PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — New Ventures Maine is offering a hands-on, day-long event designed to encourage girls to consider careers in fields traditionally dominated by men. The Totally Trades Conference will bring together over 100 participants from schools throughout Aroostook County on Wednesday, April 26, on the Northern Maine Community College campus.
The conference is a free, one-day event for Aroostook County girls in grades 8 through 12. Sessions will range from carpentry and heavy equipment operation to automotive technology and coding, providing students an opportunity to experience some aspect of the profession through a practical exercise.
“Totally Trades offers hands-on workshop experiences in nontraditional careers for females – careers historically filled more predominantly by males — to girls throughout Aroostook County,” said Suzanne Senechal-Jandreau, conference planner and regional manager of the Central Aroostook office of New Ventures Maine, a statewide organization committed to helping Maine people succeed in their workplace, business and community.
“Totally Trades provides an opportunity for female students to explore careers they may have not considered for themselves,” Senechal-Jandreau said. “We want attendants to open their thinking and remove the potential barrier of gender, when considering careers for the future.”
Funding for the activity is made possible through monies and in-kind services provided by the Maine Department of Education and Maine Department of Transportation, as well as other local sponsors.
NMCC hosts the event, which is a featured activity during the college’s recognition of April as Community College Month.
“NMCC has been very pleased to partner with this important project for more than 10 years,” said Lori Smith, student support specialist at NMCC. “Technical skills and programs have always been the core of the college, long before our mission evolved into providing transfer programs leading to four-year degrees along with traditional career training. The Totally Trades event mirrors our work to demonstrate that the educational and career options we offer are for all students, regardless of gender.”
Conference registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the gymnasium. Following an official welcome, participants will break into the first of two sessions focusing on a specific career. A fashion show featuring students wearing nontraditional work attire will wrap up the day.
For more information visit www.totallytradesmaine.org or contact Senechal-Jandreau at 768-9635.
