P.A.C.E. - Plumbing, Air, Carpentry, Electrical Mentorship Program

P.A.C.E. is a FREE after-school mentorship program that connects students to the professional construction trades. Students have the opportunity to work with plumbers, sheet metal workers, carpenters and electricians to learn introductory skills needed for good paying careers in the trades. 

The vision of P.A.C.E. is aligned to the Portland metro regional industry growth areas of construction and manufacturing. which anticipate employment openings to grow by 31% and 19% respectively through 2026.

FACTS: CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING -RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN PORTLAND METRO REGION..

• 17% of the workforce currently is at or near retirement age
• Over one-third of the workforce is over 45 years old
• $26.16 is the average wage per hour

ACE Mentorship Program

Portland's ACE program is a FREE after-school program that runs from January to May every year. Students meet 12 times at professional firms in downtown Portland. Meetings are once a week (or once every two weeks) from 4:30-6:30 PM. Students can choose to join a Tuesday team or Thursday team.

Each student works with a team of 10-15 students from different high schools. Each team is paired with 7-10 mentors from a variety of architecture, construction, and engineering firms. Light meals are provided at each meeting and there is no additional homework. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from meetings.

Teams develop a building design project, a task that gives them a taste of the teamwork, creativity, and work skills needed in ACE careers. Students have the opportunity to visit multiple professional workplaces, learn how to network, and explore career fields within the industry. At the finale, students "pitch" their projects to a large audience of industry professionals, educators, family, and friends. In addition, seniors who complete the program are eligible for ACE scholarships, which they can apply toward higher education in an ACE-related field.