Kina McAfee, assistant coordinator for the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters apprenticeship and training program, and other witnesses offered ideas to lawmakers on Monday about how to diversify Illinois’ trade schools and vocational programs.  

Addressing long-standing barriers, adding enforcement mechanisms to ensure diversity goals are being met, changing mentalities, following federal law and bolstering efforts to reach out to kids even before they enter high school will drastically improve Illinois’ trade schools and vocational programs while diversifying an industry long dominated by white men, a panel of witnesses told lawmakers on Monday.