Climbing Higher
Partnership with DTE Energy trains prisoners to fill in-demand jobs
It’s unlike anything you’d find in any classroom — especially one at a correctional facility.
A 45-foot-tall climbing structure topped with flags and draped with colorful climbing ropes stands out against the landscape of brick buildings and fences at Parnall Correctional Facility.
In a classroom nearby at the facility’s Vocational Village, a hardwood tree, harvested on Michigan Department of Corrections property, extends 30 feet from floor to ceiling with clipped branches outstretched.
The climbing structure and tree are part of a new training program that will help prepare prisoners for careers helping utility companies protect power lines and keep the lights on in Michigan.
The unique program was created in partnership with DTE Energy, which depends on 1,300 skilled tree trimmers to keep trees away from power lines, but has faced a shortage of qualified workers for the role.
“There’s nothing in the world that exists like this,” said James Son, instructor for the program. “Not in prison, or out of prison, where you can go and get this kind of in-depth training day in and day out. We’re on the cusp of something huge here.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who attended a launch of the program, praised the partnership.
“We have an opportunity here to make Michigan an example for the country and set a nationwide standard for criminal justice reform,” Whitmer said. “This skilled trades program will improve outcomes of the folks going through our criminal justice system, save taxpayer dollars on recidivism, and make our communities safer.”
The DTE Energy Foundation provided an initial $100,000 grant to create the program and purchase training equipment for the learning lab.
“Returning citizens are looking for a second lease on life and if given that second lease they will be among your most engaged, committed and best employees,” said DTE Executive Chairman Gerry Anderson.
He said he challenged the DTE team to look for ways to bring returning citizens into the company’s workforce and they have already seen positive results.
The company has been hiring returning citizens for the last few years and 90 percent are still with DTE and doing well. That’s a lower turnover rate than the average employee, Anderson said.
“A criminal record shouldn’t bring with it a life sentence of unemployment,” Anderson said. “Too often it does, so we’re going to scale up our hiring of returning citizens at DTE.”
The first class of 24 tree trimmers began on June 10, and they will finish in the next six to nine months.
Within the program, students will learn to safely climb trees, use tree trim equipment and obtain a Commercial Driver’s License. DTE also worked closely with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 17 to design and install the climbing structure and create a training curriculum for the program.
Dean Bradley, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 17 said the organization was “proud to be part of this potentially life-changing opportunity for returning citizens.”
“The line clearance, tree trim industry is a tough trade and one of the most hazardous jobs in the utility industry,” Bradley said. “At Local 17 we believe in second chances and this training is a great opportunity to be successful with that second chance.”
Prisoners who complete the training at Parnall will enter into the Local 17 IBEW line clearance, tree trimming apprentice program. The training will include 5,000 hours of on-the-job training with pay, and 200 hours of classroom training.
“This is the right time and it’s the right place and it’s the right partnership,” said MDOC Director Heidi Washington. “We embarked on the creation of the Vocational Villages a few years ago because we saw talent here that was untapped and we have a need in our state for skilled trades workers.
We can provide all the first-class training… but there has to be a job at the end of that. Through the partnership with DTE and other great companies and with IBEW, we’re making it all come together.”
Jeffrey Gunnells, a prisoner who is a student in the program, called the MDOC, DTE, and IBEW Local 17’s commitment to the program “inspiring.”
“Here the state is doing more for us and I want to challenge us wearing blue and orange to never take that for granted and to build and invest in ourselves,” Gunnells said. “Let’s learn. Let’s grow. We’re one decision away from a completely different life.”
Check out this news coverage on the launch of the tree trimming training program at Parnall Correctional Facility:
Prisoners gain opportunity in growth industry: tree trimming — Detroit News
New program trains Michigan inmates for tree-trimming jobs after prison — Detroit Free Press
Tree-trimming program gives inmates chance to learn job skills — MLive
DTE partners with Department of Corrections to train prisoners for work after release — Crain’s Detroit Business
DTE Energy to hire inmates through new tree trimming program — WLNS TV
DTE, Michigan Department of Corrections launch tree trimming training program for prisoners — WDIV TV
Michigan launches first-ever tree trimming program for prisoners — WILX TV
Michigan inmates to be trained in first-ever tree-trimming program — WXYZ TV
DTE Energy, Michigan Department of Corrections partner for prisoner job training program — FOX 66 TV
Click here to listen to an episode of the Field Days Podcast featuring remarks from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, DTE Executive Chairman Gerry Anderson, and MDOC Director Heidi Washington about this new program.
