CUCA'S AGENDA

The Coalition for United Community Action-ORTC, Inc., (CUCA) works with community organizations, labor unions, contractors, and government agencies to develop construction training programs for unemployed and underemployed minorities and females. Since 1970 CUCA, in its own unique way, has evolved from using a direct action approach with labor unions and contractors, to becoming an integral structure of the labor force itself.

Over the years, the construction industry has undergone numerous transitions. It is facing overwhelming challenges from new technology and expanding competitively due to basic changes in the economic structure of this country. These changes, along with recent reforms and new initiatives in education, makes CUCA a key player in the development of effective and unique training programs for African Americans, Minorities and Females to link the world of education to the world of construction apprenticeship, and eventual supervision and management.

CUCA's training activities include the following programs:

Apprenticeship Preparedness Training Program (A.P.T)

This training concept was developed to provide inner-city youths and young adults with little or no marketable skills, an opportunity to become building trade apprentices. Using industry standard training concepts, students are assessed for academic barriers.

We provide classroom instruction to improve reading, math, communication, job readiness, and test preparation skills. In addition to classroom activities, the students learn how to identify and properly use the tools of the trades. This hands-on training approach instills safety disciplines, promotes team work, and provides on-the-job skills required for construction apprenticeship.

PROJECT UPGRADE -- "Solution for a New Era"

Project Upgrade is the first of its kind in the nation to prepare minority and female journey-level workers exclusively for supervisory opportunities in the construction industry. Moreover, it has received overwhelming support from labor, management, government, and business leaders. The training provided by Project Upgrade allows the participants an opportunity to upgrade and enhance their trade expertise by learning a variety of skills from the basics of communicating, problem solving, and blueprint reading to an overall view of construction supervision and management. Contractor representatives, union administrators, and business leaders are the instructors and motivational speakers who facilitate the class sessions.

Project Upgrade is governed by the Chicago N.P. Construction Committee, Inc.

Participating members are some of Chicago's most prominent construction industry leaders. Chair duties are shared by Tom Villanova, president, Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council; William E. Dugan, president and business manger, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150; and Daniel J. Walsh, president, Walsh Construction Company of Illinois.

Advisory Board members include major construction contractors and industry associates; Pentad, Inc., Black Contractors United, F. H. Paschen/S. N. Nielsen, Kenny Construction, Pepper Construction, McHugh Construction, Riteway Huggins Construction Services, University of Chicago Facilities Services and the Electrical Contractors Association.