RCCD: a Leader in the Inland Empire Trades Day Event for Regional High School Students
11/03/2025
Riverside Community College District’s (RCCD) Workforce and Economic Development/Apprenticeship division led the Inland Empire Trades Day planning committee in collaboration with the nonprofit Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF). The partnership aimed to create a career-connected event that brought together education and industry leaders to inspire the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
On October 28, approximately 500 high school students from 19 Inland Empire schools joined 25 trades and education vendors outside the Moreno Valley Mall for a day of hands-on learning, exploration, and career discovery. Students engaged with professionals from various industries, learning about skilled construction trades careers and apprenticeship programs through interactive demonstrations and exhibits.
“Seeing students light up when they discover something they’re passionate about is what Trades Day is all about,” said Brittany Albaugh, Director of National Youth Programs for CIEF. “These events open their eyes to hands-on, high-demand careers that they might never have considered before.”
Inland Empire Trades Day provided students with real-world exposure to construction and related industries, including engineering, design, technology, and sustainability. The event emphasized the value of experiential learning and highlighted multiple pathways within the skilled trades, leadership, and innovation.
Students participated in two-hour sessions that began with introductions from tradespeople and employers, followed by safety discussions and live demonstrations. Those who visited at least 15 skilled trade vendors were entered into prize drawings. The event also featured résumé review sessions and access to career development resources, supported by community college job developers and workforce professionals from RCCD, Riverside City College, and Mt. San Jacinto College.
The Inland Empire Desert Regional Consortium (IEDRC) provided lunch, and Moreno Valley College’s iMAKE Innovation Center Mobile Makerspace showcased how advanced technology can be integrated into the trades through engaging, tech-driven activities.
Employers at the event included representatives from the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)—both offering apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs in partnership with RCCD at Norco College.
“By introducing young people to hands-on training, real job sites, and structured apprenticeships, we’re helping them find purpose and launch into high-skill opportunities that pay off for a lifetime,” said Jeffrey Scott, Outreach Specialist for the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters.
Jason Kennedy, RCCD Director of Workforce and Economic Development Projects, expressed pride in RCCD’s leadership role in organizing the event.
“Events like Inland Empire Trades Day give students an authentic look at the wide range of high-demand, high-skill careers available in the construction and skilled trades industries,” Kennedy said. “By connecting students directly with apprenticeship programs, employers, and hands-on experiences, we’re helping bridge the gap between education and career—and opening doors to lifelong, family-sustaining opportunities.”
For more information on apprenticeships, visit RCCD Workforce and Economic Development.
Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications