When you ask Qiana Moore what she likes about being an electrician, she quickly answers "everything." The critical thinking, the troubleshooting, new challenges almost every day and attaining a lifelong practical skill.

It's a level of career satisfaction not everyone can claim. And she owes it to a partnership between Michigan's building trades and a pre-apprenticeship designed for women.

"I'm very pleased with my choice," the second-year apprentice with Lansing Local 665 said of her decision to leave the pharmaceutical industry after 20 years. "I would have never considered the trades if it wasn't for Women in Skilled Trades."

Women in Skilled Trades, or WIST, is a 16-week pre-apprenticeship that uses a multi-craft core curriculum from the North American Building Trades Unions, as well as a few other essentials, to give women in Michigan a taste of the trades.

"We get a lot of women who are interested in the trades but may not be sure which way to go," said co-founder Tori Menold. "We give them the big-picture overview, and hopefully by the end they can pick the trade they want."

What began as a one-day event in 2017 has grown into a program with 70 alumna from nine cohorts. Menold said they keep each group small, usually no more than 10 women. They've also expanded beyond their hometown of Lansing and now offer classes in Detroit and Flint, with Grand Rapids in western Michigan next up.

In Elizabeth Henderson's case, she already knew she wanted to be an electrician. She just needed a skills boost. After not getting into Ann Arbor Local 252's apprenticeship on her first try, she sought out avenues to help her gain the experience she needed. That's when she found WIST.

"I knew right away it was exactly what I was looking for," said the first-year apprentice. "I applied instantly and never looked back."

In addition to the NABTU curriculum, WIST provides strength training with a physical trainer, a 30-hour safety course from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, sexual harassment preventing training, and hands-on learning opportunities. For the Detroit cohort, who had their classes at Local 58, that entailed visiting a contractor, bending conduit and working with fiber, among other tasks.

"It makes all the difference in the world to get that hands-on aspect of what an electrician does," said Local 58 Organizer and Treasurer Felicia Wiseman, who helped with hosting the cohort and, along with the local's Women's Committee, provided gift bags to the participants when they graduated.

A big part of what makes WIST successful is the environment it creates, Menold said. It's a safe space to learn something that you've never done before without being intimidated by a bunch of journeymen, however well-meaning. And that safe space is bolstered by the sisterhood that develops between the women over the course of the program. Menold said she takes photos of each cohort on Day 1 and then again at the end, and she can see the difference.

"In the first week we were perfect strangers. By the last week, we were having potlucks and supporting one another in our pursuit of a trades career," said Local 665 first-year apprentice Bailey DeSantis. "It was like family, and it made learning a new and intimidating subject much more comfortable."

That solidarity of sisterhood goes a long way toward building up confidence, which in turn makes the learning all that much easier.

"For months I spent time with several strong, like-minded women who wanted similar things," Henderson said. "We cheered each other on while learning the ins and outs of construction together, and by the end I was confident in my abilities and genuinely felt I belonged within the skilled trades."

Like Moore and DeSantis, Henderson is passionate about the benefits of her chosen trade and the IBEW.

"I know I'm providing a stable and comfortable life for my family, and a generous pension for my retirement," Henderson said. "All of these things provide an unparalleled level of security and confidence thanks to my career with the IBEW."

Having that sense of siblinghood carry over to the IBEW is another benefit. Moore attended the IBEW Michigan Women's Conference hosted by Local 58 in July, and Henderson is involved with Local 252's Women's Committee.

"The solidarity is everything to me," Henderson said. "We stand together stronger than we could ever be divided. I think that is one of the most important things we can know as a society, and I'm grateful every day to belong to such a strong union and wonderful local."