‘Career Jumpstart for Women’ will feature hands-on activities and expert panel discussions

PHOENIX, AZ (March 7, 2023) – Fresh Start Women’s Foundation is excited to host its ‘Career Jumpstart for Women’ on Friday, March 10, a free, interactive event designed to educate women on the careers available to them in technology, trades, and other high-wage industries.

Women hold less than 30% of computing and mathematical jobs in the U.S., and less than 10% of roles in the skilled trades. Yet, these careers often afford higher than average wages, creating an opportunity for women who secure and maintain these ‘nontraditional’ careers to dramatically change their financial trajectories and standard of living.

To raise awareness of these career opportunities among women in the Phoenix community, Fresh Start joined forces with the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Apprenticeship Office, ARIZONA@WORK, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, and collaborated with employers, apprenticeship experts, and women succeeding in these careers to host this event.

“Empowering women to pursue high-wage, high-growth careers is a crucial part of our strategy to help women in our community achieve self-sufficiency,” said Fresh Start CEO and President Kim McWaters. “This event is an opportunity for women to envision themselves in fields in which they have traditionally been underrepresented and equip them with the confidence, resources, and pathways to pursue those careers.”

The event will feature hands-on virtual reality activities with The Refrigeration School (RSI), a panel of women thriving in these careers sharing their experiences, and a panel of employers and apprenticeship experts discussing the pathways into these industries.

Among the employers participating in the panel discussion is the event’s Presenting Sponsor, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.

“Women are a vital part of the workforce and having this opportunity to introduce more of them to the rewarding career opportunities available in construction and other high-paying industries through our partnership with Fresh Start Women’s Foundation is awesome,” said Larissa Tavelli, Director of Marketing and Heart Hats Program Chair for McCarthy Building Cos, Southwest Region. “For industries like construction, which may not be the first to come to mind for many women, I can personally attest that it's an exciting and impactful industry to work in – we are literally and figuratively building the community where I live with my family, which provides an incredible sense of purpose and accomplishment. More women are joining the craft workforce by pursuing careers in the trades as well as in operations and management and we hope that this event will inspire others to join our industry.”

The event will be held at Fresh Start at 1130 E. McDowell Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85006 from 9:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10. It is free to attend and open to all women in the community. To register, please visit bit.ly/FS-Jumpstart.

Career Jumpstart for Women is supported in part by the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) grant. Fresh Start is one of five nationwide recipients and the first and only Arizona-based organization to receive this grant designed to support women’s participation in fields in which they have traditionally been underrepresented, such as finance, technology, construction, manufacturing, energy, and transportation.


About Fresh Start Women’s Foundation
Fresh Start is celebrating 30 years of supporting women in Arizona. It's our mission to provide access and resources that help women achieve self-sufficiency and use their strength to thrive. Our ultimate vision is to create unlimited opportunities for women. Fresh Start serves over 3,000 women annually who are 18 years and older. 86% are mothers, 60% are single mothers and 64% are women of color. These women face a variety of barriers hindering their ability to be personally or financially self-sufficient, including domestic violence, generational poverty, and unemployment. Fresh Start offers focused programs, services, access to training and education, as well as employment and career services to help women reach their personal and professional goals through our award-winning Impact Program. For more information, visit?www.freshstartwomen.org or connect with us on Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. 76% of the total cost for this program, equaling $6,131, utilized Federal funds.