Nonprofit providing women pathways to construction trades thru pre-apprenticeship
IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS APPLYING ONLINE - please email us at info@wantt.org and we’ll email you an application
Women Accessing Non-traditional Trades, Inc. (WANTT) creates a path for women to earn family-sustaining wages through pre-apprenticeship training and experiences that teach skills for entry into construction apprenticeships.
The U.S. Department of Labor defines “a pre-apprenticeship program as a program or set of strategies designed to prepare individuals for entry into Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP) or other job opportunities. Pre-apprenticeships may last from a few weeks to a few months and may or may not include wages or stipend. Pre-apprenticeship programs have varied program elements; however, at the core, places an individual on a pathway to employability through a RAP.” (https://www.apprenticeship.gov/help/what-pre-apprenticeship)
WANTT began as a coffee meetup between two friends, Margot Heyne-Bell and Laura Stauffer, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Margot graduated from a pre-apprenticeship training program called ANEW in Seattle, Washington prior to accessing an electrical apprenticeship and having a career in the trades. She knew that a pre-apprenticeship program similar to ANEW could be a game-changer in Tulsa.
They recognize the need to recruit more women to work in the construction trades. They realize that there are barriers in pursuing these work fields and exposure to these work fields is not common for women.
Laura retired during COVID-19 after over 40 years in the oil and gas industry as a petroleum engineer, during which she successfully pursued a career in a typically male-dominated, non-traditional field. During her professional career, she volunteered with several area nonprofit organizations and served on the boards of Street School and the Gilcrease Museum.
What began as a coffee meetup has transformed into a thriving vocational training program for women in Tulsa. Through Margot and Laura's vision, more than 40 women have graduated from WANTT's training program, and more than a quarter of them are still successfully accessing careers in the construction trades.
Board of Directors
Chair Emeritus and Co-Founder- Laura Stauffer
President- Cassie Hammond
Secretary and Co-Founder- Margot Heyne-Bell
Treasurer- Teresa Payne
WANTT is a 501(C) (3) organization.
There are many ways for you to get involved:
Be a Participant - join our training for skill trades
Be a Donor - support us with in-kind, money, grants
Be an Employer - work with us to develop a program so that you'll employ our graduates
Be a Community Champion - you're our cheerleaders and gets the word out to Tulsa and the surrounding area