The Philadelphia Revitalization and Education Program, Inc. (PREP) is a non-profit corporation created in 1995 by the Laborers International Union of North America, Laborers Local 332 and the Housing Association of Delaware Valley (HADV). PREP is a unique partnership that brought together labor, business and neighborhood organizations for the purpose of creating economic opportunities and increased affordable housing for residents of low-income communities.

Over the years, PREP has developed a successful track record in the operation of construction training programs and in creating union careers and/or employment opportunities for minority adults. Moreover, PREP has demonstrated expertise in empowering minority groups to develop construction oriented economic

                           Sam Staten Jr.                                                                                                             Business Manager Laborers Local 332                                                                                   

development projects, which have provided long term careers and/or employment for their constituencies. Highlights of this success include:

PREP joint ventured with the Tasker Homes Residents Council in the late 1990's to create a construction company that subsequently secured a $1,000,000 asbestos removal contract in which residents were employed to implement the contract. The contract was successfully completed. It also came in under budget and the company made a profit.

PREP joint ventured with the Lamokin Village Residents Council of the Chester Housing Project in the late 1990's to create a construction company that was awarded a demolition contract. Twenty residents were hired to implement the contract and over $400,000 of the $1,200,000 contract was paid to residents in salaries. Eighteen of the twenty residents joined the Laborers Union or the Operating Engineers Union as full-time employees.

PREP collaborated with the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), with a demonstration grant from the U.S. Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to prepare PHA residents for entrance into the building trades. Participants were provided with intensive self-esteem building training, case management and life skills development. Upon completion of training, 41 PHA residents were placed into the Laborers International Union of North America, Laborers Local 332.

The Diversity Apprenticeship Program (DAP), a program of PREP, is a pre-apprenticeship program designed to move Philadelphia minority residents into the construction building trades. DAP accomplishes this by providing specialized employment and training services in an industry --- building trades --- that has documented future growth. Concurrently, there is strong commitment and support from the Philadelphia Building Trade Council and its member unions to provide apprenticeships for successful DAP participants; In fact, the building trades have been involved in project since 1998.

The building trades business managers, state and local elected representatives, and others designed DAP. This same group, with additions, has served as its Advisory Board to assist in the success of moving minorities into construction projects as apprentices. The project has proven to not only be the most successful tool in the city to move minorities into the trades, but has also brought together groups thought not to be able to work together, namely the building trades and African American elected officials.

The programs role is to bridge the gap between the lack of training and the preparation needed to successfully transition into the trades. The DAP process includes: a battery of assessment exams and one-on-one interviews to identify promising candidates; identification of potential barriers, designing of an individual development plan; life-skills training and academic instruction; trade orientation sessions; employment support; and ongoing case management. Key instructional components include Academic Enhancement, designed to address functional skills gaps, particularly in math and literacy skills; and Life Skills training, which constitutes knowledge and a set of aptitudes necessary for a person to function independently and successfully in the workplace. Typical areas of life-skills training include self esteem building, workplace and personal etiquettes, money management and employability. It has become clear that life-skills are as important as job skills; without the resources of life-skills, further job skills training could be a wasted effort. Diversity Apprenticeship Program, has graduated more than 1000 participants, with 44% of them attaining apprenticeships in skilled labor unions and 56% in other employment.