In early 2021, COVID-19 ravaged Yaphet Graham’s industry. He was left jobless and had to move from North Carolina to his former home of Wisconsin. He was also forced to leave his five-year-old son with his mother, but despite the agonizing decision, Yaphet knew he would succeed. In Wisconsin, Yaphet was on the cusp
Original content by President & CEO Lindsay Blumer Today, we are facing a near crisis around the number of skilled laborers and artisans in the workforce. During the lockdown of 2020, we saw people across America ban together to creatively support their local restaurants and shops, demonstrating that we as a community value the artisan
First published by Anthony Dabruzzi for Spectrum News Vice President Kamala Harris made a push for clean drinking water and healthy homes during a visit to Milwaukee Monday. The visit to Wisconsin comes on the heels of the vice president's announcement last month during which the Biden administration laid out a goal of removing
As posted by Spectrum News MILWAUKEE — One Milwaukee non-profit is committed to bringing more diversity into the trades industry. The Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, also known as WRTP | BIG STEP, works to help traditionally underrepresented and underemployed people like women and people of color. The program has helped many people like 21-year-old
Two of WRTP | BIG STEP’s most recent success stories include Tiffany Tillis and Dwayne Sampson. Tiffany Tillis, single mother of three, turned to WRTP | BIG STEP after she was laid off during the pandemic. With WRTP, she gained CPR and first aid certification, her commercial driver’s license permit, and hands-on experience. Tillis
Raising Women’s Success in Apprenticeship (RWSA) convened a network of some of the nation’s leading organizations that are working to increase racial and gender diversity in “nontraditional” occupations. This report draws on the work of the members of the network, which was founded and led by WRTP | BIG STEP, and included Aerospace Joint
At WRTP | BIG STEP’s first Cheers to Careers celebrity mixology fundraiser, we raised money to build ladders of opportunity for more people to enter family-sustaining careers in the constructing and manufacturing sectors, ensuring more Milwaukee families have the satisfaction of a good career pathway and a middle-class life. During the
On October 22, 2021, WRTP | BIG STEP was thrilled to host Senator Tammy Baldwin at our Racine location. During the visit, Senator Baldwin, Racine Mayor Cory Mason, Racine Alderman Maurice Horton, and Gateway Technical College’s VP of Business and Workforce Solutions Matthew Janisin joined WRTP’s CEO Lindsay Blumer, COO Toni White, Region Director
Q&A with WRTP/BIG STEP'S Stephanie Johnston | Daily Reporter | Skilled Magazine Stephanie Johnston is at the forefront of training the next generation of tradespeople in south-central Wisconsin. Johnston is the director of the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership’s BIG STEP training center in Madison. In her role, she oversees the group’s efforts to bring
Originally published by The Daily Reporter Stephanie Johnston is at the forefront of training the next generation of tradespeople in South Central Wisconsin. Johnston is the director of the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership’s BIG STEP's training center in Madison. In her role, she oversees the group’s efforts to bring workers into various trades. WRTP
