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

Partnerships in Action

Finishing Trades,
Painter’s Union District Council 14

Workers in safety vests and helmets painting a wall inside a building, with one on a ladder and others applying paint or primer.

A woman wearing a white hard hat, safety glasses, and a yellow safety vest is painting a wall with a brush.

St. Paul Painters Pre-Apprenticeship Program was formally established in 2021 through a partnership between SPCDM and the Chicago Painters Union District Council 14. This partnership was created to provide community members with pathways into the Union and to help build sustainable careers in the Painting Trades.

Three leading Union Painting Contractors: Ascher Brothers, All-Tech Decorating, Inc., and ERA Valdivia sponsored and hired SPCDM graduates, marking a significant milestone as they begin their Union career journeys.

A woman wearing a white hard hat, safety glasses, and a yellow-green safety vest uses a paint roller to paint the white wall near a wooden door during construction.

A construction worker wearing a white hardhat, safety vest, and work clothes is painting a wall with a paintbrush. The worker is crouched down in front of a doorway, with a bucket of paint on the floor covered by plastic sheeting.

Text on a gold background about a partnership supporting local painters' apprenticeship program to build skills and community ties.

Miles Beatty, Executive Director
Finishing Contractors Association of Chicago

Group of seven people standing outdoors on a grassy area, smiling and posing for a photo. They have their arms around each other and are dressed casually. There are trees, a fence, and a brick building in the background, with a partly cloudy sky.

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W.E. O’Neil:
Partnership with Contractors

W.E. O’Neil’s partnership with SPCDM reflects its ongoing commitment to building a diverse, Union-based workforce that represents the hard-working people of Chicagoland. Through continued investment of capital, training, and mentorship, W.E. O’Neil works hand-in-hand with Pastor Ford and the SPCDM team to strengthen and expand the program’s impact.

One of the most meaningful ways W.E. O’Neil supports SPCDM’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program is by providing experienced industry professionals to serve as instructors. Since 2021, Superintendent Jorge Sanchez has led the General Construction Knowledge course, developing a tailored curriculum that gives students a strong foundation in the construction industry. His instruction covers critical topics such as jobsite safety, blueprint reading, project management fundamentals, and professional conduct on the job.

In addition, W.E. O’Neil actively recruits from SPCDM’s pool of graduates - many of whom have gone on to enter U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs - and connects trade partners to SPCDM candidates to help them gain valuable on-the-job hours toward journeylevel status.