The Forge

FORGE Your Path Career Expo Description: The FORGE Your Path Career Expo is a large-scale hands-on career exploration event designed for 8th grade students. The Expo connects students with industry professionals across construction and skilled trades through interactive exhibits equipment demonstrations and real-world career experiences. The program is designed to increase awareness of high-demand career pathways and help students make informed decisions about their future education and workforce opportunities. Accomplishments: During the year the program served approximately 2,400 students from 12 counties engaging over 100 industry partners and volunteers. Students participated in immersive hands-on experiences that introduced them to career pathways they may not otherwise encounter helping to bridge the gap between education and workforce needs.

BuildHER Construction Camp for Girls Description: BuildHER is a hands-on construction camp designed to introduce middle school girls to careers in construction and skilled trades. The program focuses on skill development confidence building and leadership through hands-on projects mentorship from industry professionals and exposure to real-world job sites. Accomplishments: The program served participants across two regional camps providing intensive hands-on training in areas such as carpentry electrical and construction fundamentals. In addition to technical skills participants engaged in leadership and financial literacy sessions. The program addresses the underrepresentation of females in the construction industry and fosters early interest in high-demand career pathways.

Career Interview Day Description: Career Interview Day provides Career & Technical Education CTE students with real-world interview experience through structured mock interviews with industry professionals. The program emphasizes employability skills including communication professionalism and confidence-building while also incorporating resume development and interview preparation. Accomplishments: The program served approximately 500 students from 9 schools across 6 counties supported by 60 interviewers and volunteers. Each student participated in multiple interview rounds receiving direct feedback from professionals. The experience significantly increased students confidence and preparedness for entering the workforce or continuing their education.

Tool Kits Initiative Description: The FORGE Tool Kit Initiative provides 7th grade students with a curated box of resources designed to introduce them to construction and skilled trades as meaningful career pathways. Each kit includes branded items career awareness materials and introductory tools that spark curiosity build early awareness and encourage students to begin exploring future opportunities in the trades. Accomplishments: During the year approximately 1,100 FORGE Tool Kits were assembled and distributed to 7th grade students across multiple school districts through community and education partnerships. The initiative served as many students first introduction to career opportunities in construction and skilled trades helping to build awareness excitement and a sense of connection to future workforce pathways.

Little Hands Big Trucks Description: Little Hands Big Trucks is a community-based outreach event designed to introduce young children and their families to construction and skilled trades through interactive hands-on experiences. The event features equipment displays activities and opportunities for children to engage with industry professionals in a fun and educational environment. Accomplishments: The event served hundreds of children and families providing early exposure to construction-related careers through interactive play and engagement. FORGE distributed educational materials including coloring pages career pathway resources and branded items helping to build awareness and excitement around the trades at an early age.

Career Signing Day Description: Career Signing Day celebrates students who are committing to enter the workforce or continue their education in construction and skilled trades. Modeled after traditional athletic signing ceremonies the event recognizes students achievements and highlights the value of career pathways in high-demand industries. Accomplishments: During the year in partnership with two community colleges students from Construction Engineering Technology programs participated in formal Career Signing Ceremonies publicly committing to employment or continued education. These events engaged industry partners educators and families reinforcing the value of skilled trades and celebrating students successful transition into the workforce and postsecondary pathways.

Special Projects are varying things that come up that we feel we should help with. A local business that helps the less fortunate had tools stolen and we helped to replace them.

General program expenses supplies materials and decor that are used across all the programs throughout the year

Coloring Books & Construction-Related Book Bundles Distribution Description: This initiative promotes early career awareness and literacy by distributing construction-themed coloring books and curated book bundles to young children. The program is designed to introduce Pre-K through elementary-aged students to the skilled trades while supporting early reading and learning development. Accomplishments: During the year hundreds of coloring books and construction-related books were distributed through schools libraries and community events. The initiative reached children and families across the region encouraging early engagement with career concepts while supporting literacy and educational enrichment.