Vocational Skills Training

The goal of ARCH's vocational programs is to provide clients with vocational skills that lead to livable wage jobs with career advancement potential.

Youthbuild: The program provides 15 to 26 week construction training in the following skills: Green Building, Framing/Insulation, Drywall, Finish Carpentry and Doors/Windows. This program for 16 to 24 year olds also includes construction theory education, leadership development, community-service, life and employability skills training, social services and job placement and follow up. Students, during their training, renovate housing units that are then sold to low and moderate-income families. Graduates receive certification by NCCER in Construction Core Program.

In 2010, ARCH will also initiate a new Youthbuild cycle, teaching weatherization and energy auditing. This fifteen week cycle program will use, as construction sites, the homes of low income residents of ARCH's Anacostia neighborhood.

Pre-Apprenticeship: This program provides a fifteen week pre-apprenticeship program for DC residents. The training covers carpentry, electrical and plumbing. Graduates receive certification by NCCER in Construction Core pre-Apprenticeship Program.

ARCH will also provide it weatherization training program to adults and will also include a supplemental training program the will instruct on the installation of solar photovoltaic systems.

Customer Service: This program is designed to provide students with quality customer service skills to ensure employment success in the hotel industry and for other positions as call center representatives, receptionists or clerical workers. The program specifically focuses on employability in three hospitality professions: Hotel Front Desk Professional, General Business Concierge Representative and Hotel PBX (switchboard) Operations.  The training includes ongoing field-work assessments, life skills, industry principles practice and enactment, job readiness and oral presentations.