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Trailblazers Graduate in Bennington County

by Jillian Scannell

Manchester Trailblazers flex their muscles in a group photo at Habitat for Humanity

 

In early September 2026, Vermont Works for Women (VWW) graduated 8 participants from our first ever Trailblazers cohort in Bennington County. Hosted at Burr and Burton Academy and taught by long-time Trailblazers instructor Tammy Ellis, participants spent seven weeks learning hands-on skills in carpentry and construction.  

Started in 2019, Trailblazers is a free program that prepares women and gender-expansive individuals for careers in construction and the trades. In Vermont and across the U.S., women are underrepresented in the trades. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, in the past decade the number of tradeswomen in the U.S. has increased by 77%, but despite this growth they still make up only 5% of all construction trades workers. 

Pre-apprenticeship programs like Trailblazers help women and gender-expansive individuals explore whether a career in the trades is the right fit while in a safe and supportive environment. 

This Manchester class marks our 25th Trailblazers cohort and brings the total number of Trailblazers trained to 273.

Building Cabinets for CRCF

A key component of every Trailblazers cohort is a project where participants can use their skills in service of the community. Tammy and woodworker Mark Charles led the class in constructing wooden cabinets for the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF). 

VWW works with incarcerated women as a contracted service provider for the Department of Corrections, offering career support that gives women agency and helps them establish goals for their future. The cabinets are going to be used to store and organize donated clothing for women who are being released back into their communities. While all our projects benefit the community, this feels especially meaningful. It will have a tangible impact on the women in CRCF as they prepare to return to the community.  

Trailblazers participants practice using power tools by breaking apart wooden pallets The cabinets for CRCF built by Manchester Trailblazers

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteering with Habitat

In addition to building cabinets for CRCF, Trailblazers also put their new skills to work volunteering with Bennington County Habitat for Humanity at their build project in Manchester. The group was excited to use their new skills to build planter boxes, which will help make the newly constructed house feel like a home for the family moving in.  

Trailblazers complete different tasks at Habitat for Humanity A Trailblazer uses a table saw to cut wood

 

 

 

 

 

Touring rk MILES

Trailblazers also had the chance to visit rk MILES campus in Manchester to explore their building materials, products, and services. Participants learned about rk MILES’ operations, explored career paths in the building supply industry and gained insight into the work of rk MILES throughout the region.  

“We were honored to host the Trailblazers participants and share what a career in our industry can look like,” shared Jeremy Baker, Safety & Fleet Manager for rk MILES who guided the tour. “Programs like Trailblazers are helping create more opportunities for women and gender-expansive individuals to enter the skilled trades, and we’re proud to support that mission by opening our doors and sharing more about our industry.”

Trailblazers pose outside rk MILES before a tourTrailblazers pose together at graduation

 

 

 

 

 

Gaining Work Experience with Local Employers

During the final two weeks of class, Trailblazers have the chance to take part in a paid, on-site work experience with local employers. Work experiences give participants the opportunity to spend time on a job site and gain a better understanding of a field that interests them. For many graduates, this experience is the moment that confirms what they’ve suspected: they’re ready to enter the trades and there are employers who want them on their crews 

Hosting a Trailblazer is free for employers, all we ask is they participate in an Inclusive Workplaces training prior to the start of the work experience. These workshops, facilitated by VWW staff, help ensure job sites are supportive environments for our Trailblazers.     

Host employers for this cohort included: Eric Handyman LLC, Evening Song Farms, Bennington County Habitat for Humanity, Merck Forest & Farmland, and Scott Thompson Builders. 

 

Additional Participant Feedback 

  • “This program has made a significant impact in both my personal and professional life. In my personal life, I feel confident and secure when tackling home and repair projects alone. In my professional life (in a career that is trades-adjacent as a technician), Trailblazers gave me the skills to confidently and properly carry out my professional tasks and projects.” 
  • “I am no longer intimidated by power tools, and I am becoming more confident and comfortable on construction sites.” 
  • “This program has opened me up to new opportunities and experiences that I may not have otherwise encountered. I no longer feel stuck-I feel more hopeful, motivated, and excited about what the future may hold.” 
  • “I feel like a changed person after this class in the best way possible.” 

 

Trailblazers is funded by generous supporters including Agnes Lindsay Trust, Canaday Family Charitable Trust, Hart Foundation, Johnson Family Foundation, Stratton Community Foundation, TD Bank, and The Vermont Legislature through Serve Learn Earn. 

 

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