Today we’re talking about the blueprint for careers in carpentry and construction.

Welcome to the fifth episode of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. In this episode, our co-hosts Dr. Pete Bavis and Patrick Hughes sit down with Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and John Kenny Jr. of Kenny Construction to discuss career pathways in construction and local opportunities such as the new Ryan Field Stadium project at Northwestern University.

Meet The Guests:

🎙️Daniel Biss: Mayor Biss has been in public service for over a decade, as both a representative and a senator in the Illinois legislature, and now as the Mayor of Evanston. Throughout his career, he has been a champion for the community and advocate for local workers.

🎙️ John Kenny Jr.: John is the former CEO of Kenny Construction Company which has been working in the Chicagoland area for decades. He made a name for himself when he was called on by Chicago’s Mayor Daley to help stop the historic 1992 Chicago flood. He brings to the table over 30 years of construction and contracting experience.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔥 How can we create local construction jobs at the government level?
🔥 How do we make construction careers more accessible?
🔥 From a local workforce and government perspective, how can a big project, like Ryan Field, create career opportunities in the community?

Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Tuesday. (Special episode out today!)

Review the full vision and follow our journey on social media:

Website: https://www.thetradecollective.org/
Instagram: @the_trade_collective
Threads: @the_trade_collective
Facebook: The Trade Collective
LinkedIn: The Trade Collective

Contact & Support:
General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org

Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥

Fires are sparking in the minds of our high school students and we are here to discuss how to cradle these flames. 🔥

Evanston Cradle to Career (EC2C) works throughout Evanston to advance equity in the community. EC2C is a collective impact initiative that brings together over 40 partner organizations and 150 community members to create a more fair and equitable community. Their primary goal is to ensure that all youth in Evanston have the resources and opportunities to lead healthy, productive, and satisfying lives by the time they reach age 23.

In the third full episode of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective, our hosts Dr. Pete Bavis and Patrick Hughes sit down with Kimberly Holmes-Ross and Baxter Swilley to discuss their work with EC2C. This episode digs into how we can support students in education and career paths while recognizing the structural inequities in our communities. They also discuss how we can holistically support students from classrooms to careers.

Meet The Guests:

🎙️Kimberly Holmes-Ross has been working in social services for over 25 years. This experience includes her current work with Evanston Cradle to Career where she is currently the Executive Director. Kimberly strongly believes in fighting inequalities by uplifting less often heard voices through community support.

🎙️ Baxter Swilley has a background in political and corporate in communications. He is currently working as the communications manager for Evanston Cradle to Career. Baxter believes in communicating with the community to discuss and combat inequity.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔥What are the goals of EC2C and how do they support students?

🔥What is collective impact? How do we exponentially grow the impact of our collaborations? How does this translate into the skilled trades workforce?

🔥How do we open conversations about race both within our communities and when helping students work towards career opportunities?

🔥How do we expand our image of who belongs in the skilled trades?

Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Tuesday.

Review the full vision and follow our journey on social media:

Website: https://www.thetradecollective.org/
Instagram: @the_trade_collective
Threads: @the_trade_collective
Facebook: The Trade Collective
LinkedIn: The Trade Collective

Contact & Support:
General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org

Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥

We are giving our youth the permission to look inward and find their internal fire.

Welcome to the third full episode of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. In this episode, our hosts, Dr. Pete Bavis and Patrick Hughes, sit down with Matthew Cummins and Rosabel “Rosie” Arellano Razo to explore how curiosity and "permission" act as the catalysts for lighting a fire in our students.

We discuss how authentic, hands-on experiences, from 3,000-degree molten iron pours to local job shadowing, can transform a student's perspective on their future. We explore the power of intergenerational mentorship and the importance of creating environments where students feel safe to ask questions and experiment with their career paths. The episode digs into how these real-world connections help high school students become Trade Ready™ by graduation.

Meet The Guests:

🎙️ Matthew Cummins: An Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern University Segal Design Institute and an artist whose work bridges the gap between academic theory and physical fabrication. Matthew is passionate about using geometry and authentic projects to help students find their "why" through curiosity and collaboration.

🎙️ Rosabel “Rosie” Arellano-Razo: A Fellow for Early College and Career Experiences at Evanston Township High School (ETHS). A first-generation college student who navigated her own complex path through higher education. Rosie focuses on student success though career exploration and mentoring, helping students to find and pursue their true passions.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔥 Finding Your "Why": How do we get to a student early in their high school career to light a fire and help them explore what they truly love?

🔥 The Power of Permission: Breaking down the barriers that prevent students and adults from looking at the world with curiosity and giving themselves the "green light" to experiment.

🔥 Authentic Projects vs. Classroom Formulas: Why 3,000-degree molten metal and hands-on play create "iron-clad" memories and skills that a standard textbook cannot replicate.

🔥 Scaling Mentorship: With a community of 77,000 adults and 3,600 students, how do we engage our professionals to help guide the next generation?

🔥 The I-Kit Program: A deep dive into the internship and job shadow opportunities available at ETHS that allow students to test-drive careers in the skilled trades and beyond.

Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Tuesday.

Review the full vision and follow our journey on social media:

Website: https://www.thetradecollective.org/
Instagram: @the_trade_collective
Threads: @the_trade_collective
Facebook: The Trade Collective
LinkedIn: The Trade Collective

Contact & Support:
General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org

Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥

Fires are sparking in the minds of our high school students and we are ready to fan the flames.

Welcome to the second full episode of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. In this episode, our co-hosts sit down with Scott Nelson and Richard Fisher to discuss Scott's journey with his son who changed his path from the traditional college route to a career in the automotive industry. We also discuss how interest in an automotive path can lead to impressive and lucrative jobs. We explored how to encourage and accept our kids engaging in trade passions. The episode digs into the value of exploring local resources and businesses to help high school students become Trade Ready™at graduation.

Meet The Guests:

🎙️Scott Nelson: Trade Collective volunteer and father of a son who now works in the automotive industry. Scott is passionate about increasing engagement and resources for high school students interested in following a skilled trades career pathway.

🎙️ Richard Fisher: The Founder of Autobarn car dealerships in Evanston and Oak Park. Richard has been working in dealerships since the 1980s and started the first Autobarn in 1992 which has served Evanston and the surrounding areas ever since. Richard is passionate about promoting careers in the automotive industry and increasing automotive apprenticeship opportunities.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔥How do we begin the skilled trades conversation? In a world fixated on the idea that everyone should go to college, Patrick, Pete, Richard and Scott discuss how we open conversations and support young people in following passions in the skilled trades.

🔥 Breaking the college barriers: How do we change our community mindset to accept skilled trade pathways as good career options for kids?

🔥The appetizer and the main course: When engaging a student interested in the skilled trades sector, how do we take the appetizer, or initial interest in class, and translate it to the meal, or real industry experience.

🔥 The truth of the automotive industry: What are the real life financial realities of working in the automotive industry.

Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Tuesday.

Review the full vision and follow our journey on social media:

Website: https://www.thetradecollective.org/
Instagram: @the_trade_collective
Threads: @the_trade_collective
Facebook: The Trade Collective
LinkedIn: The Trade Collective

Contact & Support:
General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org

Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥

Something has sparked at 1910 Greenwood, and we’re ready to talk about it.

Welcome to the first full episode of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. This show is for students and families navigating post-secondary plans, industry professionals looking at their workforce pipelines, and everyone invested in students having a clear path to a high-paying career.

In this debut episode, our co-hosts sit down to discuss why being "Trade Ready" is a game-changer for our community. We explore how to bridge the gap between high school education and the high-paying, dignified careers waiting in the skilled trades within a 10-mile radius of Evanston.

Meet Your Hosts:

🎙️ Patrick Hughes (Patrick): Our Founder and "Chief Connector." An Evanston entrepreneur who has spent his life advocating for inclusion and creating organizations like Natural Ties and Inclusion Solutions that break down barriers.

🎙️ Dr. Pete Bavis (Pete): The Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at ETHS. With over 16 years at the high school, Pete is a champion for academic pathways and has spent his career ensuring that access and opportunity are available to every student.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔥 The "Two Pieces of Paper" Vision: Patrick and Pete dig into how a high school diploma paired
with a professional credential can change a student’s life.
🔥 The Local Bricklayer Problem: Why local projects currently import skilled labor from out of state and how we can work to fill those roles with our own graduates.
🔥 The 930 Job Opportunity: Exploring the real labor needs and high demand within a 10-mile radius of Evanston.
🔥 What it Means to be "Trade Ready": How industry exposure can ignite a student's passion for building and creating and what a student needs to know before entering the skilled trades.

Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Tuesday.

Review the full vision and follow our journey on social media:

Website: https://www.thetradecollective.org/
Instagram: @the_trade_collective
Threads: @the_trade_collective
Facebook: The Trade Collective
LinkedIn: The Trade Collective

Contact & Support:
General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org

Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥