We Don’t Value the Trades Nearly Enough

My dad was a proud member of Local union 94 his whole adult life. He was a union cabinet maker.

If you put a pile of wood in front of my dad, he could build you a car.

He didn’t just make things; he built them to last.

There’s something deeply satisfying about that kind of work — when your hands, your tools, and your know-how come together to create something solid, something useful, something real.

During the week, he worked his union job as a cabinet maker. Nights and weekends, he picked up odd jobs — kitchen installs, remodels, custom furniture — whatever it took so my mom could stay home to raise me, my older brother, Steve, and my younger sister, Stephanie.

Because of those long days and his skill in the trades, my parents were able to save enough to send my brother and me to URI and my sister to Villanova.

We all graduated with very minimal student loans and were able to focus on our futures instead of being weighed down by debt.

The trades provided that opportunity — stability, dignity, and a real path to the middle class.

A Career, Not a Consolation Prize

The trades aren’t a fallback. They’re a calling.

They demand intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving — the same skills we celebrate in engineers and entrepreneurs. Except instead of sitting behind a screen, these folks are out there wiring homes, building decks, and installing systems that keep our communities running.

Talk to any business owner right now, and they’ll tell you the same thing… We can’t find enough skilled tradespeople.

That’s not just a workforce problem. It’s an education problem.

Education Should Mean Opportunity — For Everyone

When we talk about education spending in Rhode Island, we tend to focus on K–12 and college affordability. Both matter, of course. But if we really want to prepare young people for the future, we need to invest just as much in vocational and technical training.

That means fully supporting our career and tech centers. Expanding apprenticeships with local unions and employers. And making sure every student — whether they’re 16 or 36 — can access training that leads to a real career.

A good plumber, electrician, or carpenter can earn more than many college graduates without the crushing student debt. More importantly, they can build a life right here in Rhode Island.

Building the Next Generation of Tradespeople

Every time I drive past a home being built or a construction site, I think of my dad.

He’d have been proud to see more young people picking up tools again, learning trades that are both timeless and essential.

If we’re serious about rebuilding Rhode Island — our homes, our schools, our infrastructure — then we need to rebuild our respect for the people who make that possible.

Because when we invest in vocational training, we’re not just giving people skills.

We’re giving them purpose, pride, and a path to prosperity.