USW 675 – Proterra Training and Apprenticeship
The USW 675 – Proterra Training and Apprenticeship Trust Fund launched Cohort 1 on July 1, 2021 with 15 participants. After a very successful pilot program in 2020, the training program was hailed as a model for the state and continues to receive strong support from Supervisor Hilda Solis. The Trust partners also includes the Miguel Contreras Foundation, Jobs to Move America, WDACS Pomona Valley AJCC and Citrus College. Over the course of 9 weeks (Friday & Saturdays), the participants learn the foundations of electric bus and battery manufacturing.
The cohort of 15 is made up of 13 new participants and 2 incumbents. There is one female in cohort, her name is Sonya Gutierrez. Graduation is set for October 15th at Proterra. Last year, the pilot graduation was virtual due to of Covid restrictions. This year the cohort also got to go down to the Proterra floor to see the buses. The program continues to develop and there will be more of an effort to recruit women. No experience required, Proterra is looking for workers who show up to work, are punctual and want to work.
Sonia Gutierrez – Female/Re-entry
Sonia shares “I was raised by a single parent in Pomona, went to a couple of continuation schools, I had a lifetime of alcohol abuse, run-ins with the law, I just got out of the prison, I’m trying to better my life. I have four children, they are looking forward to me staying home this time. I went to a couple of continuation schools. I found the flyer through the Work Source Center in Pomona and it intrigued me.
Sonya was asked what she thought about being the only woman in the program?
I don’t think too much on that, it’s for my benefit. At first it was uncomfortable, but now I know everybody there. I think we have a lot of good teachers there, whenever we don’t understand something they are there and the classmates help each other too, it’s very encouraging! I would encourage other women to participate because it shouldn’t just be just men that work on cars, you never see a woman down there fixing the brakes.
This program is getting my life together, helping me get back on top.
What would it mean to you to get a job at Proterra? It would prove to me that I can do it! That my outcome wasn’t to amount to nothing, it will get my life back together, I will prove to myself that I can do it, something I set my mind to doing.
What is your experience in the program? It’s been occupying me, things that I didn’t think that I could learn, I’m learning. Things that I thought were hard, are not.
It’s motivating, the program does everything for us, we’re basically spoiled. We very much feel supported. The program stays up with us with emails that tell us that we’re doing a great job.
Any advice to other women? Don’t let anything discourage you, women be encouraged. If you want to learn, Proterra is the place!
I love that Proterra is green and considerate of the environment. I am grateful! I hope that I am encouraging to other women and that have a life like mine.
Do you feel like it’s a second chance? I do, it’s a blessing and it’s something that I needed, every time I go to school, I learn something new.
Bryan Turner – Foster
Background: “It was Rough, a had single mother who was ill, and I was forced to go to foster care and then my mom passed away. I’ve been on my own since I was 16 years old and went to transitional housing, they have helped me to get an apartment and an education and take care of my son. But I find learning experiences in the journey.
Aging out – joined at the age of 16, his aunt was taking his money and when he was aging out he just left, slept on his friends couch, then they found him and sent him to an actual foster home.
I like getting hands on training
What’s been your experience? I think it’s really cool! There’s a lot of options, like you can work on the bus body, on the brakes, battery, cooling systems. The whole classroom is interacting with each other. It’s not like a class where everybody is quiet.
We’re doing lots of lab sheets, the instructors will stand next to you and tell you what you’re doing right and wrong
What would a job at Proterra mean to you? My financial situation would be to take care of my son, I won’t fall victim like other young black men do and do other things, I want to be able to provide for my son. I don’t have a dad and want to change the cycle for my son.
I would recommend the program to people who are more hands on, it is a good learning experience that we can take to other jobs.