As the first youth cohort recently graduated from the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) Program, their handcrafted workbenches lined the John A. Davis Hall in Martinez – a testament to the belief that self-improvement can be achieved by pushing outside your comfort zone. MC3 is a comprehensive pre-apprenticeship training curriculum that provides high-quality and apprentice-level content to those interested in the construction industry.
Family, friends, and staff attended the graduation ceremony on June 16.
“It warmed my heart to see the number of people that showed up. I'm sure the graduates were just as surprised to see not only their families but all the staff and partners who really believed in them. I think the more important thing is that they're starting to really believe in themselves,” said Contra Costa County Chief Probation Officer Esa Ehmen-Krause.
The three graduates all took turns speaking at the graduation - all of them expressing their gratitude and appreciation for the instructors and staff who were there every step of the way.
“At first, I wasn’t sure if the program was for me, but the staff was very supportive. I now have a new belief in myself, and skills that I can use in the real world,” said a graduate.
The program came to fruition after statewide reforms that shifted the responsibility of youth supervision from the Division of Juvenile Justice to local county probation departments.
“I've always been a champion for the reforms because I know we can do it better. We can keep the kids closer to home, we can get them engaged with their families sooner. When they step out into the community, they're still going to have the support of probation,” said Ehmen-Krause.
Mentors from the 100 Years program helped to facilitate the MC3 program.
“These are men who have lived experience. They're able to give back to our young people and mentor them in a truly genuine and intentional way. Their credible messengers, so young people look up to them. They see them as trusted advisors on their life journey and on their career path,” said Ehmen-Krause.
The MC3 curriculum has been recognized by the National Building Trades Unions, and upon completion, graduates received a certificate indicating apprenticeship readiness.
“This was our first graduation and I know there will be more to come. I’m really excited to see how programming like this will change lives,” said Ehmen-Krause.