The Newgate School in Minneapolis recently hosted a group of Banyan Community middle schoolers for a fun afternoon of hands-on learning about automotive career opportunities. These remarkable students are getting a head start on learning about the potential for multiple career pathways in the automotive industry, including auto mechanics, service writers, body technicians, tire technicians, dealership sales, and auto electricians.
Even though these students have a few years before they graduate high school and embark on their future academic or workforce careers, the Newgate School was excited to be involved in showcasing the many exciting opportunities for a fulfilling career in the automotive industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are an expected 73,300 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics each year over the next decade. A number of these projected openings are meant to fill voids from retirement. As more major auto manufacturers commit to developing electric and hybrid vehicles, skilled technicians will also need to work on and maintain these new technologies.
For kids who love cars, love to work on cars/bikes, or just love tinkering and taking things apart, these careers are a great way to apply what they love doing to a good-paying job.
Banyan Community Middle School is a community development organization in the Phillips neighborhood of South Minneapolis, working on synchronizing youth, family, and community to achieve the most significant possible impact. Youth attend programs to succeed in school, build life skills, develop assets, and cultivate healthy relationships. Benyan’s work is particularly helpful for families in the area as 33% of children live in poverty, crime is a constant, and the four-year high school graduation rate is only 74% overall (68% for African Americans and 67% for Latinos). Youth who attend Benyan programs have an impressive graduation rate of 89%!
The Newgate School is an excellent pathway for many of these students, as it offers tuition-free programs for all of its students. Newgate is able to continue providing this life-altering service because of the generous vehicle donations from everyone in the community. All donated vehicles with mechanical/body issues, minimal rust, and reasonable mileage become part of Newgate’s curriculum and training program. Students get to learn the skills they need to become entry-level technicians in the industry.
Every donated vehicle benefits the school and students regardless of whether it’s used in training, as Newgate uses 100% of the vehicle sales revenue to run the school’s operations. Newgate partners with many dealerships and shops in the Twin Cities area that provide good pay and benefits, along with opportunities for continued training that leads to more and better work opportunities for our graduates.
For more information on the Banyan Community School, visit www.banyancommunity.org. If you’d like to learn more about the Newgate School and how to support its mission, visit our donation page.
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