St. Paul Church of God in Christ
Community Development Ministries, Inc.

On August 20, St. Paul Church of God in Christ Community Development Ministries (SPCDM) proudly co-hosted the 12th Annual Construction Conference & Expo alongside the Construction Industry Service Corp. (CISCO) and the Chicago Teachers Union. What unfolded was more than an event - it was a living picture of what happens when community, industry, and opportunity meet in one room.

From the moment doors opened, the space filled with energy. Job seekers, Apprenticeship candidates, and community members moved through the room meeting face-to-face with Union Trade representatives, learning about wages and benefits, and taking their first real steps toward a career in Construction.

The strength of this year's expo came from the partners who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with SPCDM:

• Contractors including W.E. O'Neil and Power Construction, who continue to invest in local talent and workforce pipelines.

• Union trades including the Painters and Bricklayers, along with many others whose representatives spent the morning talking directly with prospective Apprentices about pathways, expectations, and long-term career growth.

Their presence reinforced a truth SPCDM has held onto for more than a decade: when Contractors, Unions, and community organizations work together, careers get built - not just jobs.

One of the most powerful parts of the day was seeing past graduates of SPCDM's Pre-Apprenticeship program return to the floor. Some came as working Tradespeople. Some came as mentors. All came as proof that the program works. Their journeys - from classroom to jobsite to career - are the clearest measure of SPCDM's mission.