On Thursday, March 14, Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan (JA) and Sachse Construction proudly unveiled a groundbreaking partnership: the Skilled Trades Career Center. This state-of-the-art career center, located at 577 Larned St in Detroit, offers students a unique opportunity to explore the world of skilled trades. Some of the guests for the ribbon cutting included Mayor Mike Duggan, Todd Sachse, CEO of Sachse Construction, Detroit Public Schools, and community leaders, to name a few.
It’s not just a typical learning space but a futuristic hub that uses interactive virtual reality (VR) experiences and training simulations to provide an immersive learning experience. This innovative approach to education is a first in the region. It is set to open doors for thousands of students across Southeast Michigan, contributing to the ongoing effort to address Michigan’s skilled trades labor shortage.
“Young people come here to learn about some of the favorite life decisions we make from a financial standpoint and a career perspective. We talk about taxes, insurance, and many of the life things we do, like grocery shopping and creating a budget,” said Jason D. Lee, President and CEO of JA, during opening remarks before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “And as part of that curriculum, there are experiences around the decisions you make from a career perspective. And that’s why we’re really excited to have Sachse Construction here.”
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has anticipated that there will be a significant demand for skilled trade positions in Michigan until 2028, with approximately 47,000 job openings every year. This new center, a crucial step in addressing this demand, has been established to cater to this demand and provide a platform for students and youth. The Skilled Trades Career Center will significantly impact Michigan’s labor shortage by offering a unique learning experience and preparing students for careers in the skilled trades.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan joined community partners and focused his remarks by addressing Michigan’s construction boom centered around Detroit. However, there is a need for more skilled workers, particularly those from outside of Detroit, which is driving up construction costs. As a result, some projects are being completed more slowly and at a higher expense. Despite these challenges, working in construction is a promising career path, and the original vision for the city’s growth was forward-thinking.
“You are seeing more Detroiters working in construction, carpentry millwrighting services, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers working right now. But before you hit that point, when you’re ten years old, when you’re 12 years old, when you’re 15 years old. Are you looking up at these tall buildings and saying I could go back and make a good living? It doesn’t become a part of the young people’s thought process early enough. And so what Todd (Sachse) has done here is just outstanding,” Duggan said.
This center aims to engage students more meaningfully by leveraging their familiarity with digital platforms to expose them to many possibilities and lucrative careers in the skilled trades. Because of the access to high tech, it is an excellent opportunity for students to explore the various employment options and help bridge the digital divide.
JA offers a curriculum called Finance Park, which provides a capstone simulation program for K-12 schools, community-based organizations, and youth that closely mimics real-world on-the-job learning and training. Through interactive lessons and hands-on experience, students explore financial literacy and different career pathways, all under the guidance of educators and industry professionals. This comprehensive curriculum is a testament to their commitment to preparing students for their future careers. Finance Park is designed to appear like a small city with innovative booths of various corporations and careers, including Bank of America and McDonald’s.
Arnesse Robinson, Program Manager at the Office of College and Career Readiness of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, discussed the partnership with JA and praised their team’s exceptional work during the unveiling. She highlighted the great benefits of working with JA and expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration.
“JA is one of our biggest programs because we allow our students to come here for the finance part, and then they go into our classrooms and schools pushing our students for career readiness curriculum. So, this is starting to prepare students for their careers. As you know, it is the gateway to the construction trades industry. I also have a DPS construction trades pathway at Randolph Technical High School. So this is adding all of them together,” Robinson said.
For more information about the Sachse Construction Skilled Trades Career Center, call (313) 962-2550 or visit www.jamichigan.org
