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One construction-minded class of 15 students had their education interrupted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Oregon in March. The cohort was only two weeks shy of completing a 12-week pre-apprenticeship program through the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center when instruction was halted. Now they’re preparing to resume 鈥� but from the beginning.

鈥淚t was tough shutting down, but they were all very understanding,鈥� program coordinator Charles Manigo said.

Despite almost completing the program the first time around, the students have said they’re willing to go through it again, and some see an advantage in cementing the newly learned skills by repeating lessons, Manigo said.

鈥淓ach and every one of them was all for it,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey’re going to do the whole 12 weeks again, but they’re all in favor of it.鈥�

The resumption of in-person instruction has been postponed for at least two weeks, but POIC officials said they聽expect to set a firm restart date soon.

The program serves mostly young people ages 17 to 24, and typically people of color. Students learn topics such as introduction to framing, electrical theory and welding.

鈥淥ur main focus isn’t really the technicality of the trade, because that’s what they’re going to learn during their apprenticeship,鈥� Manigo said. 鈥淲e’re gearing them up to deal with that lifestyle.鈥�

Many students have work experience limited to the service industry.

鈥淲e try to teach them they can’t bring minimum-wage effort to jobs where people are paying them prevailing wages,鈥� Manigo said.

POIC makes tailored plans for where pre-apprentices will go after the program. Typically, cohorts work on a service project such as construction of a garden shed at an elementary school, a baseball shed for Parkrose High School or renovations of mini-homes for a women’s shelter.

POIC was founded in 1968. The educational nonprofit works out of the Northwest College of Construction, helping at-risk youths and people of color gain Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries-certified pre-apprenticeship training in the trades.

POIC works with trade unions and nonunion apprenticeship opportunities. Contractors including Colas Construction and Andersen Construction have contributed funding and consultation with the program.

With unemployment running high, job training is particularly needed now, said Nate McCoy, executive director of the National Association Minority Contractors’ Oregon chapter. It has contributed funding to POIC, and McCoy sits on an advisory committee.

鈥淲e’re anxious to see some of those programs get activated again because as we see across the nation, unemployment is growing 鈥� not decreasing,鈥� McCoy said. 鈥淲e’ve got to start getting people back to work as much as we can. I think we need to just continue to keep moving forward.鈥�

The pre-apprenticeship program will resume with a cohort of 15 students. Instead of a classroom, instruction will be moved to the shop, where there’s more room for social distancing.

鈥淲e have some fold-up tables that we’re going to set up in the shop, allowing people their own personal space, and we can give them that 6-foot distance,鈥� Manigo said.

The instructor, Torre Sathrum, is a former general contractor. His wife, an emergency room nurse, has provided advice on best practices to use while leading the class during the pandemic.

POIC is also preparing for the possibility of in-person classes needing to be halted a second time.

鈥淲e’re taking measures to be able to do distance learning,鈥� Manigo said. 鈥淚f we do have a shutdown, we can’t ask them twice to start over again.鈥�