Block Party for Skilled Trades Education in Chester
The Rotary Club of Swarthmore invites the local community to a block party outside the SEPTA train station on Saturday, September 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. Featuring food trucks and live music, it’s an opportunity to celebrate outdoors with friends and neighbors. And it’s a party with a purpose: to raise awareness for the Chester Trades Education Project, or CTEP.
CTEP is an ambitious, collaborative effort to bring economic opportunity to low-income young adults in the City of Chester, by providing training in the skilled trades. Spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Swarthmore, it brings together the energy and resources of the following partners:
Delaware County Community College (DCCC) provides vocational training through its certificate and degree programs. The skilled trades certification programs combine classroom and practical work. Scholarships make the training affordable for students from Chester.
Riverside Futures Regional Community Development Corporation recruits and screens the young adults who will join the program. A Chester-based nonprofit, Riverside Futures also matches students with mentors for ongoing support.
Chester Housing Authority (CHA) provides meeting and classroom space at its community centers in the City of Chester for training that can be conducted locally.
The Rotary Clubs of Swarthmore and Chester have made major multi-year commitments to support CTEP financially and practically. The Chester club seeded the project with its first major grant. Members of both clubs are lending their leadership skills and vision to get CTEP established and operating sustainably.
CTEP is already attracting the support of local contractors who recognize the need for skilled workers. The program is off and running with its first cohort of 12 students. Join the party on September 25 to celebrate this exciting initiative and to learn more.
