Council Rep. Shanta Prude speaks about how workers and contractors benefit from the Central South Carpenters Registered Apprenticeship at the Louisiana Workforce Commission conference.

Conference attendees listen to the benefits of registered apprenticeships. 

Last month, the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) held a Registered Apprenticeship Conference in Baton Rouge, LA. The 2-day event was attended by apprenticeship partners and featured speakers such as Governor John Bel Edwards, the LWC Secretary Ava Cates & Apprenticeship Director Stephen Peychaud, the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Director Maria Brady, and our very own Shanta Prude. Being one of three success stories asked to present, Ms. Prude spoke about her experience as a member of the Central South Carpenters Regional Council by explaining how

our apprenticeship works and what it’s like being our Sisters in the Brotherhood Coordinator.

Shanta explained how the Central South Carpenters provided her with a career path through training and professional development programs and how it can be beneficial for both members and contractors, because members get access to a group of advocates that strive for their success and contractors get a highly trained and productive workforce for their projects. She followed that up by telling the group about how our Union is diverse and inclusive. In Louisiana, for example, 25% of our membership are women and 84% are people of color, providing amazing opportunities to make a great living by working in construction as a Union Carpenter. Shanta continued her speech by sharing how the Central South Carpenters supported her goals by preparing her for leadership positions and can offer that to anyone wanting to work in the skilled trades – whether it’s finish carpentry, industrial scaffolding, piledriving, large-scale bridge and concrete work or trade show.

Central South Carpenters has the resources and ability to support anyone who would like to work in construction and can provide the tools for a long and successful career. To learn more about membership and our registered apprenticeship program, visit our website at www.centralsouthcarpenters.org

The Central South Carpenters registered apprenticeship program is part of a larger network of programs through the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC). The network includes 250 training centers throughout North America and Canada and over 100 different craft curriculums. We can prepare you for any position in construction without the need to acquire student loans, because all our training programs are free to members.

Then Shanta explained how Central South Carpenters support women in the building trades through the Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB) Committee. Consisting of a group of female members, SIB’s promotes the growth and support for women through training, events, and political action. As well as advocates for our female members and mentors for new and potential members. To further elaborate on how Central South Carpenters support women, Shanta told the attendees about a female member from Oklahoma who, after graduating high school, couldn’t afford to attend college and often worked 72hrs a week, between 3 different retail jobs, just to pay rent. This member entered our apprenticeship in 2019. Earning while learning has afforded her the opportunity to buy her own home in only 2 years. Shanta asked her about other ways the apprenticeship has changed her life. Without hesitation, she explained how she has a life; she has time to pursue her personal interests. Before her apprenticeship, she had no life outside of working.

Shanta ended her speech summing up her experience with the Central South Carpenters registered apprenticeship by saying it provides people with a high-skilled career and a debt-free life.

Visit the training centers page of our website to find a training center near you. There you can sign up for classes or go to the training trust website in your area to learn more. 

Visit:  https://www.centralsouthcarpenters.org/TrainingCenters