23rd Trailblazers Cohort Graduates
On April 30, 2026, 14 participants graduated from VWW’s Trailblazers trades training program in South Burlington. Their graduation marks VWW’s 23rd Trailblazers cohort, and a milestone worth celebrating: more than 250 people have now completed the program since it launched in 2019.
Trailblazers is a free seven-week pre-apprenticeship program for women and gender-expansive individuals ages 18 and up. Participants build hands-on skills, gain confidence, and complete paid onsite work experiences — all at no cost to them.
Hands-on Learning
Over seven weeks, participants learned carpentry and construction fundamentals from instructors Lizabeth Moniz and Becky Citarella. Through hands-on practice, they got comfortable with circular saws, jigsaws, drills, sanders, nail guns, and more.
The cohort also expanded into other trades: one Saturday with VELCO’s Erika Weliczko covered electrical basics, and an evening session with VWW Board Member Amber Lessard (of Encore Renewable Energy) introduced participants to the field of solar energy.
Like every cohort, this group put their new skills to work in the community. They built shelving for the Winooski Library’s new temporary location and volunteered two Saturdays at Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity’s build site in Williston — installing window trim, priming walls, putting up siding, and tackling whatever the project needed.
Work Experience with Local Employer
In the final two weeks of the program, Trailblazers complete a paid, onsite work experience with a local employer. This gives participants a chance to spend meaningful time on a job site and get a feel for a field that interests them. For many graduates, it’s the moment that confirms what they’ve suspected: they’re ready to enter the trades and there are employers who want to help them.
Host employers for this cohort included: Alliance Group, Birdseye, CJ Design Build, Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity, Evermint Properties, Lewis Creek Builders, Montpelier Construction, National Life, VHV, Shelterwood Construction, TimberHomes Vermont, Wooden Hammer, and Yestermorrow Design/Build School. Hosting is free; all we ask is employers participate in an Inclusive Workplaces workshop facilitated by VWW staff to help ensure job sites are welcoming for all Trailblazers.
Celebrating National Apprenticeship Day
The graduation of our Trailblazers on April 30 coincided with National Women in Apprenticeship Day. To celebrate, the Vermont Department of Labor and Alliance Mechanical joined in our graduation celebration to highlight the contributions and successes of women in trades training programs across the state
As of April 8, 2026, women make up just under 9% of all registered apprentices in Vermont: 146 out of 1,634 total. Of those women, 85 are working in trades like construction, electrical, plumbing, water treatment, ski lift maintenance, and manufacturing. Programs like Trailblazers are helping increase these numbers.
In 2025, the Vermont Department of Labor designated Trailblazers as a certified pre-apprenticeship program. With employer partners like Alliance Mechanical, graduates can move directly from Trailblazers into apprenticeships in well-paying, high-demand careers.
Trailblazers is funded by generous supporters including: TD Bank, Hart Foundation, and Serve Learn Earn.