Canarycast

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released the sixth episode of his podcast, “Canarycast.” In the latest episode titled, “Building a Strong Manufacturing Career Pipeline,” Senator Brown moderates a discussion with Laurie Moline, the founder of the Get Connected program with United Way in Stark County, and two former Get Connected students who now work at the welding company Ohio Gratings, Paul Anderson and Kris Carter. Get Connected is a career-based mentoring program that works to provide high school students with exposure and connections to different industries, like manufacturing, and helps them find their way into good jobs after they’ve graduated.

Download Canarycast, Episode 6, “Building a Strong Manufacturing Career Pipeline”:

In the episode, Brown speaks with Laurie, Paul, and Kris about the importance of a strong manufacturing career pipeline. Laurie explains how she began the Get Connected Program with United Way in Stark County, and talks about how the program exposes her students to good-paying, fulfilling careers in manufacturing through a career-based mentoring program. The workers also discuss what they learned in the Get Connected program, and how they found their way to successful careers at Ohio Gratings.

“A few years ago, I was talking to an official in the last administration about how to best support American manufacturing, and he said to me, ‘you know, everyone says they want more manufacturing, but no one wants their kid to do it.’ But Ohioans are working to change that,” said Brown. “There’s dignity in making things, and if we give kids the right skills, they can get good-paying jobs, and we can have a strong manufacturing sector.

Brown has long fought to ensure Ohio students realize the potential careers the field of manufacturing could provide to them. For six years now, Brown’s office has helped organize and host summer manufacturing camps throughout the state to help young Ohioans learn about manufacturing jobs available in Ohio.

Brown’s summer manufacturing camps help introduce kids and their parents to an up-to-date, real-world understanding of American manufacturing. This learning opportunity gives local students the opportunity to learn about careers in their community, tour local manufacturing facilities, and learn from experts. Students learn how products are made, participate in team-building exercises, and work on a project specific to their community.

Brown’s podcast is named Canarycast, a nod to the canary pin Brown wears on his lapel instead of the official Senate pin. An Ohio steelworker gave Brown the pin. He wears it as a reminder of the progress the country has made since the days when the only thing coal miners had to protect them was a canary – and all the work still left to do to ensure American workers are valued.  

 

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