Looking Glass Riverfront School Skilled Trades Program Manager, Michael Romano, shows off the existing tools the program has from a community tool drive.
The Looking Glass Riverfront School & Career Center’s new Skilled Trades Program is ready to enroll students this fall! Newly hired Program Manager, Michael Romano, is building the curriculum while simultaneously prepping the recently rented shop space (2510 W 5th Ave #6 in Eugene). The Skilled Trades Training Program will move on from “under construction” to educating young adults in various basic skills of construction, carpentry, electrical, plumbing and much more.
The Skilled Trades shop space interior is a work-in-progress but coming along nicely.
The Skilled Trades Program at Riverfront will provide hands-on training and education in fields that lead to sustainable living-wage careers. Riverfront students, other high school students, and recent graduates ages 16 - 21 can enroll in the program. The program is paid for via a grant from the Youth Development Division from the state of Oregon. Additional support in the form of supplemental funding for this program comes from longtime Looking Glass supporters Alex & Amy Haugland.
Looking Glass has formed partnerships with other area nonprofits wherein the Skilled Trades students will have hands-on learning opportunities helping to build structures including tiny homes on behalf of Square One Villages, Carry It Forward, and Community Supported Shelters. These structures will benefit the unhoused population of Lane County.
Romano, who was hired in July, from the east coast originally, has a Bachelor’s degree in Design Studies from the University of Colorado, and is a licensed contractor. He has a variety of work experiences in the construction field and is excited about the opportunity to work with young people and pass on his knowledge in the skilled trades.
Program Manager Michael Romano uses a level inside the work-in-progress shop space.
“I needed to do something more with my life, something with meaning,” Romano explained. “I’ve always wanted to help young people. I wanted to use my experience and life’s work to have an impact on a young person in a positive way, that’s why I’m here and so excited about this program!”
The Skilled Trades Program will provide youth in Lane County with:
• Basic carpentry skills for the construction industry
• Blueprint reading experience
• Construction math skills
• Safe operation of hand and power tools used in construction trades
• Understanding industry safety standards
• Ability to earn points needed for apprenticeship application
• Opportunities to hear from experts in the field
• Career exploration in construction and related fields
Looking Glass will be working with the Lane Community College “College Now Program” to provide students with college credit for their coursework and hands-on experiences while in the program. The long-term goals for the program include taking on larger projects and providing Riverfront students and other Looking Glass clients experience building projects from the ground up.
Interested students should contact Cheryl Zwillinger, Riverfront School Program Director, at Cheryl.zwillinger@lookingglass.us.
Anyone interested in donating tools or funds or their expertise, should contact Looking Glass Development Director Tyler Mack at tyler.mack@lookingglass.us.
Or purchase an item off of our Amazon wish list here https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1J3UEF31O1GQB?ref_=wl_share