Oregon AFL-CIO’s Portland headquarters got a spruce-up in early April thanks to a paint crew from Timber Lake Job Corps in Estacada. Job Corps is a federally funded vocational training program for low income young people aged 16 to 24. Over 10 to 24 months, enrollees get room and board, health care, and a small stipend while they gain exposure to occupations like painting, carpentry, and wildfire fighting.
“It feels like it’s the best kept secret,” said Job Corps Northwest Field Coordinator Tandy Sturgeon, a member of Painters Local 10. The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades is one of several unions that partner with Job Corps and offer direct entry into an apprenticeship programs for graduates who meet qualifications.
