Skilled Magazine

08/26/2025

Workers give inside look at life in the trades

08/26/2025

Lonnie Lively wasn’t quite sure what she wanted her career to look like, but she knew that she could grow into the role as a construction project manager if given the opportunity.

Workers give inside look at life in the trades

08/26/2025

Liz Nichols sat down with Amaha Million, Toolbox’s Editorial and Storytelling lead, for a conversation about her path from cement mason to exhibiting artist, and the many layers of labor, creativity, and life in between.

Photo credit: OTI website In advance of her October exhibition at Toolbox Gallery, where she will become the first craft trade professional to be featured, Liz Nichols sat down with Amaha Million, Toolbox’s Editorial and Storytelling lead, for a conversation about her path from cement mason to exh...

08/26/2025

After long days of helping to build the Rose Garden Arena, now the Moda Center, Seyona Belai relaxed by painting oil and canvas art of the tradespeople who worked around her.

Toolbox introduces young people to bridge between art, careers in the trades After long days of helping to build the Rose Garden Arena, now the Moda Center, Seyona Belai relaxed by painting oil and canvas art of the tradespeople who worked around her. Inspired by construction sites and the people wh...

08/26/2025

Erin Fintel was already interested in architecture as a possible major in college, but really had only a rough idea of what it is and what architects actually do.

Beaverton School District’s Summer Internship Program provides hands-on experience During Erin Fintel’s BRIC Architecture internship, she learned about new software programs, developed digital and physical project presentation boards, visited construction sites, volunteered at Pickathon and part...

08/26/2025

AFO’s Architects in Schools program pairs architects, engineers, construction workers and other professionals in the building industry with elementary schools across the state.

AFO offers design education, scholarships, mentorships Vernon Elementary students enjoy learning about architecture, engineering and construction as part of AFO’s Architects in Schools program. Photo credit: Emily Markewitz. From elementary school through college, the Architecture Foundation of Or...

08/23/2024

High school students get a chance to examine heavy equipment during a visit to the Knife River Training Center in Albany, Oregon.

High school students get a chance to examine heavy equipment during a visit to the Knife River Training Center in Albany, Oregon. (Photo courtesy of Knife River Corp.) By Chuck Slothower For Knife River Corp., exposing students to construction means an experiential visit to the training center. Ever...

08/23/2024

Construction is an incredible thing that shapes the world around us. Because of construction, we have amazing spaces – schools, stadiums, houses and MORE – which we use every day. Construction can get loud and messy, and projects may take a long time. But the magic of construction creates things which last forever!

Construction is an incredible thing that shapes the world around us. Because of construction, we have amazing spaces – schools, stadiums, houses and MORE – which we use every day. Construction can get loud and messy, and projects may take a long time. But the magic of construction creates things...

08/23/2024

Welding graduate Keyonna Williams used her torch to cut the ceremonial chain at the unveiling of the Mobile Welding Outreach & Skills Training Center.

Welding graduate Keyonna Williams used her torch to cut the ceremonial chain at the unveiling of the Mobile Welding Outreach & Skills Training Center. Last fall, Portland Community College, the PCC Foundation and Union Pacific cut the chain on a new future for the college’s welding training. The m...

08/23/2024

Trade association chapters hone youth outreach strategies to address workforce shortage

Trade association chapters hone youth outreach strategies to address workforce shortage By Scott Huish The construction industry’s workforce shortage already was a critical concern even before the pandemic, when the industry lost more than 1 million jobs and was set back from the previous eight ye...

08/23/2024

Nonprofit offers construction pathway for Portland-area youth

For 30 years, Portland YouthBuilders has helped young people change their lives through education, vocational training, counseling, career development and long-term support.

08/22/2024

What do you know about real estate development? If your answer is “not a lot,” you’re in the right place! Learn about this powerful industry, how it started, and how it can evolve in the future. Anyone can become a real estate developer, and everyone can be involved in how building projects impact their community.

Developer’s book introduces kids to real estate development By: scott.huish in Headlines, Latest Issue August 19, 2024 7:35 pm What do you know about real estate development? If your answer is “not a lot,” you’re in the right place! Learn about this powerful industry, how it started, and how...