Southwest Carpenters Host Combine at LA Trade – Los Angeles Sentinel | Los Angeles Sentinel

Southwest Carpenters held their first post-pandemic Carpenter’s Combine Day at L.A. Trade Technical College. E. Mesiyah McGinnis / LA Sentinel Staff

Prospective carpenters and hiring contractors gathered in downtown Los Angeles on March 26, at 6 a.m., as the Southwest Carpenters held their first post-pandemic Carpenter’s Combine Day at L.A. Trade Technical College.

The event was open to the public for anyone interested in a career in construction as a union carpenter and for members of Southwest Carpenters who are in need of work. More than 1,000 people showed up to test their skills in front of 100-plus contractors, who were hiring for top projects in L.A. and beyond.

The skills camp stations included 4×4 carrying, scaffold assembly, drywall etching, tape measure, screw off, hammering, plywood carry and corbel mounting.   E. Mesiyah McGinnis / LA Sentinel Staff

Contractors in attendance included Skanska, Hathaway Dinwiddie, PCL, Penta Building Group, and Largo Concrete, who evaluated candidates as they tested in an eight-station skills camp. The skills camp stations included 4×4 carrying, scaffold assembly, drywall etching, tape measure, screw off, hammering, plywood carry and corbel mounting.

With increasing real estate developments across Southern California and the Olympics coming to Los Angeles, there is a high need for trained union carpenters, which is a great opportunity for people looking to start or restart a career with solid wages, strong benefits, health care, vacation pay, including a pension.

E. Mesiyah McGinnis / LA Sentinel Staff

Despite all the ups to the field, according to Corey Crockerham, special representative / instructor at Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, there is a low number of African Americans involved in the industry.

To balance the scales, the African American Task Force and the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, in partnership with the Training Fund, offers the Brothers’ Keeper program, a free four-week carpentry pre-apprenticeship program serving disadvantaged men and women in Los Angeles County, which offers a pathway to a career in carpentry.

Corey Crockerham, special representative / instructor (center with son) with members of the Southwest Carpenters African American Task Force.      E. Mesiyah McGinnis / LA Sentinel Staff

The program is open to people from all types of backgrounds. In fact, many Brothers’ Keeper’s graduates were formerly incarcerated and were unable to find steady employment after leaving prison.

“What we do is keep our African American carpenters engaged and mentor them, give them the skills that help them get to the next level,” Crockerham said.

Highlighting the disconnect between opportunity and exposure, he said, “The jobs and opportunities are out there; our mission is to increase the number of African American interested and participating in the Carpenter’s Union.”

Wesley Crunk, structor for the Brother’s Keeper program (2nd from left) works with participants while leading by example in the Carpenters Combine.      E. Mesiyah McGinnis / LA Sentinel Staff

Wesley Crunk, mentor-in-chief / instructor for the Brother’s Keeper program, trains the candidates at the combine.  He was frustrated by the lack of African Americans in attendance.

“There is a great opportunity in this field but our people are not taking advantage of it,” he said.  Wesley feels part of the challenge is that African Americans have had little exposure to the carpentry field.

Cruck, who served time in the penitentiary and found himself looking for a new life when he paroled, found carpentry. “My dad was not a carpenter.  I didn’t know what carpentry was when I got into this, but now that I know, I want to spread the word. We have support from our leadership, from our executive board to bring people in the industry who look like us,” he said.

enna Dorrough recently became a union journeyman carpenter.    E. Mesiyah McGinnis / LA Sentinel Staff

Wesley added that he wants to change the narrative. “We know the numbers are low now but we want to see a progressive change, five, 20, 30 years from now.”

According to Crockerham, participants can come into the apprentice program with little to no experience but must commit to a rigorous four-year program.  For those who finish, he said the rewards are high.

“The average income for our journeymen carpenters is about $100,000 with great benefits and retirement,” he said.

Nicholas Vasquez (right), a second stage apprentice carpenter says carpentry adds purpose to his life.     E. Mesiyah McGinnis / LA Sentinel Staff

Second stage apprentice carpenter Nicholas Vasquez said half the battle is just showing up. “It’s hard work, but it’s rewarding. When I leave the job site and complete a project within the job site, I am proud of my work. I write my name on a stud or drywall, so they know it was me,” he said.

But more importantly, as a younger man with a bright future, Vasquez feels he has something much bigger than a job. “Not only am I immersed in a strong brotherhood and sisterhood, but to be able to have roof over my head, groceries in the refrigerator, and to help provide for my family by doing carpentry, is proof that hard work pays off,” he said. “This is a lifestyle.”

E. Mesiyah McGinnis / LA Sentinel Staff

To learn more about opportunities in carpentry, visit www.swcarpenters.org