Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s $600,000 funding award for the multi-craft apprenticeship program that aims to bring people of color into the trades in Rochester is expanding across the state. 

Kereem Berry has dedicated his life to helping others prosper. Berry, the executive director of MAPP, the Multi-craft apprenticeship preparation program. Started by David Young Jr., a tradesman in Rochester, it aims to give minority groups and people of color a way into the trades.

"Typically schools will preach college or die. They don't really present the trades as an option, so unless you are familiar with the trades, unless your neighbor, or someone you know is working in the trades, you don't know about it," said Berry. 

Coming from New York City, Berry says he knows just how important a program like this can be for the entire state. With a successful MAPP already flourishing in Rochester, the group now plans to expand into Binghamton by June, thanks to $275,000 from the city.

Applicants will learn everything from masonry, carpentry, plumbing and pipe fitting, all in one building. So far, hundreds have already been connected to apprenticeship jobs in their cities.

"Theres a lot that we go through getting people to understand the importance of showing up to work on time, but once we get past that stage, they get into their career path, and they see the life change that they have, they come back, we cry together. It's a beautiful thing," said Berry.

Opening up the trades to a more diverse population is something that Berry feels strongly about. As a union electrician himself, he knows just how life changing a job in the field can be. 

"The same energy that you use to exclude people, now you have to use that same energy even more to include people and show the folks, show the world that America really is changing," said Berry.