5 minute read
Lighting The Path
NALMCO and Acuity Brands Partner with Milwaukee Public Schools to Train the Next Generation
By Parker Allen
When students in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) step into the Youth Apprenticeship Program, they’re not just earning credits. They’re launching careers.
Thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration with NALMCO and Acuity, upperclassmen in the Milwaukee Public School system now have access to professional lighting certifications, job-site readiness, and hands-on experience that give them a true head start in the skilled trades.
At the heart of the partnership is access to NALMCO’s Certified Apprentice Lighting Technician™ (CALT™) certification coursework, Acuity Academy’s extensive training library, and donated lighting and controls equipment to support in-class instruction.
“All the trades are looking for apprentices to address significant labor shortages,” said Erik Ennen, President of NALMCO. “MPS’ program helps fill that gap, and we’re proud to support its educational mission.”
The program is administered by MPS’ Facilities and Maintenance Services Division, and the partnership is led on the ground by Erin Cherney, Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator, and Sharitta Wicks, CALT, Youth Apprenticeship Assistant. Both women bring deep experience and commitment to helping students transition successfully from school to career. Wicks, a licensed electrician herself, also completed the CALT™ certification through NALMCO and now helps deliver the curriculum.
The apprenticeship program aims to give these students every possible advantage, from certifications to interview skills and even work boots and uniforms. It’s about helping them not just look the part but be the part.
FUNDING FUTURE CAREERS
Recognizing the program’s impact and potential, NALMCO formalized its support through a $5,000 donation presented at its 2025 Spring Seminar. The gift was part of the new philanthropic initiative NALMCO Gives Back.
“This funding helped us expand CALT™ training to more students this summer,” said Cherney. “Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to continue offering the program at the scale we needed.”
"Our goal is that when these students re-enter the school system, they’re already on a career path." - Sharitta Wicks
BUILDING EQUITY—AND A PIPELINE
The roots of the program lie in a broader push for equity and opportunity. It began with an effort to bring youth apprentices into MPS, driven by a commitment to expanding access to the skilled trades for students of color in a school district where the majority of students are from historically marginalized communities.
The success of those early apprentices led MPS to expand the program, which now includes juniors and seniors working in carpentry, HVAC, plumbing, and—thanks to this partnership—lighting and controls.
Since the program’s founding, more than 200 students have graduated, with a 90% completion rate.
The CALT™ training, with modular content suited to varying skill levels, has become a powerful tool in that expansion. “We had our seniors complete the certification first because they were about to enter the job market,” said Cherney. The additional training gives them a leg up in hiring, and in some cases, helps them leapfrog to the top of candidate lists.
One of the most compelling extensions of the program is its recent expansion into the Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center. MPS partnered with the center to deliver CALT™ training to students nearing release, supported by three participating teachers who are also completing the certification.
“Our goal is that when these students re-enter the school system, they’re already on a career path,” said Wicks. The program has even built partnerships with employers so that students can transition directly into paid work.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND INDUSTRY SUPPORT
As part of this summer’s training cohort (August 5–14), students will not only complete CALT™ modules but also tour Johnson Controls’ new Innovation Center, the state-of-the-art Warren Johnson Engineering Lab, to see advanced lighting systems in action. “Putting the classroom knowledge into a real-world context helps everything click,” said Cherney.
Both NALMCO and Acuity Brands have played an active role beyond providing materials and funding. Ennen himself will help teach the summer session, and local partners such as ELP Lighting will also lend their expertise.
A MODEL WORTH REPLICATING
For the students, many of whom come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or are the first in their families to pursue a trade career, this program offers both technical skills and life skills. The team at MPS provides support from interview coaching to transportation to workwear.
With outcomes being tracked this summer, the hope is that the program will earn sustained funding and grow even further. But Cherney and Wicks agree: lasting impact will come through partnership.
“If the lighting industry’s talent pipeline is lacking,” said Wicks, “you have to invest in youth. That’s the ROI.”
GET INVOLVED
This partnership is making a difference, but more support is needed. Companies in the Milwaukee area and beyond are encouraged to follow Acuity’s lead by donating time, training opportunities, or equipment. Whether it’s offering a summer internship or a single day of instruction, your involvement could help shape a young person’s future.
