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NMCEO & NMDWS Launch Skilled Trades Mobile Workshop

Be Pro Be Proud Program Engages Young People With Skilled Technical Career Paths

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - The New Mexico Center for Economic Opportunity (NMCEO), the education, charitable, and research 501(c)3 foundation of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) launched Be Pro Be Proud (BPBP) program in Los Lunas, New Mexico at Los Lunas High School. The program is designed to connect New Mexico’s youth to technical careers and skilled trades through simulators and virtual reality experiences.

New Mexico is the 6th state in the nation to launch a BPBP program and first in the nation to undertake BPBP as a public-private partnership. The program will take a mobile workshop experience to schools and community centers across the state as the largest mobile tour supporting workforce development that New Mexico has even seen. The BPBP statewide program also marks New Mexico as the first to pair ground-breaking set of resources with follow up career counseling to every student to assist students explore, plan, and launch careers in the skilled trades.

Students can discover which skilled professions spark their interests as they dig, drive, and weld using custom-developed, highly interactive Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) simulators within the mobile workshop.

“We want every student to realize a successful career path after high school,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “The trades present incredible opportunities and are in high demand in every corner of our state, providing the chance for every New Mexican, their families, businesses and communities to thrive.”

“Right now, there’s enormous demand for technical professionals across the country. As the skills gap grows, the number of unfilled roles is expected to reach two million by 2025,” said Rob Black, President & CEO of the New Mexico Chamber (NMCC). “We see two million opportunities across the country to connect today’s young people with rewarding skilled technical careers, and we are proud to offer access to that opportunity to New Mexico’s students through the Be Pro Be Proud program.”

“Entering a career in the trades is the right step for many of New Mexico’s youth right after high school. Be Pro Be Proud will shine light on the path towards a career in the skilled trades that can provide a good income and opportunities for a lifetime,” said NMDWS Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair. “It is amazing to see how excited students are about the program. The positive results that Be Pro Be Proud will bring to New Mexico through this public-private partnership between NMDWS and NMCEO will shape New Mexico's economic success for years to come.”

BPBP New Mexico’s Mobile Workshop will make stops at high schools statewide through the remainder of the fall 2023 semester and will continue touring during the spring 2023 semester.

Join The Movement: Connecting Interests with Learning and Employment Opportunities
Students who Join The Movement will receive career counseling services tailored to professions they’re interested in via coordinated outreach from NMDWS. Utilizing the power of social media to share engaging career profiles, Be Pro success stories, and more, the program website will feature in-depth training program locators and partner company opportunities for full-time employment. The wrap-around services provided by NMDWS engages students in their career planning efforts to secure jobs in in-demand fields so they can live and work in New Mexico after graduating high school.

For more information is available at beprobeproudnm.org.

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About Be Pro Be Proud: Be Pro Be Proud is a program initiated by the NM Center for Economic Opportunity, in partnership with the NM Department of Workforce Solutions. It aims to bridge the skills gap by guiding young people into skilled technical careers. Through the Mobile Workshop and coordinated outreach, Be Pro Be Proud provides students with the resources and opportunities to explore, plan, and launch successful careers in today's technical roles.
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