Episode 373: Apprenticeships as a Way of Eradicating Poverty With Joshua Johnson From JFF

So the way I look at apprenticeship, it really can be used, in my opinion, as a way of eradicating poverty. And they can do that through the example I just used, which is individuals can come in with little to no experience and walk out as highly skilled in that occupation. Episode 373: Apprenticeships as a Way of Eradicating Poverty With Joshua Johnson From JFF   Welcome to the Workology Podcast, a podcast for the disruptive workplace leader. Join host Jessica Miller-Merrell, founder of Workology.com as she sits down and gets to the bottom of trends, tools, and case studies for the business leader, HR, and recruiting professional who is tired of the status quo. Now here’s Jessica with this episode of Workology. Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:00:42.54] This episode of the Workology Podcast is part of a podcast series powered by the  Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship, or PIA. PIA is funded by the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, also known as ODEP. In November of 2020, ODEP launched PIA to ensure all apprenticeship programs are inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities. PIA collaborates with employers and apprenticeship programs to help meet employer talent needs and enable people with disabilities to benefit from apprenticeships that increase their opportunities for lifelong access to high-growth, high-demand jobs. Before I introduce our guest for this Workology Podcast episode, I want to hear from you. Please text the word “PODCAST” to the number 512-548-3005. That’s “PODCAST” to 512-548-3005. You can ask questions, leave comments, and make suggestions to me for future guests. This is my community text number and I want to hear from you. Today, I’m joined by Joshua Johnson, Director of Jobs for the Future’s National Innovation Hub for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Registered Apprenticeship, which is operated by the organization’s Center for Apprenticeship & Work Based Learning. In that role, Joshua leads efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in apprenticeships, with a specific focus on helping employers make commitments to building inclusive registered apprenticeship programs. Joshua, welcome to the Workology Podcast. Joshua Johnson: [00:02:18.81] Yes, thank you. Good afternoon. Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:02:21.18] Let’s get started. I would love for you to tell us a little bit about your background and what led to your current role at JFF? Joshua Johnson: [00:02:29.13] Yeah, it’s a pretty interesting background, actually. I guess you could say. I’ve been on both sides of the apprenticeship world and now I’m also on the, on another side. So the third side of apprenticeship world. So back in 2004 and I know we’ll talk about this a little later so I won’t go too in-depth of my beginnings, but I became a construction craft laborer apprentice here in the state of Wisconsin, and I was in that program for, it’s a two-year program, and then I end up working in building highways for six years in Illinois and Wisconsin with a company called Walsh Construction. From that, my youngest son was born, who will be 12 in a couple of months. He was born, and I decided at that point, you know, I’m just, I’m not really interested in working these ridiculously long hours and being on call if something happens. I just wasn’t interested in that part of my life, at that time in my life as, as I was about to raise a son, that I wanted to be kind of like at the beck and call of an organization or a company. So I decided to strike out on my own. And while my, my son’s mother was finishing school, finishing college, we work together to kind of as she was finishing college, I was raising our son.