The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (ULSTL) is taking the care needed to help people find employment in the energy industry.
The Urban League is collaborating with local energy companies including Ameren, Spire, Miller Pipeline, Intren, Mears, Trice Construction, Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), and others, in launching the Career Advancement and Readiness in Energy (CARE) program as part of the Energy Jobs Program.
This initiative, in partnership with the National Urban League (NUL) and the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), aims to fuel the energy talent pipeline by providing career readiness education to underrepresented communities in the region.
Stephen Mills, senior vice president and president of Spire Missouri, said his company’s role in the partnership is part of its mission during announcement of the program on Saturday Sept. 7, 2024 at the Urban League headquarters.
“Part of our mission statement is to advance every community [and] enrich every life,” he said.
“No matter what your socio-economic background is. No matter what your ethnicity is. No matter how much or how little social, financial, or political capital you have.”
The C.A.R.E. program will train over 100 individuals, equipping them with the skills necessary to pursue careers as line workers, gas technicians, skilled laborers, and other roles within the energy industry.
St. Louis is one of five inaugural cities chosen to pilot this program, which aims to bridge the gap between underrepresented job seekers and energy career opportunities, according to Michael K. Holmes, Urban League regional executive vice president of Economic Development, Workforce and Partnership.
“We are proud to be a member of this partnership If partnerships were easy, everyone would do them,” he said.
“There will be bumps in the road, but we will work through them. The work we do is useful, and it is much needed.”
Michael McMillan, Urban League president and CEO, said in a release, “Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are critical in the workforce development space around the globe, but especially right here in St. Louis, where there are tremendous opportunities to strengthen and authentically represent the talent pipeline,” McMillan said.
“Through C.A.R.E., the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and our local energy partners are committed to empowering people from underrepresented communities to achieve their full career potential.”
Missy Henriksen, CEWD executive director, said the energy sector’s continuing growth is creating “an opportunity and an appetite to ensure companies build a workforce representative of the communities they serve.”
“This collaborative partnership makes that possible through its local, grassroots approach. Having strong partners lead the local program efforts in St. Louis, I’m confident in the progressive work being done and look forward to seeing the positive impact their efforts will have on shaping the future of the energy business.”
The initiative will include recruitment, intake assessments, career readiness training, and referrals to registered apprenticeship program opportunities. This initiative is supported by the NUL’s Department of Labor Apprenticeships Build America grant.
“I look forward to two years, five years, a decade from now to see how this blossoms,” said. Mills.