Fired Up Podcast: A Trade Collective Production
Fired Up Podcast: A Trade Collective Production
Welcome to the Fired Up Podcast, a local production focused on the Evanston community and the approximately 10 mile radius surrounding it. This show is a dedicated space for the conversations that matter most to our local students, families and businesses. We are exploring how to bridge the gap between high school education and the high paying, dignified careers waiting in the skilled trades.
For too long, our community has looked elsewhere for talent while our own students navigated uncertain paths after graduation. We are here to change that narrative. Hosted by Patrick Hughes and Dr. Pete Bavis, this podcast brings together parents, industry leaders, and educators to explore what it actually means to be trade ready in the modern workforce.
What to expect on the show:
- Industry Insights: We sit down with local experts in manufacturing, automotive, plumbing, and other sectors to understand the real world demand right here in our own backyard.
- Educational Reform: We discuss the two pieces of paper vision, which emphasizes the power of a high school diploma paired with a professional credential to create immediate career security.
- Community Connection: We share stories from the shop floor and the classroom, highlighting the spark that happens when a student discovers a passion for building and creating.
- Candid Conversations: These are sincere discussions about how we can better support our youth and strengthen our local economy through direct industry exposure.
Meet Your Hosts:
- Patrick Hughes: The Founder and Chief Connector of The Trade Collective. Patrick is an Evanston entrepreneur and advocate who has spent decades building inclusive partnerships through organizations like Natural Ties and Inclusion Solutions.
- Dr. Pete Bavis: The Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Evanston Township High School. A veteran educator with over 16 years of leadership, Pete is a champion for academic rigor and ensuring every student has access to a successful pathway.
Whether you are a parent looking for options for your child, an employer searching for your next great hire, or a neighbor invested in seeing Evanston thrive, it is time to listen in.
New episodes drop every other Tuesday.
Join the movement:
- Website: thetradecollective.org
- Social Media: @The Trade Collective
Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up!
Fired Up Podcast: A Trade Collective Production
Fired Up Podcast Ep.10 | Building From the Ground Up: Two Young Carpenters take on Ryan Field
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We have talked a lot about getting the next generation into the skilled trades. This episode, you hear it straight from two young people who are doing it, on one of the biggest construction sites in the area.
Welcome to Episode 10 of the Fired Up Podcast, a production of The Trade Collective. Hosts Dr. Pete Bavis and Patrick Hughes sit down with Quintin Hamilton Jr. and Anthony Medina, two carpenter apprentices from Evanston who found their way into Local 58 through The Trade Collective.
Quintin tells his story from a scattered start after high school to writing his name on a stud inside Ryan Field. He talks about the years he spent figuring things out, the connection that finally opened the door, and what it feels like to wake up ready to go to work.
Meet The Guests:
🎙️ Quintin Hamilton Jr.: Quintin grew up in Evanston and graduated in 2020, the year of remote learning and COVID shut downs. His dad was a plumber in Local 130 and his coach growing up. After a few years of false starts, a connection through his girlfriend's mom brought him to The Trade Collective. Now he is a carpenter apprentice with Local 58, framing the hydrotherapy pools and the family-friendly Mothers Room”at the new Ryan Field.
🎙️ Anthony Medina: Anthony is 20, grew up in Evanston, and graduated from Evanston Township High School. He ran his own junk removal business before a community connection named Genaro pointed him toward Hire360 and The Trade Collective. He got the acceptance text with the confetti, joined Local 58, and has been working on the Kellogg Building at Northwestern.
In this episode, we discuss:
🔥 How do you go from no direction after high school to a union apprenticeship and a career with benefits?
🔥 What does the job site teach a young person that a classroom never could?
🔥 What would these two say to a seventh grader, a freshman, and a parent who is not sure about this path?
Join the Movement: New episodes drop every other Thursday, and we just moved to Thursdays! Stay tuned and make sure you are following so you never miss an episode.
Follow our journey on social media!
Contact & Support: General Inquiries: info@thetradecollective.org
Igniting the future of the skilled trades. Let's get fired up! 🔥
I'll be trying to help make sure everybody takes four. Let's introduce you real quick. Who are you? My name is Quentin Hamilton here. I work for F Carpeto local out of local fifty eight. I'm a in a carpenter junior right now working on the Ryan Field project episode.