Prairie State Students Make Basement Breakthrough: Cool News

Remember that Prairie State College announced back in July?

Well, it's now under way and students are learning by doing as they remodel a Chicago Heights basement.

Pretty cool, right?

When I say remodel, I mean framing, insulation, drywall, and painting, according to Prairie State rep Tina Saigh. These students are also prepped to do some electrical work and plumbing repairs.

The program was offered tuition-free to accepted applicants, Saigh said, adding that the whole thing came together as a result of some "generous grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and JP Morgan Chase Foundation."

The South Suburban Community Development Corporation teamed up with PSC to offer the eight-week program, all with the support of Victory Apostolic Church and Christ for Everyone Ministries.

It includes six weeks of classroom training and two weeks of practicing these awesome new skills.

 “This community effort is working together to provide remedial education, addressing barriers to employment, training in the painting, drywall, and carpentry industry, on-the-job training, entrepreneurial skills, and potential entry into union pre-apprentice training,” said PSC grants program project manager Lisa Zeigler in a press release.

An orientation and testing day for spring session is being held at 8 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, at the , located at 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights.

For more info on this program, contact Lisa Zeigler at 708-709-3548 or email lzeigler@prairiestate.edu.

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