June 19^this a federal holiday known as Juneteenth. It’s a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. On Juneteenth, communities across the country come together to celebrate freedom and resilience through language and storytelling. It’s also a time to consider how we can create a more inclusive and equitable society.

MACNY’s commitment to Registered Apprenticeship expansion through diversity and inclusion underscores our efforts to create pathways to economic independence and address persistent inequalities. This Juneteenth, we’re highlighting Nicole Broadnax, the City of Syracuse’s first Journey Worker Software Developer who recently graduated from the program under MACNY sponsorship. Being the first to accomplish this is important to Nicole, who was a young teenager when she came to understand the meaning of Juneteenth, the celebration of the richness and complexity of African American culture and history. As Juneteenth involves storytelling, Nicole can proudly share her story with her family and community, describing the ways in which hard work and recognizing good opportunities leads to success. Successful completion of the Software Developer apprenticeship has positioned her for a high demand, rewarding career, a transformative experience.

Registered Apprenticeships help address labor market challenges and bridge the skills gap in key industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. By investing in apprenticeship programs targeted toward underrepresented populations, we can cultivate a diverse and skilled workforce that drives innovation and economic growth.

Nicole’s success is testament to the value of these programs in helping individuals like her work towards their goals, such as obtaining an Associate degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS), as well as a nationally recognized Journey Worker credential. She believes that it’s crucial for us to focus on youth with programs like P-TECH (Pathways to Early College High School) and ensure that they’re aware of the many different opportunities available for them “to thrive and do better.”

As we commemorate Juneteenth and Nicole’s achievements, let us not only celebrate the progress we’ve made, but also recommit ourselves to creating a future where all individuals can have the opportunity to thrive through initiatives like Registered Apprenticeship.

Scan the QR code to learn more about cultivating a diverse and skilled workforce through Registered Apprenticeship.