What is the Apprenticeship Program?
The St. Paul Painters Pre-Apprenticeship Program helps young men and women seeking meaningful opportunities for success in Chicagoland begin careers in the construction trades. The program changes young lives by instilling purpose and pride while creating a career path and financial stability, including benefits.
The program began training young men and women interested in the construction trades nearly 25 years ago. To date, more than 270 apprentices have completed the program and work in nearly all the trades, from painters, pipefitters, bricklayers, electricians, HVAC, sheet metal, and others. Four years ago, the partnership between St. Paul Community Development Ministries (St. Paul’s Ministries) and the Chicago Painters Union District Council 14 was formed to create meaningful opportunities for young men and women seeking a career in the painter’s union.
The St. Paul’s Painters Pre-Apprenticeship Program changes lives and creates impact in our communities and the lives of our graduates—not just today, but for a lifetime.
“This program creates impactful opportunities for individuals
who might not otherwise have a pathway into careers in the construction trades.”
Miles Beatty, Executive Director, FCAC
“Community, labor, contractors, coming together for a brighter future.”
Pastor Kevin Anthony Ford, President, St. Paul Community Development Ministries
St. Paul Ministries and Chicago Painters Union District Council 14 Celebrates Five New Pre-Apprenticeship Program Graduates and Job Placement Partnerships
More than 270 apprentices have now graduated from the St. Paul Painters Pre-Apprenticeship Program as new cohort kicks off
CHICAGO, IL –August 15, 2025–The St. Paul Painters Pre-Apprenticeship Program, a partnership between St. Paul Community Development Ministries (St. Paul Ministries) and the Chicago Painters Union District Council 14 of Chicago, today announced the graduation of five recent Pre-Apprenticeship Program graduates and their placement into full time jobs. Three leading union painting contractors, Ascher Brothers, All-Tech Decorating, Inc. and ERA Valdivia, hired the graduates. Additionally, the program’s new cohort began a new 12-week program on July 7, 2025.
The St. Paul Painters Pre-Apprenticeship Program helps young men and women interested in the construction trades by serving as a critical pipeline for union apprenticeship programs and union contractors in Chicago’s finishing trades. The program offers access to resources and training so they can pursue careers in the construction trades, and shows them how a career in the trades can offer growth, stability and an opportunity to create a better life.
“This partnership shows the commitment from local employers and leading painting contractors to hire St. Paul Painters Pre-Apprenticeship Program graduates,” said Miles Beatty, executive director of Finishing Contractors Association of Chicago (FCAC). “Our program builds skilled local finishing trade talent which strengthens the ties between labor and the community while providing a pathway for community members to build their career and flourish in their communities.”
Four years ago, the partnership between St. Paul’s Ministries and the Chicago Painters Union District Council 14 formed, although the first apprenticeship program came to life nearly 25 years ago as Pastor Kevin Ford of St. Paul Ministries and union leaders first collaborated to offer young men a pathway into the construction trades.
“This program is changing lives and creating real, sustainable career paths,” said
Pastor Kevin Anthony Ford, President, St. Paul Community Development Ministries. “We’re grateful to our union partners for recognizing the value of these individuals and investing in their futures through the program as it uplifts young men and women and gives them purpose and pride while creating financial stability and a career path.”
To date, more than 270 young men and women have completed the program with a 95% placement for program graduates. Graduates have the entry-level skills for admittance to union apprenticeship, receive industry-recognized certification and continued support services, and ultimately a career path that affords competitive wages, benefits and a retirement pension.
“This collaboration is a powerful example of what can happen when community organizations, labor unions, and employers come together with a shared purpose: building brighter futures,” continued Beatty.
Apprentices train at the Painters Union Apprenticeship Program, Finishing Trades Institute of DC14 Chicago state-of-the-art training facility and receive hands-on education from top industry instructors who have spent cumulatively years in the field working. The carefully planned curriculum delivered with their individual expertise and perspective provides a unique real-world learning environment that exposes the apprentices to all aspects of the finishing trades.
Graduates of the program take away a sense of pride and purpose, investment in their trade and community and a career path that creates financial stability. Currently there are two cohorts of the St. Paul Painters Pre-Apprenticeship Program each year with a goal of expanding to four cohorts a year if additional support and funding is secured.
About the Initiative
The St. Paul Painters Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a partnership between St. Paul Community Development Ministries (SPCDM) and the Finishing Trades Institute DC 14 of Chicago. The program helps young men and women find opportunities to enhance their economic stability through the construction and finishing trades. To date, more than 270 people have gone through the program. To learn more about the program, graduates and the impact it has created for young people in the Chicagoland area, visit or follow the program and apprentice stories at: https://www.finishingchicago.com/apprenticeship-program/
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