• Posted: August 15, 2023
• Apprenticeship Program, CISCO, Construction Industry Service Coordination (CISCO), Elbert Walters III, IBEW Local 134, Jamillah Muhammad, Skilled Trades Fair, union construction trades, Union Construction Trades Fair

Powering Chicago joined the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) for its second annual Union Construction Trades Fair hosted by IBEW Local 134 to showcase the benefits of joining the electrical trade.

The free event, open to the public, aimed to educate and inspire the next generation of trades professionals by giving them firsthand experience in the construction trades and allowing the opportunity for them to learn more about application deadlines. 

“We wanted to do something where it was inclusive to anyone who wanted to come and learn about the construction industry, and we want to add in all of the necessary elements to help continue them forward into the industry,” Jamillah Muhammad, Education-to-Careers Director at CISCO said.

Muhammad has been with CISCO for over two years. Before that, she was an IBEW journeyperson for 14 years. She spearheaded the inaugural construction trades fair in 2022 as a way to create more access and awareness about the trades for young people.

“We’ll have an event, we’ll give back to the community, and we’ll plant the seed with the youth. We’ll still give them school supplies to get them ready for the school year and tell them how important education is,” Muhammad said.

Representatives from the Chicago-area union construction trades, including Powering Chicago Executive Director Elbert Walters III, were on hand to answer questions and share information about how to apply for their designated trade’s education program.

“The kids will never forget laying brick in place. They never forget completing the circuit or going into a solar truck,” Muhammad said. 

Powering Chicago’s “mobile field-trip truck” returned this year for an appearance at the trades fair. The 73-foot semi-trailer rig contains a miniature representation of power distribution and various sources of energy generation, including a nuclear power plant, roof top solar and wind tower. The miniature model demonstrates energy transmission through a high-voltage power distribution station, through transformers and powerlines, and on to the service entrance box of a downscaled home. The home reveals a wiring system that includes conduit, power outlets and lighting.

Anywhere from 200 to 300 schools reach out to Muhammad and CISCO throughout the school year, requesting an introduction to the trades for their students. This year’s fair targeted 14-18 year olds but was open to adults of all ages. 

“Before I got into the construction industry, no one ever came out to my school. So I didn’t know anything about paid apprenticeships or working with my hands or even getting into construction. When I found out about the Jump Start program, which is test preparation for IBEW Local 134 to become an electrician, I already had a three year old daughter and a two year old son,” Muhammad recalled. 

Raising two children while working three part-time jobs that didn’t provide great insurance coverage or any way to save for retirement became unsustainable for Muhammad. That’s why it is so important to her to help CISCO host a construction skilled trades fair for a second year in a row. 

“Once I got into the [electrical construction] industry, they taught me everything. And my first check was more than all three of my checks from my previous part-time jobs combined. And it was just so rewarding that I love the work,” Muhammad said.

Muhammad led efforts to collect 175 backpacks this year and last year for a total of 350 backpacks to donate to the students who attended the fair.

Nearly 300 people attended the trades fair last year, far more than the 75 who had pre-registered. This year, Muhammad tallied more than 500 registrations prior to the event and welcomed more than 600 attendees to the fair. Her hope is that the event continues to grow every year and with that, more talented and passionate young people will be inspired to pursue a career in the construction industry.

“There’s just so many benefits to going into any trade. We all earn around the same amount, our benefits are all around the same amount, and the fact that you get a free education and they pay you, yeah, that’s amazing,” Muhammad said. 

Learn more about CISCO’s Education To Careers programs on their website. You can also learn what it takes to become an IBEW Local 134 apprentice on the Industry Programs page of our website.