Celebrating Black History Month by acknowledging some of our great American inventors who started out as apprentices! JAN ERNST MATZELIGER
Posted on February 18, 2019 Leave a Comment
By Eric Ramsey- Director of Apprenticeships. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 
As we celebrate Black History Month, I thought it was appropriate to highlight some of the great African American inventors who started out as apprentices. In a time when attending post secondary institutions wasn’t possible, apprenticeships offered African Americans and other minorities a way to gain competencies and knowledge to be proficient in highly skilled jobs. It wasn’t an easy path for them to learn these trades, but their incredible human spirit pushed them through segregation and racism to invent things that have changed the world forever. You may not know their names, but their inventions will be very familiar.
The first person that I’m spotlighting is Jan Ernst Matzeliger. Jan was a machine mechanic apprentice who developed a process for mass producing shoes. Typically, a highly skilled craftsman could produce 50 shoes in a day prior to his invention. After his invention, that same individual could produce 150 to 700 shoes in the same timeframe. This process made shoes more accessible for more people because the price of shoes was cut in half.
So let’s celebrate Black History Month by acknowledging some of our great American inventors who started out as apprentices!
#apprenticeships #blackhistorymonth #americanhistory
USA Apprenticeships #SkillsWorld Special
Posted on February 16, 2019 Leave a Comment
Listen to some great podcasts, hosted by Tom Bewick and some leaders who are involved in trying to embed High Quality Apprenticeships across America.
It’s great listening!!
USA Apprenticeships #SkillsWorld Special
— Read on www.fenews.co.uk/featured-article/23894-usa-apprenticeships-skillsworld-special
The Secret History of Women in Coding – The New York Times
Posted on February 16, 2019 Leave a Comment
Computer programming once had much better gender balance than it does today. What went wrong?
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/magazine/women-coding-computer-programming.html
Great Job Team TranZed
Posted on February 15, 2019 Leave a Comment
I can only ever do my job with a great team surrounding me. Over the 28 years that I have been involved in developing and delivering High Quality apprenticeships, I have had the privilege of working with some wonderful people and wonderful dedicated teams (you know who you are).
Team TranZed are no exception!
In a very difficult and sometimes challenging, emerging market I have an amazing bunch of people who are completely dedicated and committed to our singular goal of
“Getting more people from all walks of life, communities and background into sustainable careers through High Quality Registered Apprenticeships across America”
I salute you all.!!!
It wonderful that their efforts have been recognised by the Great State of Maryland through a Governors Citation.
It has been the highlight of my week. Thank you!!
Wilbur Ross, Ivanka Trump Introduce Workforce Advisory Board – Bloomberg
Posted on February 14, 2019 Leave a Comment
The chief executives of Apple Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp. and Walmart Inc., are among 25 prominent Americans who will shape Trump administration efforts to develop job training programs to meet the changing demands of U.S. employers.
— Read on www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-13/wilbur-ross-ivanka-trump-introduce-workforce-advisory-board
Job-training grants a second chance for many in Berks
Posted on February 14, 2019 Leave a Comment
Gov. Tom Wolf’s PAsmart grants bring $5.3 million to the region for STEM education and apprenticeships that lead to jobs paying living wages.
— Read on www.readingeagle.com/news/article/job-training-grants-a-second-chance-for-many-in-berks
Wolf Announces 51 PAsmart Grants in South Central and Southeast PA
Posted on February 13, 2019 Leave a Comment
Building on his plan to expand job training for Pennsylvanians, Governor Tom Wolf today announced more than $5.3 million in the first PAsmart Apprenticeship and Next Generation Industry Partnerships grants for south central and southeast Pennsylvania.
— Read on www.governor.pa.gov/governor-wolf-announces-51-pasmart-job-training-grants-in-south-central-and-southeast-pennsylvania/
PAsmart Job Training Grants Awarded in North Central Pennsylvania
Posted on February 9, 2019 Leave a Comment
PAsmart Job Training Grants Awarded in North Central Pennsylvania
— Read on www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Labor-and-Industry-Details.aspx
Opportunity Works: Four Ways to Help Young Adults Find Pathways to Success | JFF
Posted on February 8, 2019 Leave a Comment
JFF accelerates the alignment and transformation of the American workforce and education systems to ensure access to economic advancement for all.
— Read on www.jff.org/resources/opportunity-works-four-ways-help-young-adults-find-pathways-success/
Celebrating Black History Month, the next person highlight by Eric Ramsey is Elijah McCoy.
Posted on February 18, 2019 Leave a Comment
By Eric Ramsey- Director of Apprenticeships. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The next person that I want to highlight is Elijah McCoy. Mr. McCoy was born free in Canada in 1844. At the age of three, Mccoy’s family moved to Michigan were he became a U.S. citizen. Later, at the age of fifteen, Elijah was sent to Scotland to become a mechanical engineer apprentice. After he completed his apprenticeship, Mr. McCoy returned to the states where he found it difficult to find work as an engineer. Eventually, he would work as a firefighter for a Michigan based railroad company where he would get his inspiration for one of his most notable inventions: the automatic lubricator for oiling the Steam engines of locomotives and ships.
During his lifetime, Eijah McCoy is credited with over 50 patents ranging from the folding ironing board to a lawn sprinkler system design.
The term “the real McCoy” originated from people during that time period referring to the quality of his inventions: If you had a McCoy, you knew it was a product of the highest quality.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: apprenticeships change lives and affects everyone involved.
APPRENTICESHIP = INNOVATION
Who will be the next apprentice that changes the world?
#apprenticeship #blackhistorymonth