leading the movement to bring a new generation of pride, progress, & professionals to north america’s skilled workforce.
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Addressing The Skills Gap
Be Pro Be Proud is proud of the partners, volunteers, and future skilled trade workers who are making an impact on the skills gap.
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Draft Day 2023 Grows to Four Events and Builds Talent Pipeline for Major Employers in Arkansas
Draft Day 2023 strategically paired graduating seniors currently enrolled in CTE courses in four markets across Arkansas with employers ready to hire them upon graduation. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, more than 100 participating companies, and more than 4,000 high school seniors participated. "Though we are experiencing a national shortage of skilled trades professionals in our workforce, through our program, we have commitments from over 4,000 qualified students interested in pursuing technical professions," said Andrew Parker, the executive director of Be Pro Be Proud. "Now is the time for our employers to help support the next generation of talented trade workers."
Draft Day 2022 Strategically Pairs Qualified Students with Employers
Draft Day 2022 strategically paired graduating seniors currently enrolled in CTE courses in northeast Arkansas with employers ready to hire them upon graduation. Be Pro Be Proud Draft Day was held from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM, at Jonesboro High School. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, more than 30 participating companies, and more than 200 high school seniors participated. “The seniors are doing interviews, they’re finding out what their career path will be like with different companies,” Hutchinson said. “The companies need good, skilled workers and it gives them opportunities to recruit some of the top talent coming out of our career centers and high schools.”
Be Pro Be Proud Announces 2nd Mobile Workshop to Tour in Tandem with the 2nd Generation Mobile Workshop
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced the approval of a $1.4 million grant to add a second Be Pro Be Proud mobile workshop for jobs development and recruiting. The grant comes from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development.
Be Pro Be Proud Expands to South Carolina
Modeled after the Arkansas Be Pro Be Proud initiative, Be Pro Be Proud SC is a workforce development project designed to close the skills-gap in South Carolina and remove the stigma from “blue-collar” jobs with the goal of educating students and the public on the appeal and the importance of these jobs for our economy.
