"AOP went out of their way to help me. It made such a difference to know that they were in my corner."
– C. S., journey-level ironworker "If I hadn't been through the ANEW program, I would have quit my first job and said, 'Forget this, I am out of here.'"
– Journey-level tradeswoman
Overview
The Apprenticeship Opportunities Project (AOP) is a not-for-profit program that helps people establish good careers and succeed in apprenticeships and trades-related jobs.
In Detail
AOP connects women, people of color, people with disabilities and others facing employment barriers to well-paying jobs in the skilled construction trades, and helps new apprentices stay in the trades by providing case management and retention services.
By combining a support system for apprentices with an apprenticeship information clearinghouse, AOP helps low-income individuals qualify for and retain these good jobs.
AOP is operated by Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Employment for Women (ANEW), and funded by Port Jobs. AOP staff recruit applicants for apprenticeships and trades-related jobs through recruitment events, WorkSource Centers, referrals from pre-apprenticeship training programs, and community-based organizations that work with low-income individuals.
AOP's main services include assistance with:
- Choosing a trade
- Understanding the application process
- Case management and support
- Preparation for the apprenticeship or job interview
Once accepted into an apprenticeship program or upon getting a trades-related job, an individual may need to buy tools, work clothes, boots, pay union dues, or repair his or her car. AOP provides financial assistance to qualified individuals so people can go to work right away.
AOP's goal is to help each applicant to enter the apprenticeship program or trades-related job of their choice, and (for apprentices) to remain in that program until they have completed it.
To that end, AOP staff provide retention services (such as case management, mentoring, and flexible support services ). AOP's job is to help people secure the resources they need to succeed in their jobs and complete their apprenticeships.
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