North America - Lehigh Cement Company Lehigh Midwest Leads Program to Train Bilingual Workers for the Construction Industry

The Indiana Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and El Centro Hispano (The Hispanic Center) recently joined forces in the development of a pilot training program, the "New Hoosiers." This pilot program was spearheaded and co-chaired by Lehigh Cement Company and Builders Concrete. The bilingual Spanish/English pilot program provides trainees of Hispanic descent with the education to support their successful job placement in the construction industry. Training includes a 10-hour OSHA construction safety course and a 30-hour life skills course, which includes modules of English as a Second Language, resolving conflict and workplace issues, sexual harassment, managing your construction career, interviewing skills and more. In addition, ABC member company owners and supervisors complete an 8-week Spanish-language and Hispanic culture class to better equip them in managing Hispanic workers on their work crews.

On Friday, April 12, the pilot program graduated its first class of trainees. Lehigh Cement Company presented each graduate with a trowel. Successful graduates will receive job placement in ABC member companies and have the opportunity to enroll in the Construction Apprenticeship Program at ABC. Trainees continue to attend English classes for a year.

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