Published on: Wednesday, June 23, 2010

By Dana Sukontarak

United Communities Against Poverties Inc., in Capitol Heights was one of six organizations selected by the U.S. Department of Labor to receive a $300,000 grant for women in apprenticeship and non-traditional occupations.

The local winner was announced Monday via a press teleconference by Sara Manzano-Diaz, director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau.

The grants awarded are intended to ensure women have adequate opportunity in non-traditional occupations that are increasingly in demand.

These occupations, according to Manzana-Diaz, include carpenters, electricians, machinists, mechanics, plasterers, plumbers and welders, among others.

“The participation rates of women in non-traditional occupations is still low,” said Manzana-Diaz. “With these grants, nearly 600 women will be placed in non-traditional apprenticeships.”

In total, “more than 4,000 women will benefit from these grants,” said Manzana-Diaz. “Our mission at the Women’s Bureau is to empower working women to achieve their goals and financial security.”

Organizations were selected to receive grants based on their ability to partner and provide women with the necessary training they require to succeed in non-traditional occupation fields.

According to a June 10 press release from the U.S. Department of Labor, the awards “will support partnerships between grantee organizations and existing Registered Apprenticeship programs to ensure that women have training opportunities and career support to succeed in non-traditional occupations in growing sectors of the economy.”

“This grant gives women the opportunity not only to get in [to non-traditional careers], but to be retained,” said Manzano-Diaz. “Our effort is to try to open the doors and keep doors open for women.”

The grants will also help achieve a variety of other goals, including assisting women receive certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and helping workers move into green jobs with high salaries.

According to its website, UCAP, which was established in 1964, aims to “to alleviate poverty; improve awareness of the needs of low and moderate income residents; and maximize the quality of life for residents of Prince George’s County and impoverished individuals throughout the state of Maryland.”

The five other organizations selected to receive grant money were Chicago Women in Trades in Chicago, Ill., Nontraditional Employment for Women in New York, N.Y., Pennsylvania Women Work in Pittsburgh, Pa., State Emergency Response Systems Inc. in Los Angeles, Calif., and YWCA of Greater Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.