How can KC repair infrastructure, fill jobs and empower ladies? One phrase: apprenticeships | Opinion

Help us work

Registered apprenticeships are the gold commonplace of work-based studying, the place contributors can earn as they be taught. They place folks — like Tina Shonk Little, a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Kansas City — on pathways to high-paying careers with higher advantages and higher job safety. The common wage of an apprenticeship graduate is $80,000 per 12 months.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program helps grantees, similar to Kansas City’s Heartland Women in Trades, present assist companies and job abilities coaching to arrange ladies like Tina for promising careers, and helps employers create a piece tradition that gives ladies the chance to succeed. This work couldn’t be timelier, as Missouri and Kansas are seeing billions of {dollars} in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and should fill 1000’s of expert trades jobs.

As we have fun National Apprenticeship Week Nov. 13-19, we’d like native, state and federal leaders and employers to decide to addressing points similar to pay inequity, entry to inexpensive little one care, office flexibility, paid go away and coaching that assist mother and father, and particularly ladies within the workforce, so that each one folks can share in our nation’s financial development.

– Gina Rodriguez, Midwest Regional Administrator, U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau, Chicago

Off limits

No one ought to ever damage an toddler or younger little one. Innocent infants struggling for all times in hospital beds shouldn’t be left to die. No one ought to hurt infants, whatever the mother and father’ religion or lack thereof. These are primary pro-life tenets.

It is abhorrent to grab little ones as hostages. It additionally appears inhumane to carry infants, toddlers and their mother and father in digital captivity by way of an area-wide siege. I abhor Hamas’ assault final month on harmless Israelis. Nevertheless, if two wrongs don’t make a proper, how can the deaths of 11,000 Palestinians, a lot of them kids, ever make proper the tragedies of Oct. 7?

Negotiating a cease-fire isn’t straightforward, however this should happen instantly. If the combatants can not get ample gasoline or provides to Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals in order that workers can generate gasoline, present sanitation and feed sufferers, the United Nations or different impartial actors have to ship this materials help to sufferers and refugees. Ensure that each one civilians have entry to meals, water and secure havens. Most essential, hospitals needs to be correctly provided and saved strictly off-limits to combatants — full cease.

– Janice Jean Stallings, Kansas City

Take a stand

Fighting within the Middle East has resulted in large dying in Israel and Gaza. This is a political and non secular conflict. The Red Cross has despatched vans of water, medical provides and extra to assist look after the wounded. The United States ought to demand a cease-fire — or insist that the Red Cross pull out. If the violence doesn’t cease, we should always pull out all care and assets, retailer all the pieces in our ships at sea and look forward to the smoke to clear.

It might take days, weeks or months. Only then ought to the Red Cross proceed to supply help.

– Gene Grillot, Kansas City

Classy listening

I began listening to 91.9 FM, Classical KC, in my automobile throughout the pandemic after scanning the dial to search out one thing pleasurable in nerve-racking instances.

The extra I’ve listened, the extra I prefer it. It appears very nicely programmed and infrequently has attention-grabbing thematic classical music. I personally suppose this station from the University of Missouri-Kansas City is healthier than the satellite tv for pc radio classical channel.

Right now, I’m listening at dwelling whereas studying and too lazy to alter vinyl records. Plus, I like studying new music.

Thank you to everybody concerned in 91.9 FM and bravo for a splendid addition to Kansas City radio. If I have been recruiting data staff to Kansas City, I’d you should definitely choose up candidates on the airport with 91.9 FM enjoying within the automobile.

– Brad Johnson, Prairie Village