19 DCHA Residents Graduat...

19 DCHA Residents Graduate from the Maintenance Apprenticeship Training Program

DCHA celebrated 19 Maintenance Apprenticeship Training Program (MATP) graduates on December 6 at the EnVision Center. DCHA leaders, including Executive Director Keith Pettigrew, offered the rising tradespeople inspirational words in front of their families, friends and supporters.

This year's graduates from the program include: Roberto Augburn, William Beyman, Elvin Blain Jr, Germaine Caesar, Earle Chaney, Cheyenne Dreher, Tommy Franklin, Edgar Frye, Davon Haney, Christopher Lovitt, Sean Lucas, Jose Quinteros, Stephon Smith, Spurgeon Stevenson, Lache Taylor, LaKivia Thomas, and Jonetta Young.

Guy Raspberry, a MATP alumnus, spoke to this year's graduates to offer his reflections and share how the program served him throughout his career.

Over 12 months, the graduates were trained in services such as carpentry, electrical installation, plumbing, painting, landscaping, work orders, and customer service. They dedicated 20 hours a week on a Monday through Friday schedule to learn these key skills in property maintenance. The program offered a combination of classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and professional development.

DCHA founded MATP with the DC Department of Employment Services' Project Empowerment. Through this partnership, the two entities designed the program to create opportunities for DCHA and local residents to develop the necessary skills to work in property maintenance.

This year's graduates trained to become Certified Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT) through the Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington. DCHA is also grateful for its other partners which includes Indochino, Sherwin Williams, DC MAXIMUS, and Work Safety Lab for their involvement and community investment.

If you'reinterested in learning about your eligibility and how to apply, visit: https://www.dchousing.org/wordpress/resident-services/apprenticeship-training-program/