is underway at the IKORCC. Jerry Burke, IKORCC’s training Director for the Indiana and Kentucky training centers, announced a new specialized construction training program in partnership with the Louisville Urban League’s Kentuckiana Builds Program as well as an articulation agreement to add IKORCC’s pre-apprenticeship Career Connections curriculum to the Kentuckiana Builds curricula.
This partnership will allow students currently enrolled in the Urban League’s Kentuckiana Builds program to lessen the barriers of entering IKORCC’s apprenticeship program by reducing the enrollment time that is typically 6 months long, down to just 6 weeks. The students will also gain direct entry to the apprenticeship once they complete their 6-week construction training program.
During the 6-week program with Kentuckiana Builds, students receive career-focused management, expert job placement, and work-related incentives to recruit and prepare them for the construction industry. Once they graduate from the program, they leave with three credentials First Aid/CPR, OSHA-10, and the Core Construction credential from the National Center for Construction Education and Research.
During the program, The Louisville Urban League’s cohort will be hosted at the IKORCC’s Louisville training center for a 5-day hand and power tool training module. While the students are with the IKORCC for the 5 days of classes, they will learn soft skills, an introduction to construction, and tool safety among other topics both in the classroom and via hands-on techniques.
“The partnership between the IKORCC and the Urban league is important for everyone to know that there are endless opportunities to build your future and your family’s future. The people at the Louisville Urban League are a blessing.”
-Michael Greathouse, IKORCC Journeyman & Kentuckiana Builds Power & Hand Tool Module Instructor
Construction Basics Begins
IKORCC’s Lousiville training center kicked off the first class in July for the new construction training program by hosting the first power and hand tool safety class of 15 Urban League students, taught by former IKORCC apprentice and current Journeyman Michael Greathouse.
For 5 days the cohort’s students attended a classroom portion where they learned about different power tools, how to use them safely, as well as an introduction to construction such as learning how to use a tape measure and basic math skills. At the end of their week of learning the students put their newly learned knowledge to the test by cutting and constructing a custom IKORCC wooden toolbox for their final project.
More About The Louisville Urban League
The Louisville Urban League (LUL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, community service organization dedicated to eliminating racism and its adverse impacts on our community. With a mission to assist African Americans and other marginalized populations in attaining social and economic equality through direct services and advocacy.
“Thanks to our holistic, wraparound services, we worked with clients to remove 2,400 barriers, such as transportation, food insecurities, access to quality healthcare, and emergency housing. This support was crucial for those we serve, as 93% of our clients have an annual income below 80% of the median household income… the League will continue to make a strong impact on this city in the coming years. We look forward to having you alongside us.”
– Louisville Urban League CEO & President, Sadiqa N. Reynolds, Esq.
As part of a broader National Urban League network of historic civil rights organizations throughout the United States, the Louisville Urban League, like all affiliates, is dedicated to fostering economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities, with a focus on Jobs, Justice, Education, Health, and Housing.
Currently, the Louisville Urban League’s service area includes the Kentucky counties of Jefferson, Shelby, Oldham, Bullitt, and Hardin; and the Indiana counties of Floyd, Harrison, and Clark.
To learn more about the Louisville Urban League, click here!
