On December 17th, the 50th class of Project JumpStart graduated from the 14-week pre-apprenticeship training program. The graduation was held at Johns Hopkins University of Medicine and featured speakers including Secretary of Labor, Kelly Schulz, employer Beverly Johnson, and former students.
Five Project JumpStart alumni gave hope to the new graduates by sharing their stories of career growth and life transformations. The alumni gave credit to Project JumpStart with showing them the path to success, supporting them along their journey, and with brokering the connection to an employee, making their start possible.
In addition, Beverly Thomas, president of Regional Contracting Services, shared her amazing story of responding to grief by starting a business that provides the opportunity to have a career. She went on to celebrate the amazing career growth of her Project JumpStart employee Eugene Jowers, who is now the supervisor of all the laborers on a Baltimore city school construction project.
“The number 50 just solidifies that what we are doing each day to help people get skills training and jobs in construction industry, works,” says Project JumpStart placement director, Kate McShane.
Congratulations to the graduates of the 50th class! We wish you the best in your future in the construction industry.
See photos from the graduation here.
To support Project JumpStart, attend or contribute to the Build Baltimore Gala.